Did you know that you’re not allowed to say, ‘I can cure the Common Cold’?
So, let’s just say,
“Of course, you can Cure the Common Cold!”
Cure it… with Ki Yoga
But, but, but, it’s all up to you! There’s no golden pill. You must do some very specific yoga and make a few choice changes in your eating habits before all the suffering stops.
In this story, we are looking at a Ki Yoga sequence and the corresponding yoga of food, to strengthen your system against colds and all those flu-type illnesses. As you’ve probably noticed, not everybody comes down with those flu’s that go around, so why the hell should you? Suffering a runny nose, coughing, sneezing green, yellow muck and running hot and cold with a fever is positively boring. It’s far better then, to support your remarkable body with some simple postures and dietary changes so it can do its magic and you can get on with the good life.
Colds and flus are very social diseases. They cut through the community like a hot knife through butter – they infect the family, the school, the office, the dinner party! And what about those little germ-pools called pre-school! And yet, some people seem to avoid the contagion whilst others are dogged by the symptoms for weeks on end. And they return!
So, there are three questions to answer: What are colds and flu’s all about? Why do some people contract the illness and others don’t? And, how can you become a member of that healthy club that’s immune to the problem and can keep on dancing?
What are colds and flu’s all about?
The orthodox science model of medicine follows a germ theory of health. Common cold germs cause a mild inflammation of the upper respiratory tract with a blocked, runny nose, fever, headaches and often a sore throat and larynx. Then there is the more serious (even fatal) Flu or Influenza germs that are highly contagious causing inflammation of the respiratory tract together with all those aches and pains and buckets of phlegm. Pathogens seem to be the culprits! Some virus gets in and starts the breakdown followed closely by a bacterial infection (that lovely colourful snot and sputum that appears like reruns of The Exorcist).
Whilst this may be a reasonable assessment, the response of Modern Medical is often out the window!
Modern over-reaction
Kill those germs! Kill the enemy! Search and destroy! Bring in the grenades and a few nuclear warheads! Paracetamols, analgesics, decongestants, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to the rescue! They aim to eradicate the germs and numb the symptoms. But the collateral damage is legion. The drugs not only kill off the germs but they weaken the patient. The patient must recover from the illness as well as from the drug therapy.
Of course, I exaggerate … a little. Responsible Medical Scientists these days do warn against the over-prescription of antibiotics and promote the benefits of exercise and their version of a healthy diet. But this doesn’t explain the reason why some people don’t contract the illness except to say they have a better immune system … whatever that means.
Eastern Medicine has a different Orientation
Rather than fighting an enemy, you can just strengthen and clean your own system with some very specific Ki Yoga postures and change your diet to stop feeding the germs. You fortify yourself, your resistance, clean out the garbage and then the aberrant pathogens have nothing to feed on.
Germs aren’t the problem. The host is the problem!
Germs are not the problem: There are germs everywhere. Some of them are troublemakers, but only if there’s some weakness that allows them in. If you, the host, are in a weakened condition – a low resistance and poor cleansing system – then a virus can sneak in the back door and have a crazy party, break things and cause great chaos for further infection by bacteria. If you’re strong, then you can stop their attack.
The following Ki Yoga series strengthens your cleansing system – the colon, lungs and mucous membrane – so that you continually clear out alien bodies and the unwanted material that they feed on. Voila! The trouble-making viruses and subsequent bacteria can’t settle in.
The nasty Symptoms. Are they Goblins or Guides?
Well, they’re both. But it’s more useful to read them as guides to a healthier, more satisfying life, so pay attention to these symptoms. You usually know when a cold or flu is trying to get you – irritation in the nose, gummy mouth, heaviness and something hovering around your upper back – so these symptoms and even the illness itself are telling you that you’re off-track in health and even in your life. When you adjust your life-style to relieve and solve the illnesses, then your life will flow well in many, many ways.
So, what to do to not get the flu?
Cleaning out is the key to fixing Colds and Flu’s. What’s essential in fixing Colds and Flu’s and indeed, in life itself is the ability to clean out what is heavy and clogging and problematic. The Colon Meridian governs this function and all the mucous membrane in your body. It needs simple foods to keep it functioning well so.
Try to avoid irritating food like wheat flour and dairy products. They tend disturb the function and create a meal for unwanted pathogens.
When you feel an illness coming on go simple with your foods like soups and good root vegetables and rice for 3 days.
And practice the Ki Yoga sequence until you master it.
If you’re susceptible to colds, sinus or flu problems or you have one now, the following yoga poses are the solution. They will be difficult because they are weak, but in attempting them and persisting with them, they will strengthen your cleansing system against the dreaded stuffy head and clogged body. Feel the relief at the end of the session and feel it build as you practice further.
The Asanas and Ki Yoga variations
Begin by sitting tall with your legs together, straight in front of you:
Stretch the heels by pulling your toes back towards your nose.
Inhale and tighten your perineum, drawing it up with your central Ki
Exhale as you reach forward beyond your toes
Inhale as you sit tall and tighten the perineum again
Exhale, lean halfway back
Continue back and forth for the count of 12 moves
Lastly, lean forward with your head down for 8 breaths. Enjoy the release of the stretch
Bend your right leg and place the ankle across the straight leg above the knee:
Lean forward over the long leg, stretching the toes back, and breathe x8 as the line of stretch releases
Repeat for other leg
Warm up the lower back: Lie on your belly with your arms stretched out in front:
Lift your opposite arm/leg and reach out as you exhale
Repeat for the other arm/leg x12
Lie on your belly with your hands by your breasts with your legs together:
Push slowly up at the front until the arms are straight like an Up-Dog pose
Variation: Turn to look over your shoulder at your feet and lift that hip slightly and pull your toes back towards your nose
Repeat the other side x8
Then stay up to hold once more for 8 breaths on each side
Kneel, leaning back with your hands on the ground or resting on your ankles (if you can’t then sit on a chair or stand):
Lift your hips up and bring one arm up straight beside your ear as you reach over behind you.
Stay there and turn your thumb outwards, bend the wrist and pinch the index finger and thumb together as if you’re plucking an olive out of a glass on the tray behind you
The same on other side and repeat x8
Then stay up to hold once more for 8 breaths on each side
Lie on you back in savasana and enjoy the lightness in your head and body
Stay on your back:
Bring your arms straight out from your shoulders, palms down.
Bring one leg up into the vertical, keeping the heel stretched and as straight as possible
Exhale as you take the leg across your body up towards the hand and look the opposite way
Inhale, bring the leg up to the centre
Exhale out toward the other hand, looking the opposite way
Swing the leg x8, stopping on the last 2 sides for 8 breaths
Repeat for the other leg
Lie in savasana: Enjoy the relaxing of sinus region and your lower back and hips
Interlace your hands behind your neck:
Exhale as you bring your elbow to the outside of your opposite knee. Keep the long leg slightly off the ground if you can
Inhale and then exhale as you change your other elbow to the other knee
Repeat this movement until your stomach burns a little
Rest in savasana. Let go of any heaviness in your head, body and life on each exhalation
But what about the Side Effects?
The side effects to this Ki Yoga sequence and diet are:
You feel lighter in your overall body. Heaviness and stiffness in the hips will dissolve. Your head is clear and your sinuses less irritated
You’ll let go more easily of any baggage you might be carrying in your life too
Cellulite will reduce, especially around the bum and back of the thighs
And you’ll make decisions more easily without feeling stuck.
That’s it! Enjoy the difference
Look forward to strengthening your lower back and your confidence in the next story.
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