The Lymphatic & Immune system

Question 1

What Āsana would benefit the spleen?

Answer 1

Almost all Āsana aids in supporting the spleen in some way however:

• spine twists (left side);
• forward bends,
• lateral flexion (left side) back bends
• inversions would be the most therapeutic partly because of the location of the spleen being in the higher abdominal area on the left side directly under your ribcage.

• As a result, stronger Prāṇāyāma practices such as Bhastrikā and Kapālabhāti would also support a healthy spleen.

Question 2

List two (2) Yoga practices you would include in your class to support the immune system and why?

Answer 2

We know that the flow of lymph relies on breathing and musculoskeletal contraction, as a result Pranayama practices such as the

• Full Yoga Breath,
• Ujjayi breath,
• Kapālabhāti and
• Bhastrikā become an effective tool to enhance the lymphatic flow and subsequently the immune system.

Question 3

List four (4) Āsana (in Sanskrit and English) that would support the lymphatic system.

Answer 3

Postures such as:
• Adho Mukha Śvānāsana (Downward-Facing Dog), • Viparītakaraṇī (Inverted Lake),
• Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana (Supported Shoulder stand),
• Śīrṣāsana (Headstand)
• Adho Mukha Vṛkṣāsana (Downward Facing Tree, also known as Handstand)

aim to support the immune system through the movement of lymphatic fluid particularly from the lower limbs, pelvis, and abdomen, thereby increasing the exchange of nutrients and wastes through the capillaries

Although most lymphatic vessels are distributed close to the epidermal layer of the skin, the lymphatic ducts are found much deeper into the body and therefore unable to be activated superficially for example through massage. Spine twists can be an effective way of accessing these ducts and the subsequent movement of lymph.