"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape". - Authour Unknown

Allergies aren't just irritating; they can affect sleep, concentration, and productivity and put you in a bad mood.

Most people think of herbal supplements when they are searching for natural allergy relief, but yoga might help. Yoga is one of the oldest forms of exercise and has been practiced for thousands of years in India and other areas of the East. Yoga is becoming more popular in the West for those who are looking for ways to manage stress. Though some poses are hard to learn, yoga is low impact and can be performed by anyone. Some yoga poses can even benefit allergy sufferers.

Here are a few Asanas (yoga poses) that will assist with allergies:

• Bridge Pose and other backbends will help to expand the chest and lungs, giving you increased breathing capacity.
• Fish Pose is a simple asana that opens the chest making breathing easier and stimulates the thymus, helping to strengthen and balance your immune system.
• Shoulderstand as well as other inversions will open the nasal passages for improved drainage, however, do not hold the pose longer than a few minutes.

It is also recommend that you do more standing poses, forward and backward bends, and twists in your practice. All of these tend to massage various parts of the spine and the thoracic cage and condition the lungs.

You may want to incorporate some breath work into you practice as well. Allergy sufferers will find relief when they practice yoga breath work on a daily basis. Allergens will be cleared from nasal passages and allergy symptoms will be greatly reduced. When exhaling old breath from the bottom of the lungs, your bodies will get rid of accumulated toxins built up in lungs.The following breath techniques are recommended:

• Fire breathing: Beneficial because it massages and relaxes the respiratory system, relieving the pressure that is caused by allergy symptoms. Fire breathing might take a little more time to learn as the rhythm of the breathing takes practice.
• Skull Shining Breath (Kapalabhati): With this exercise you have a rapid series of forceful exhalations followed by passive inhalations. It is believed that this will clear out the nasal passages and thus clear out the allergens.
• Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Sodhana): A type of Pranayama which is to be performed if both your nostrils are open and working (that is providing unhindered flow of air to the lungs). It clears the mind and can help you regulate your breathing pattern.

It looks like yoga and other related activities can provide relief, furthermore, according to studies people who are practicing yoga found greater relief compared to those who are not. Kindly consult a physician before practicing any of the above and always practice these techniques under the guidance of a licensed yoga teacher.

Om Shanti.