Disease, Exercise Basics, Health
Yoga For Thyroid; Poses To Keep Your Gland in Top Shape
Aug
Yoga needs to become a part of your daily routine, especially if you are suffering from thyroid.
It may not be a cure for the disorder, but yoga helps lessen the symptoms and provide relief from fatigue, stiffness, and restlessness, as well as promote weight loss, a difficult process for thyroid patients.
Table of content
- Curb Not Cure
- Yoga for Thyroid
- Sarvangasana
- Matsyasana
- Bhujangasana
- Ujjayi Pranayama
- Halasana
- Marjariasana
Your thyroid gland is one of the most important glands of your body.
Often known as the butterfly gland, the thyroid controls thyroxine hormone production. Thyroxine affects growth and metabolism.
When we know it’s function, it becomes imperative to keep the thyroid gland as healthy as possible.
And like the rest of the body, the thyroid is also affected by what we eat and our lifestyle.
It may come as a surprise to you, but, one of the things recommended to maintain thyroid health is to do yoga. How does yoga help? Let’s find out!
Curb Not Cure
Can yoga cure thyroid permanently? No. Yoga for thyroid and weight loss is not a cure, rather a part of the treatment.
It can help keep a check on symptoms of thyroid disorders but cannot cure it.
There is a requirement for medication and other therapy.
Yoga For Thyroid
Doing yoga can be very helpful not only to lose weight but also to do maintain hormone balance of the thyroid.
Yoga helps relieve several symptoms of thyroid disorders, like insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, anxiety and weight gain.
There are several thyroid exercises in yoga which help lose weight.
In addition, it is important to have the right diet as well.
Consult with one of TruWeight’s experts to create a unique and healthy diet for yourself, with just one click!
1. Sarvangasana
A Sarvangasana or the supported shoulder stand involves raising your legs up towards the ceiling, supported by your shoulder.
This pose is great since it promotes increases blood flow to the upper parts of the body, which has a positive effect on the thyroid gland.
Always be careful when doing this pose and ensure your neck is protected at all times.
2. Matsyasana
The Matsyasana, also known as the fish pose, is considered to be the most effect thyroid exercise after the Sarvangasana.
It involves sitting up and leaning back on your elbows.
It allows for a good stretch of the neck, which decreases the stiffness of joints and jogs the thyroid into functioning. It is also a great pose for relaxation.
3. Bhujangasana
The Bhujangasana or the cobra pose involves lying on your stomach and then gently lifting your head and chest off the floor, with the support of your arms.
This pose also involves a specific breathing technique, in which you breathe in when you lift yourself and exhale when you come back down.
This helps relax the body, and provides a good stretch to the back region, promoting good flow of blood. It also really stretches the abdomen muscles.
4. Ujjayi Pranayama
Take a break from stretching and try a pranayama or breathing exercise. Ujjayi pranayama is one of the best breathing exercises for thyroid.
It involves sitting in a sukhasana and inhaling through nostrils and exhaling through the mouth while making an “HHA” sound.
This pranayama stimulates the thyroid gland, and the breathing techniques help calm the mind. Do this breathing exercise daily, at least five times.
5. Halasana
The Halasan, also known as the plough pose, is known as such because of the plough like pose. It involves bolstering your hips and legs over your head while lying on your back.
This action compresses the neck muscles, stimulating thyroid action. It is also easier to do than the shoulder stand and can be used as an alternative.
6. Marjariasana
A Marjariasana or the cat-cow pose is another beneficial thyroid exercise in yoga.
It involves being on your all fours and gently moving your chest and head closer and away from the floor.
This pose involves tucking your chin into your chest and then elongating it, which is a great stretch for your neck region and improves blood flow, stimulating your thyroid gland.
It also provides a good stretch to your back muscles.
QUICK BYTES
Can doing only yoga treat thyroid problems?
Ans: No. Doing yoga is definitely beneficial to promote good thyroid stimulation, however, it cannot treat the disorder.
Certain kinds of medications an diets are required to actually treat thyroid problems.
Can I do yoga if I have muscle disorders?
Ans: Yoga for thyroid generally involves stretching a lot of neck and back muscles.
If you have issues in these areas, consult a yoga instructor or your doctor before doing these or any other thyroid exercises in yoga.
How will yoga help me lose weight with thyroid problems?
Ans: As anyone with thyroid knows, losing weight during this time is very difficult. Yoga helps by getting the important muscles groups moving, and at the same time, stimulating proper thyroid function which can help relieve some of the symptoms of thyroid.
Eating a healthy diet is also important when doing yoga for thyroid and weight loss, as it will add to the healing process.
How will doing yoga help with symptoms of thyroid like anxiety and insomnia?
Ans: Anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia are very common symptoms of thyroid. Doing yoga and breathing exercises calms the mind. By clearing your mind and focusing on your breathing, meditation helps bring down stress and nervousness. It will also put you in a relaxed mode to help battle insomnia.
How often should I do yoga in order for it to be beneficial?
Ans: Yoga as an exercise is not very strenuous or fast-paced. This means that it can be done on a daily basis, especially if you have a thyroid disorder. Doing it even for thirty minutes a day can be very helpful.
Along with doing it daily, it should also be done in the right way, for the best effect. So learn the poses from an instructor, and then do it at home as and when you can.
Performing yoga poses like Sarvangasana or Matsyasana and doing breathing exercises that specifically target the thyroid is a great supportive therapy to the thyroid medications and diet.
