Dealing with Thyroid? Check Out This Guide For Best Yoga and Pranayama for Thyroid

Thyroid disorders are a common occurrence, especially among people with sedentary lifestyles. Fortunately, we have yoga, asanas, and pranayama at our rescue. They are beneficial for thyroid-related symptoms. In fact, most regular yoga practitioners vouch for their benefits in improving the quality of your life within 30 days of starting your yoga practice.

Yoga plays the dual role of being supportive and complementary to your medical therapy. While yoga and pranayama for thyroid won’t help you get rid of your thyroid complications, these are quite beneficial for improving your overall health and well-being. They are your best guides for increasing your mobility flexibility, relieving your stress levels, and balancing your overall energies.

In this blog, we will shed some light on several yoga and pranayama’s that can alleviate your thyroid symptoms.

Understanding What is Thyroid and Its Health 

Your thyroid gland is responsible for producing two types of hormones known as triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Both these are essential in maintaining the metabolism of your body, regulating your energy levels, and ensuring your proper growth and development.

With its imbalance, your thyroid gland either switches to an overactive state or an underactive state. The overactive thyroid is called hyperthyroidism, while the underactive thyroid is called hypothyroidism.

Pranayama Yoga for Thyroid

There have been several studies around thyroid management that have shown the positive impact of various yoga and pranayama for thyroid. Yoga has primary benefits for several aspects of your health and well-being, including reduction of stress, improved flexibility, and enhanced circulation.

Practicing several yoga’s and pranayama for thyroid helps stimulate your overall blood flow, improving its circulation and promoting better thyroid functioning. These thyroid exercises majorly target the neck and throat regions where your thyroid gland is located. The relaxation and mindfulness aspects of your yoga techniques greatly help reduce your stress hormones, which are called cortisol’s. These stress hormones otherwise impact your thyroid health negatively. 

Benefits of Pranayama in Thyroid Management 

Pranayama for thyroid has many benefits. Some of them are mentioned below.

• stimulating your thyroid gland 
• improving blood circulation around your neck and throat region 
• enhancing overall vitality
• massaging your thyroid gland
• stretching your neck and throat region 
• relieving the tension built up around your shoulders
• improving flexibility 
• reducing stress 
• relaxing your nervous system 
• strengthening your back muscles and improving your posture 

Keep your thyroid in check with guidance from yoga experts. Get personalized suggestions and have a fulfilling life free from health problems. Book a free consultation online yoga classes soon!

7 Types of Pranayama for Thyroid You Should Know 

Do you need help with pranayama for thyroid? Well, here are seven easy pranayama techniques for managing your thyroid effectively.

1. Halasana or Plough Pose

This pranayama for thyroid technique massages your thyroid gland and stimulates your abdominal organs. It also works to improve your overall digestion.

How Should You Do It?

By following the step explained here, you can easily accommodate this pranayama

• Lie down on your yoga mat with your arms resting on either side of your body. 
• Slowly lift both your legs above your head. Lower them further until they reach the ground. 
• Use your hands to support your lower back and keep your legs straight. While holding the pose, breathe deeply. 

2. Sarvangasana or Shoulder Stand

This pranayama for thyroid technique helps you in stimulating your thyroid glands, improving your blood circulation and enhancing your overall vitality.

How Should You Do It? 

You can include this pranayama in your regular routine by following the steps explained here. 

– Lie down on your yoga mat with your arms on either side of your body.

– Now, slowly lift your legs and torso from the ground. Use your hands to support your back. 

– Your body should be straight with your legs pointing in upwards direction. While holding this position, breathe deeply.

3. Matsyasana or Fish Pose

This pose supports you in stretching your throat and neck, stimulating your thyroid, and relieving your shoulder tension.

How Should You Do It?

Follow three easy steps explained below for performing this pranayama for thyroid:

• Lie down on your yoga mat by extending your legs and arms on both sides of your body. 
• Lift both your upper back and chest from the ground. While doing this, arch your back. 
• Tilt your head slightly in the backward direction and breathe deeply. Hold this position until you feel a bit of stretch in your neck.

4. Ustrasana or Camel Pose

This pose helps strengthen your neck and throat, improve your flexibility, and stimulate your thyroid gland.

How Should You Do It?

Check out the following three easy steps to practice this technique correctly:

• Kneel on your yoga mat by placing your knees hip-width apart. 
• Rest your hands on your lower back to gain support.
• While arching your back, lean backwards. You should now be able to reach your heels. While holding this pose, breathe deeply.

