The Sneezing Yoga Blues

Written by Tara Porter

I grew up running in fields, with my thumbs in the garden, and spending a good majority of my time outdoors. I thought I was allergy-immune – I'd never experienced them and felt like I'd been dealt the winning sinus hand, so why would that change?

It wasn't until I moved to our nation's capital city some five years ago from the east coast when my picture perfect allergy-free beliefs all changed (heavy sigh).

Things to consider when you're moving to a valley:

1.       You live in a valley. Without furthering the physical explanation of this, we can all understand how things can sort of hover and hang out in that good ol' valley air. Those ‘things' can range from beautiful spring flower perfumes to important pollens to poignant pollutions and delicious dust from our constantly evolving road construction and upheaving. Coupled with the natural wonders of those hovering ‘things', we also have wondrous giant concrete buildings that are wonderful nets for all those ‘things'.

2.       It can sure be dry and humid in the summertime, and in the winter COLD cold COLD – how fun!

3.       On an unrelated note – valley thunderstorms by far out storm east coast thunderstorms

4.       You just ain't on the east coast anymore.

Another fun fact about Ottawa – is that there is a wonderful mill not too far away that offers a spectacular assortment of pollutants to add to our city air quality, that in the summer time is bustling with it's regular motor exhaust fumes, city-wide road and condo construction dust, and more.

All in all – that's one mighty fine recipe for lung and sinus related woes! Now that alone is a pain in le tush, but combine it with a lowered immune system or sensitive body systems – and what have ya got? ALLERGIES!

So what do we do? We feel miserable and unhappily groggy, we want to claw our eyes out and itch them till they're raw, we sneeze as if it were a language, and think about contraptions we could make that would catch the nasal drippings that somehow miraculously keep on coming through those two little nostrils. (Seriously – how does the body make SO much mucous?) No – you're not sick. You just have allergies. And anyone who has never experienced allergies, never fully understands the discomfort.

Allergies are most predominant at three separate parts of the year: spring showcases tree pollens, summer boasts of grass pollens, and early fall stars ragweed pollens. And sometimes – when we just can't take the debilitating effects of them, we take antihistaminic pills from the drugstore, some of us take allergy shots, and others nasal steroid sprays. Continued use of these man-made drugs isn't necessarily super supportive for our health and bodies. So what other options are there?

Why do we suffer from colds , allergies and ailments? Yes there are exterior factors – but within you there lives your nervous system. And within that temple called your body – there are some vital health systems like your immune system, your digestive system, your reproductive system, etc…

Depending on our diets (fresh, alive, whole foods and unprocessed are always best!), our sleeping patterns (yes – sleep is important), and lifestyle actions – these major factors can seriously reflect the constantly waivering state of our immune system. The most vital thing we can ever do is to take care of ourselves – and as a result – our immune system. This helps reduce allergy symptom reactions when the immune system responds to those pesky pollen offenders. So rest up when the Kleenex boxes are stacked high in anticipation; eat fresh, local foods cutting down on sugars, dairy products and processed or wheaty foods as these tend to increase mucous production in the body; stretch, meditate, move, etc – pick an activity that works for you and move that body!

Our yoga practice can be a perfect compliment to your allergy coping – however you may need to adjust the approach. When we experience allergies, we're experiencing in many ways- inflammation. Inflammation is heating. We don't fight fire with fire, we cool it down, so try switching your practice to something that is a little more ‘gentle' that will really nourish your nervous system through deep breathing and styles that have an emphasized relaxation at the end of class. Although breathing might be a pain – focus on a longer exhalation which can really positively affect the nervous system.

Shoulderstand and plough pose are known as two of the most allergy friendly yoga postures to practice. Benefits of shoulderstand include and are not limited to:

• Strengthening & balancing thyroid function, one of the most important glands in the endocrine system.
• Because of the chin pressing into the throat, the Larynx & pharynx derive increased blood supply and so maximum nutrition. This helps to strengthen their immunity to various respiratory diseases and throat ailments.
• As the flow of blood to the head is restricted, headaches and inflammatory problems can be reduced.
• The shoulderstand encourages deep abdominal breathing – a gentle massage is given to the heart and lung region.
• Indigestion, constipation and stomach troubles are relieved. One is able to eliminate toxins more rapidly from the system.

Both shoulderstand and plough stimulate the kidney and bladder meridians. Yin yoga sequences that stimulate the kidney, liver and heart & lung meridian lines are also very useful. Jala Neti is a fantastic yogic kriya or cleansing technique that involves flushing water through the nasal passages. This assists in cleaning the nasal passages and mucous membranes to not only remove foreign matter, but prevents catching colds and improves breath quality, scents and taste.

Find a neti pot, make yourself a cup of kidney/liver friendly tea (nettle tea is an incredible anti-allergy herb to take and it might even be in your back yard!) and take the time to rest your nervous system and breathe this allergy season. Evaluate what stressors in your life aggravate or ‘inflame' your life – are there ways to lessen the load? Take the opportunity to check in – as seasons change, so do we J Let your life be an ever changing adventure – allergies or not. Take the allergy frustrations as a chance to take greater care of your amazing self – because what better person to do that than you?!

With Breath and Metta – Namaste.