In Eastern practices, there are special exercises that “warm up” the body, helping it to resist the cold. In order not to freeze, we suggest you learn simple exercises that improve thermoregulation.
What does thermoregulation depend on? From many reasons: how accustomed we are to the cold, what is the state of immunity, and also from the quality of breathing. And if it is dangerous for cold people to temper now, during the period of colds, then you can learn warming breathing quickly and safely.
How is breathing related to heat? Literally directly! If you reduce the amount of oxygen in the body, then the vessels will expand. In particular, capillaries expand, providing microcirculation and the very feeling of warmth that we dream of, for example, standing at a bus stop in sub-zero temperatures.
Warm breath
Let’s learn a simple exercise from women’s Taoist practices that will allow you to quickly warm up.
- Sit cross-legged in Turkish style, the lower back and stomach are relaxed, the top of the head tends to rise. Place your palm on your stomach. And start breathing with your stomach: as you inhale, your stomach expands, literally rolls out into your palm, and as you exhale, it tightens. Breathe in the usual rhythm, gradually accelerating your breathing.
- Speed up your breathing with an emphasis on exhalation. Push the air out of your belly as you exhale and allow your belly to expand on its own as you inhale. This type of breathing is called “furs” – as if you “inflate” the heat in the stomach. The feeling of warmth in the pelvis and abdomen indicates that the exercise is performed perfectly. Do 10 cycles of such breathing.
- Exhale slowly and hold your breath for 5 counts. The delay lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and helps the heat that is already felt in the abdomen to spread throughout the body.
Go through several cycles: “furs” + delay. Notice how the feeling of warmth in the body changes. This exercise can be done at home, teaching the body a new type of thermoregulation. Or standing outside if you have to spend time in the cold. For example, while waiting for a bus or walking with a child.
A simple exercise not only helps to warm up, but also energizes. If after a few breaths you find yourself ready to go through a couple of stops or run with the kids, don’t be surprised, this is the miraculous effect of energy practice. Use this surge of power.
Warming up the immune system
Another exercise that I propose to learn also improves blood microcirculation in tissues, helps to establish thermoregulation. In addition, it improves the body’s immune response.
Stand barefoot on the floor, the skin of the limbs and abdomen should be open. Start doing a tonic self-massage.
- Start at the head: use your fingers to tap on the scalp.
- Rub your ears – the area where many active points are located – to redness.
- Facial Massage: Gently but firmly patting several times from the center of the face (from the nose) to the ears.
- Pat yourself along the arms from the hands to the shoulder joints.
- Along the entire surface of the legs – from the feet to the pelvis. Here pats can be strengthened, let them be tangible and pleasant.
- Abdomen: from bottom to top, chest, shoulder joints.
- End the massage with a foot pat.
The exercise should take no more than 10 minutes. Carry out this simple and pleasant procedure after a morning shower. Thanks to this massage, you will enjoy the feeling of cheerfulness and warmth all day long. This feeling will grow and get stronger as the vessels are trained and the immune system is strengthened.