Top exercises to help boost your immune system

Immunity is the capacity of the body to fight back harmful foreign bodies like virus and bacteria. Mild to moderate exercise help to boost the immune system and activity of the white blood cells. Regular exercise, even though mild in nature is beneficial as it helps to fight pathogens and in the long run exercise helps to slow changes that happen to the immune system with aging.

A lot of people get regularly sick, or are afraid that they will get sick as soon as the flu season comes. One of the best ways to boost your immunity is by accessing the gut as 75% of the immune system is housed in the gut.

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With the COVID-19 pandemic cursing the entire world, major sections of people are worried about their immunity. This is a sensitive period of time when no one wants to fall sick. So get your immunity up to its full potential.

Here are some exercises that will help you boost your immunity

 

Chest taps

Sit back on a chair or the floor with your back completely straight and gently tap on your chest. Do this continuously for 30 seconds with closed eyes and try to feel the stimulation in your chest. Imagine to be tapping deeply into the lungs. Keep the shoulders and the body relaxed.

 

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Superman

Lie on the floor on your stomach and extend your arms in front of you and extend the legs behind you.  Then contract your back muscles and raise your arms and legs a few inches off the ground. Hold this position for at least 15 to 20 seconds and then relax. Repeat for 5 times and try to increase the intensity if you feel comfortable.

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Squat Jumps

Stand with your feet at hip distance apart and go down as if you are sitting on an imaginary chair. Keep the spine straight, chest lifted and most importantly, while going down see to it that your knees are behind your toes. Keep the arms in front to maintain balance. Jump up, not too high though and then return to the squat. This is great exercise which will get you breathing heavily and help you reach your anaerobic state.

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Bridge pose

Lie on the back on your mat and bend both the knees. Keep your hands beside your body and lift up your back and buttocks towards the ceiling. Keep your knees directly over your heels. Inhale deeply and stay in the position for five breathes. Come down slowly and relax. The bridge pose exercise helps to open and stimulate the thymus gland, which is responsible for the growth of D cells in your body. D cells are a type of white blood cells which support your immune system.

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Shoulder stand pose

Lie on the floor on your back, and then push your hips up with the support of your hands. Your legs should make an angle of 90 degrees with your upper body. Try to stay in this position for at least six breathes. Try to take more and more deep breathes with time. The shoulder stand pose is an inversion exercise which helps blood flow.

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Fish Pose

Lie down on your back and keep your palms straight beside your body. Keep the toes pointed and lift your chest up. Then slowly drop your head to the backside. While releasing the posture, first get your head up and slowly go down. Stay in the position for eight breathes. This exercise helps to open your chest and the heart and helps white blood cells to flow in your body.

Image Courtesy- Art of Living

These are mild and moderate exercises that you can easily practice at your home. These exercises will definitely help you to fight illness and strengthen the immune system.