If You Have Chronic Inflammation, Practice These 5 Naturally Anti-Inflammatory Yoga Poses

When most of us think of inflammation, we may think of some swelling that will heal itself without any further problems. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Chronic inflammation can cause permanent damage to the body if left untreated.

When infection occurs, your immune system will send white blood cells to fight off the infection. But when the body detects inflammation as infection, those white blood cells can actually damage healthy organs instead. One of the main causes of inflammation is the many toxins we ingest daily.
 

Try These 5 Naturally Anti-Inflammatory Yoga Poses to Relieve Chronic Inflammation:

Look for yoga poses to help detox the body, aid in digestion, and relieve stress to naturally reduce chronic inflammation.
 

1. Child’s Pose

Child’s Pose is a restorative, mild inversion that allows your head to drop below your hips. It naturally relieves stress, anxiety, and fatigue while stretching your back, ankles, and hips.
 

 
How to Practice Child’s Pose:

• Find a Tabletop position with your shoulders stacked over your wrists and your hips stacked over your knees
• Bring your big toes together while keeping your knees wide
• Gently sit your hips towards your heels, allowing your torso to rest between your knees with your arms extended forward
• Hold for 5-7 breaths

2. Supine Twist

Yoga twists wring out all the negativity and pain from your body. They gently massage your organs and encourage new blood flow to them. Supine Twist is a fantastic, gentle twist to generate flexibility in your spine and reduce chronic inflammation.
 

 
How to Practice Supine Twist:

• Lie on your back and hug your knees toward your chest
• Drop both knees to the right, with the option to place a yoga block (http://amzn.to/2oNjudy) under your knees for more comfort
• Extend your arms out like a capital “T” directly in line with your shoulders
• Gaze in the same or opposite direction of your knees, depending on how your neck feels
• Hold for 5-7 breaths on each side

3. Half Lord of the Fishes Pose

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose is a slightly deeper twist that continues to reduce chronic inflammation, detox your digestive system, and cleanse your organs.
 

 
How to Practice Half Lord of the Fishes Pose:

• Find a comfortable seat with both legs extended and bring your right foot to the outside of your left quad
• Bring your left foot to the outside of your right hip, and ensure both of your hips are still rooted firmly on the mat
• Bring your left elbow to the outside of your right knee, and your right hand behind you for stability
• Stay mindful of your spine here – continuously lengthen your spine by drawing the crown of your head towards the sky
• Hold for 5-7 breaths on each side

4. Triangle Pose

Triangle Pose helps you develop flexibility in your hamstrings while toning your legs and core. When practiced often and in alignment, this pose helps to reduce stress and increase your stability.
 

 
How to Practice Triangle Pose:

• Find Warrior II Pose
• Keep your feet as they are, but straighten both legs
• Reach your front arm forward until you feel a stretch in your oblique
• Bring your front arm down to rest on your front thigh, shin, a block, or the floor
• Bring your opposite arm straight up to maintain your outstretched “T” shape
• Gaze towards your top hand
• Hold for 5-7 breaths on each side

5. Bridge Pose

Bridge Pose offers a gentle stretch to your chest, neck, spine and hips. While helping to relieve chronic inflammation by improving blood circulation, it can also help to reduce anxiety and mild depression.
 

 
How to Practice Bridge Pose:

• Begin on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor
• Place your hands by your hips with the palms facing down
• Inhale and lift your hips, and bring your chest closer to your chin
• Keep your core strong and create one long line from your shoulders to your knees
• Hold for 5-7 breaths

Bye, Bye, Inflammation!

Chronic inflammation isn’t ideal, and gets in the way of daily chores like going to work, playing with your kids, exercising, or getting those pesky chores completed. Thankfully, yoga can be a natural anti-inflammatory to get you back on your feet and back to feeling like you.
 
What yoga poses have you tried and loved for chronic pain? Let us know in the comments!
 

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