Your immunity is more than a personal choice.

Dear All,

This is the time of the year when our resolutions get little shaky.  I have seen participants in various fitness programs complain about the lack of success. By the end of February, they lament: “I have been working hard, no results”, “this is not my cup of tea”; “just wasted my money by buying this treadmill”; or, “just trapped into the contract with that fitness club/ studio” (I heard the best time to buy used fitness equipment is end of February!). I suggest them to keep their eyes open; overcome insanity (As Albert Einstein said, “doing same thing over and over again expecting a different result”) When you are in a gym see the modified versions of exercises members execute. It may not be a bad idea to ask them (if you are comfortable) the benefits of their versions. I am amazed by the number of ways yoga poses are adopted and modified by various studios and instructors to accommodate specific groups. When instructors offer their availability for discussions, use their openness and ask how this modified version is different from the traditional one. It is a teaching moment for you and for your instructor. Create the comradery with your fitness buddy, gym or the fitness studio. To be successful is great; maintain that success is greater. We may succeed in several health related resolutions. The best way to maintain the success is not get into the complacency: always ask questions- why I am doing this? Why can’t I do this way? Why you did this? This would certainly keep you engaged and get you out of the pleasure of temporary complacency. Why are we doing what we are doing? Can we do it differently? Create a great community around you for that conversation.

 I have been thinking about this post for quite some time. Even while we are springing into March, the influenza season does seem to linger. Adding to the agony, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that several strains of tested influenza viruses is genetically different from the vaccine viruses. The immunity of people -even those who took the flu shots- was compromised. We spend huge resources and time to fight the flu season. More than anything else, it is an inconvenience.  We do everything to prevent influenza virus to invade us. But, we may be missing a point. How did we get here in the first place?  May be our life styles might have added a bit to where we are now.

A short story from Hindhu mythology might shed some light on the how we got there. Lord Narayana initiated an "exchange program" with mother earth. He send his wise emissary, Naradha (who has the ability to travel distant worlds and realms), to invite the most unhygienic creature on earth to visit heaven and see the life out there. Naradha's investigation ended with a pig (a pig that lived in the wild). Naradha and the pig started their journey. On the way, the curious pig asked Naradha, “What is so big about your abode?” “It is neat, clean, no dirt, mud, fragrance everywhere ...and you will love it. We (just) want you to know how things are different there.” The pig stopped, turned back and said, "I trust you, it may be a good place. But…” paused the pig. “I might die if there isn't enough dirt and mud.” Said the pig to Naradha; turned went back to earth. This might be a story but I think there is an iota of truth in it. Dirty mud was a better place for pig. (Naradha did not tell the pig about Amruth- the divine nectar!)

Let us place this story side by side to some of the published scientific data. A study published in Biomedical central (BMC Biol. 7, 79 (2009)) conclude pigs living in dirt had a higher immunity. Animals raised in the isolated environment (over protected) expressed more genes involved in inflammatory immune responses (meaning: low immunity) and cholesterol synthesis (meaning: high cholesterol), whereas genes associated with T cells (T cells or T lymphocytes play a central role in cell-mediated immunity) were expressed in the outdoor-reared pigs (meaning: high immunity). Researchers in a latest study published in Journal of pediatrics suggest hand-washing kitchenware exposes children to a more diverse microbiome which improve their immune system positively. May be we need to pull our sleeves and do some outdoor living: gardening or outdoor games, perhaps. It improves your physique too. Try to stay away from the “Windex” culture.

There are numerous ways we could improve the immunity- eat health food (containing antioxidants and immune boosting ingredients), drink plenty of water, supplement Vitamin C, supplement fish oil, and manage stress. Studies have shown that stress could impair your immune system. This may be one of the hardest one.  We could manage stress in two ways: avoids activities or people who cause stress (or, surround with people, who relieves your stress), meditation, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), or Imagery Guided Relaxation. Relaxation reduces the production unnecessary chemicals and hormones in your body that would eventually compromise your immunity.

Your lymphatic system control the immunity. Unlike blood, lymph movement is controlled either by the either intrinsic contractions of the lymphatic passages or by the extrinsic compression of the lymphatic vessels via external tissue forces. Lymph moves the defensive cell (NK cells, T cells and B cells) around the body. I am a big fan of curative powers of alternative systems in health and fitness. Yoga and meditation could be effective in your fight against pathogens. There are specific yoga postures that help to cleanse your body and remove toxins, germs and infections. Camel, Bow, Wheel (any heart openers would work. These poses sensitize thymus and spleen which along with bone marrow leads the fight against pathogens (controlled by the production, maturation and action of T and B cells) In general, any inversions and heart openers could boost the immunity. These poses supplement the seamless flow of lymph in the body. One of my favorite pose is Downdog. The potential of this simple and easy pose is hard to imagine if we never try it. Other inversions (may be little challenging) are plow and supported shoulder stand. Trunk twisting poses -half-fish and Maricyasana, for example- could stretch, twist and compress the skeletal muscles to enhance the flow of lymph. This is going to be challenging. I could definitely tell you, form my experience, it is worth taking that challenge. (P. S. I thought of writing the details of these poses. Recent inundation of yoga poses and methods of their execution in YouTube might make my efforts redundant at the best). What about the corpse pose? Who doesn’t’ love it? Whether you get into the pose after a vigorous Ashtanga vinyasa or you take after eight hours of deep sleep, its benefits are beyond your imagination. Warrior 2? If you have ever attended my class, you will see how addicted I am to this fighter pose. In one of my auditions, I asked the participants to hold this pose for several minutes (out of the 15 minute total) Alignment, energetics, mind-body connection (fighting your imperfections and weaknesses), spiritual cues and breath- by the time a touched a bit of these, I have passed the time allotted for this pose!

On a broader sense, your immunity is more than a personal choice; it’s a commitment to the community. One of my favorite term this flu season was “herd immunity”- a mechanism where significant portion of immune population render a level of protection to those who have not developed immunity. The immune population create an “immune-sphere” around the immune compromised. What surprised me was the reason some population thought about vaccination: it protects those whom you may interact. This was a pleasant surprise to me; a compassionate thought. Is it not the situation similar with our mind and body?  If herd immunity creates “immune-sphere”; hanging out with good folks could lead to the protection of mind, body and spirit. Surround yourself with folks who respect body, mind and spirit. You may falter on your way to gain that holistic immunity; but, folks who walked before you, those walking behind you, and those walking by your side may prop you up. I have seen this in some of the yoga classes I teach. The participants form a strong comradery and community.

The santhi mantra from Upanishads is relevant and I have heard many yoga classes start with that chant, a prayer which could help when you feel compromised with the mind, body and spiritual immunity. 

Om saha nāvavatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai
tejasvi nāvadhītamastu
mā vidviṣāvahai |
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

Aum! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;

May we work conjointly with great energy,

May our study be vigorous and effective;

May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).

Aum! Let there be peace in me!

Let there be peace in my environment!

Let there be peace in the forces that act on me

Healthy regards,

Jay.