5. Setu Bandhasana or Bridge Pose

This pose helps open your neck and chest, improving your circulation and reducing your overall stress.

How Should You Do It?

Scroll through the step below and practice the bridge pose effectively. 

• Lie down on your yoga mat while bending your knees and feet flat on the ground. 
• Slowly and gradually, lift your hips off the ground. Your shoulders and feet should be firmly planted this time. 
• Press your hands into the floor, keeping your fingers beneath your hips. While holding this pose, breathe deeply. 

6. Viparita Karani or Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose

This pose enhances your overall blood circulation to your neck and relaxes your nervous system. It helps significantly by reducing your overall stress.

How Should You Do It?

Here are three easy steps for performing this technique:

• Sit on your yoga mat with your side resting along the wall. Extend your legs up the wall. 
• While shifting your weight, bring your legs closer up the wall. Continue lying on your yoga mat. 
• Your arms should be in a relaxed position. While closing your eyes, focus on your breath.

7. Ujjayi Pranayama or Victorious Breath 

This pose works by calming your mind, reducing your overall stress, and regulating the thyroid functioning inside your body.

How Should You Do It?

Below are the three easy ways to do ujjayi breath correctly:

• Sit down comfortably on your yoga mat.
• Start deep inhaling through your nostril. While inhaling, slightly constrict the back of your throat to create a soft hissing sound. 
• Eventually, start exhaling slowly. Do not leave the constriction. Repeat this breath cycle several times.

Are there any Precautions for Pranayama that you should be aware of?

Yes, like any other exercise, you have to be careful with the following precautions while performing pranayama for thyroid – 

• In case you are suffering from any chronic health condition, you should consult your doctor before starting your pranayama regime. 
• Unless you have been asked to, always do breathing exercises with your nose. 
• Start practicing pranayama only when you gain control over your body. Mastering asanas can achieve this. Pranayama techniques are beneficial in creating energy inside your body. Yoga asanas help clear all your nadi blockages, thereby allowing your prana energy to flow throughout your body. 
• Do not make loud noises while deep breathing. Regular and steady breathing should become your routine. 
• While practicing pranayama, you should not be suffering from any form of tension. Your lungs are pretty sensitive; therefore, you should avoid forcing it beyond its limit. 
• Avoid pranayama when you feel tired. Before practicing this exercise, make sure you rest for 10-15 minutes in the Shavasana pose. 

Thyroid Yoga Exercise for You to Start Today 

Thyroid can also be managed by including a few yogic postures in your daily fitness routine. The following are some yoga poses that have proven effective in the lives of many individuals.

1. Bhastrika

This technique is so named as it resembles Bhastra or bellows. Here, you have forced inhalation and exhalation to generate your body’s heat, stimulate circulation, and flush out the toxins entirely.

2. Kapalabathi

This pranayama for thyroid exercise for the thyroid is one of the preliminary techniques for purifying your body. This is alternatively known as skull-shining pranayama. It is slightly different than your Bhastrika. Kapalabathi helps in stimulating your underlying thyroid gland, oxygenating your body cells, and regulating your digestive system.

3. Nadi Shodhana Pranayama

Nadi’s are subtle channels for energy exchanges in your body. Shodhana means purifying or cleansing in Sanskrit. Even a slight obstruction in your energy channel may result in discomfort and contribute to various health issues. Nadi Shodhana pranayama technique quietens your mind, soothes your excited nerves, and restores your cardiovascular balance.

4. Anulom Vilom

This is similar to your Nadi Shodhana pranayama technique. The inhalation-to-exhalation ratios here will be 4:6, 6:8, and so on. Regularly practicing this pranayama for thyroid helps in balancing all dashes within your body, fortifying your lungs, calming your nervous system down, and keeping your stress away. 

5. Brahmari Pranayama

This is popularly known as the hummingbird pranayama. Here, you create a mild humming sound while performing deep breathing. This technique helps release tension from your head and calm your mind. It is responsible for activating your thyroid. 

Takeaway

Thyroid Yoga pranayama for thyroid symptoms are powerful and natural approaches for supporting your thyroid gland’s overall health and well-being. These simple yoga pranayama’s help you stimulate your thyroid gland, improve circulation to your neck region, and reduce your overall stress levels.

You should know that these pranayama techniques are complementary to your thyroid medicines. Hence, consult your doctor before starting your pranayama routine. With prevention, precaution, consulting, and planning, you are in a better position to ensure your overall well-being. This helps you with a very positive quality of life.

Pranayama For Thyriod FAQs