I don’t want to characterize myself as a fair-weather yogini… or, to be more precise, a fair-sinus yogini… but in the spirit of full disclosure, I do believe I am.
The first signs of a cold are one thing. I work through it, snuffling and snorting a little, until I get back my breath. Several minutes into Sun Salutations I can count on the excess runny boogers fluid draining away… somewhere.
However, once I am suffering with full-fledged head congestion, I give up the yogic ghost. I just have no patience for struggling for breath through a narrow passage in my snot, the diameter of the head of a pin… and only one nostril. Nothing cramps my Ujaii style like a nose full of sticky goo.
I recall asking a new yoga instructor years ago, having spent an entire class fighting with my stuffed head, what her best recommendation was for getting the most out of a practice when congested. After first a long hesitation, and then stammering, her suggestion was ‘well, maybe, holding Downward Dog?’
Erk! Yes. Nothing like draining all of the fluid clogging my head…. back into my head! And so, in the years since, I have managed through congestion, or more often, bagged it altogether once the thickness in my head and the gasping and choking for breath just became too bothersome. Ahhhhh… holding Child’s Pose… now, that I can see.
Now, whether it’s a cold, allergies or any other problem resulting in clogged sinuses, the common wisdom is first, to guage your body as to whether or not it’s really a good idea in the first place or maybe just choose an easier, restorative practice rather than the more vigourous that you’re used to.
However, if it really is simply a matter of stuffy sinuses and not a bigger issue of cold or flu, try these techniques before engaging in practice:
- before hitting the mat, hit the Neti Pot! This is something my husband loves to do when he is suffering with sinus congestion. And according to him, and Dr. Oz, it works wonders. Me? Well, have you ever seen a grown woman sputtering water and mucous out her nose? Well, it ain’t pretty… I’ve just never got the hang of pouring water into my nose and letting it drain down the back of my throat only to reappear out my mouth.
- sit in quiet meditation with some steaming, boiling water laced with an essential oil with decongestant properties, eucalyptus being one. In fact, keep a eucalyptus infused humidifier nearby as you step on the mat to begin, and let it run for the duration of your practice. (This is great anytime, really.)
- sitting upright, try chanting. Om works nicely for nasal congestion and vibrations from humming have been shown to open the sinuses and let phlegm and fluid drain, which can relieve the pressure. Or if you’re like me and a tad self-conscious (even when I’m alone, if you can imagine) with the whole chanting thing, simply press your lips together and make the sound of a buzzing bee, making sure to feel the vibration through your lips.
- contrary to my former yoga instructor… stay upright. Avoid inversions. Ummmm… ye-ah.
If nothing else, perhaps just watch this:
A technique I’ve not tried, but do enjoy watching…. ahem.
So there you have it. A few ways to keep up with practice, though perhaps a little less rigourous, through a stuffy head.
