Thanks to the swine flu scare in the city, Puneites try out alternate therapies to boost immunity including yoga
Thanks to the swine flu scare in the city, Puneites try out alternate therapies to boost immunity including yoga
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While the H1N1 Influenza A vaccine to enhance immunity is yet to be developed, an increasing number of Puneites are opting for alternate methods of healing. Yoga institutes and art of living courses are seeing an increase in enquiries as people scared of contracting swine flu want to overcome their fears and boost their immunity. In fact, Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute has seen a 15 per cent rise in enquiries by young professionals after the swine flu outbreak.
Yoga expert Lalita Nadkarni said, "People are asking us if yoga can help them. We tell them yes, it can."
Nadkarni, who is a disciple of renowned yoga guru Dr BKS Iyengar, confirmed, "Yoga asanas, bhadrasan, viparit dandasan and setubandh have proved effective in improving respiratory and circulatory systems."
Abhijeet Khamkar, a 30-year old executive working at Warje, recently joined a yoga class on Senapati Bapat Marg. "I used to suffer from cold and cough regularly. After I signed up for yoga lessons a few months ago, I have been greatly benefited," he said.
Eat right
Jayesh Agarwal, who teaches the Art of Living course, claimed that regular practice of pranayam, meditation and sudarshan kriya, as developed by Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, can enhance immune system. "Herbs like Tulsi, Amla and Amrut help to prevent the disease by fighting against infection and increasing immunity," he said.
Dr Pramod Moghe, a retired senior scientist from National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) has prepared a list of household items, which can boost immunity. These include food grade vinegar, clove oil, raw garlic, onion and ginger. He insists that consuming them or inhaling their aroma in proper doses can be of great help. (see box) "have started blogging on this issue and am reaching more than one lakh Puneites," he said.
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