Do You Still do Yoga Even When You're Sick?

I get this question asked every once in awhile. My answer is another question: Sick in the head or sick in the body?

Let's break this down.

 If you have a headache then Yoga, the gentle style and the deep breathing, will work wonders for you! The deep breathing bringing oxygen to your brain and to the whole body eases the pain by allowing blood to flow more easily throughout your body and especially into your brain. The slow gentle Yoga stretches our muscles and joints to alleviate tension that may be blocking blood flow.

However, if you are sick in your body i.e. the flu or even a cold then I suggest you stay in bed and stretch only when you feel the urge to. Our immune system needs to work and not get compromised by the work of our Yoga Practice. And on top of that you really don't want to spread your virus or bacteria around to others.

It's important to stay hydrated and if you have a sore throat, drink some tea! I use Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile, it does wonders to soothe a sore and dry throat!

Stay mindful of respecting your body and your body will respect you!