Most people use only a part of their lung capacity, thus not providing enough oxygen to the lungs. This partial breathing can be due to bad posture, stress, incorrect breathing or even restrictive clothing. Chronic stress and anxiety also adversely affect lung health. “Yoga emphasises conscious and deep breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing and alternate nostril breathing. These practices improve lung capacity, enhance oxygen intake and facilitate efficient respiratory function. Through yoga poses and pranayama it is also possible to manage stress and reduce or even alleviate anxiety thus positively impacting lung function,” says yoga expert and “JetSynthesys’ ThinkRight.me” master Pooja Nidadavolu.

She adds, “Yoga poses, especially those involving chest opening and backbends, help expand the lungs, stretch the intercostal muscles and improve overall lung elasticity. It is advised to breathe mindfully while performing yoga postures, thus allowing your muscles to stretch with ease and go deeper into the pose.”