Yoga for Spring Allergies

Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

If allergies have you down, try these three postures to find clarity.

From Gary Kraftsow’s Yoga for Wellness.

Vajrasana
Yoga for Spring Allergies
Stand on your knees with your arms overhead. On an exhale, bend forward, sweeping arms behind your back and bringing your hands to your sacrum, keeping palms up. On inhale return to starting position. Practice eight times. This pose helps support respiration and stretches the low back.

Ardha Pasvottanasana
Stand with your left foot forward, right foot turned out a bit less than forty-five degrees, left arm folded behind back, and right arm raised over head. On an exhale, bend forward, bringing your belly and chest toward your left thigh and right hand toward left foot. On an inhale return to starting position. Repeat on other side. Practice eight times each side.

Janu Sirsasana
Sit with your right leg folded in, heel to groin, left leg extended forward, and holding left foot with both hands. On an inhale, extend spine upward, expanding chest, flattening upper back, and lengthening in front of torso. Hold after inhale. On an exhale, maintain posture while pulling belly firmly in. Hold after exhale. Remain in exhtended position for 8 breaths. Then sink belly and chest to thigh. Stay in forward-bended position for 4 breaths. Repeat on other side. This posture helps increase inhalation and exhalation capacity.