6 best yoga poses and breathing exercises that keep lungs healthy

Health benefits of Bhujangasana: Ideal for office workers, Bhujangasana counteracts slouched shoulders and shallow breathing, encouraging deeper oxygen intake (Image: Pexels)

• Yoga and mindful breathing help urban lungs detox and energise
• Chest-opening asanas improve oxygen flow and lung capacity
• Practising yoga outdoors enhances respiratory health and vitality

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For those caught in the hustle-bustle of city life, the lungs often bear the brunt. Smoke, dust, indoor pollutants, and relentless stress tighten the chest, shallow our breathing, and sap energy. However, yoga offers a time-tested remedy with its various postures and breathing exercises.

Multiple studies reveal that lungs of people living in cities are constantly under pressure. Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Author and Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, tells Moneycontrol, “Through mindful breathing and chest-opening practices, we can restore oxygen flow, release tension, and reconnect with our body’s natural rhythm.”

Most people in the city are either sitting hunched over screens, inhaling smog, or juggling multiple tasks, which makes them forget how to breathe fully. This restriction, says Siddhaa Akshar, affects oxygen supply, energy levels, and vitality.

Also read | Breathe better with yoga: 5 simple asanas to improve lung capacity and respiratory wellness

Yoga, with its focus on conscious breathing, offers an elegant counterbalance. “Breath is the bridge between mind and body,” Akshar says, and adds. “When we cultivate rhythmic, full breathing, we are essentially detoxifying and energising simultaneously.”

In cities where air is often compromised, yoga provides a healthy boost for your lungs. From chest-opening asanas to mindful walking and conscious breathing, you can cleanse, energise, and improve your respiratory health.

6 best lung-friendly yoga asanas

Siddhaa Akshar suggests lung-friendly yoga moves:

Bhujangasana

It gently lifts the chest and lengthens the spine, creating space for the lungs to expand. Ideal for office workers, Bhujangasana counteracts slouched shoulders and shallow breathing, encouraging deeper oxygen intake.

Also read | Yoga: 9 benefits of belly breathing for better lung health

Matsyasana

This deep chest and throat stretch helps optimise lung efficiency. By releasing rib tension, the breath flows more freely, helping oxygen circulate fully through the body.

Ardha Chakrasana

A standing backbend that opens the lungs and spine, Ardha Chakrasana enhances flexibility and lung capacity while invigorating the respiratory system.

Balasana

This soothing forward bend relaxes the nervous system. Balasana helps calms breath, reduces stress, and supports natural, steady respiration.

Healing walk

Mindful walking combined with conscious breathing. Boosts oxygen exchange, refreshes the lungs, and replenishes energy even during a busy urban day.

Infinity walk

A figure-eight walking pattern synced with steady breath harmonises lung function and circulation while fostering serenity and stress relief.

How to detox lungs

Practising yoga outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces boosts the detox effect. Gentle, consistent effort is key. Regular hydration, short movement breaks, and mindful breathing throughout the day complement postures, creating a holistic respiratory boost. According to Siddhaa Akshar, even a few mindful breaths between tasks can gradually restore lung vitality.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.