3. Gentle Exercise

The first point to note is obviously keep moving your body. Exercise boosts circulation which helps the function of all workings in the body and is therefore essential to keeping the immune system strong. A mix of gentle movement, functional cardio and stretching, will keep your body motoring in optimal condition. A few great pieces of exercise equipment to have at home are: a workout mat, a set of resistance bands, and a pair of floor sliders. They are all economic, take up no room, and give a huge range of exercise options. Hatha yoga is a wonderful way to incorporate this into your day as the mix of static postures and movement allows for gentle movement with the breath which keeps the nervous system calm. 

4. Ginger & Turmeric

f you don’t have any form of ginger in your diet already…start! This superfood is renowned for boosting immunity and research shows ginger also protects the respiratory system. A couple of great ways to add some ginger into your life: ginger tea, ginger shots which are available in to-go form from lots of places, and why not try grating ginger into your cooking. This works great to add some bold freshness to salads or a stir fry.

Here’s out favourite and super easy recipe for homemade tea:

FRESH GINGER TEA

 

Peel and grate two inches of ginger into a saucepan. Then fill with 2 cups of water and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat to simmer and cover with a lid. Let steep for twenty minutes. Add 1/2 a lemon sliced and a tablespoon of organic maple syrup to taste, stir through. Strain, serve, and enjoy! 

(This recipe makes enough tea for 1 person, for extra servings just double the quantity of everything involved)

There you have it, a super simple recipe that makes the perfect warming winter drink or if the sun’s out why not ice it after cooking to enjoy a refreshing immunity boosting aid! 

Turmeric has also hit the press a lot in recent years and with good reason. This superfood is shown to fight off viral infections and even be anti-cancerous. Great ways of getting turmeric into your system are: Sprinkling the powder over cooking, adding to curries and sauces, again on-the-go shots, and my favourite is Golden Milk.

 5. Yoga

Yoga is known to help overall wellbeing and it’s not all spiritual jargon. The science shows that as we bend and move in and out of postures we gently massage our internal organs and glands, stimulating their function. This visceral massage not only helps boost the immune system, but also the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Another little piece of info for you all, Salamba Sarvangāsana, or shoulder stand as we know it, is referred to as the king of all yoga poses because it is just that good for you! This inversion stimulates the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are responsible for total body wellbeing. So if you want to stay healthy, grab a blanket and try a supported shoulder stand for a couple of minutes a day. When you feel secure in your shoulder stand feel free to have a little upside play with leg shapes or a slight backbend like in this picture, whilst still getting all the inversion benefits.

Don’t forget to always follow your Shoulderstand with Fish pose, Matsyāsana! For a real treat try a supported fish pose on a block or bolster.

6. Stress

Cortisol, the hormone the body releases when physically or emotionally stressed, plays absolute havoc on the body and particularly the digestive and immune systems. Reduce stress fro your life wherever possible, be it in your work, home, or social life. Some great stress-reducing habits to include into your daily routine are: simple 1-1 breathing where you inhale and exhale for the same length of counts, a quick 5-10 guided meditation, journalling what you’re grateful for each morning – list at leats 5 things, and never forgetting a quick daily dose or movement to improve circulation, lower stress, and boost endorphins, the happy hormones!

7. Vitamin C

We all know the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ and it’s true. Vitamin C plays a key role in keeping your immunity levels high. Don’t worry it’s not all oranges you need, here are some great other fresh sources of Vitamin C: red peppers, kiwis, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and strawberries.

10. Sleep

Last but not least, sleep! This is so important for us as humans, we cannot run on empty and need to let our bodies rest and recuperate from our crazy lives. Aim for a solid 7-8 hours a night and also take time out during the day for you to actually rest. Not watching TV or scrolling on digital devices, try nourishing activities like stretching, having a bath, spending time in nature, reading a book. Really take care of you and your wellbeing.

There you have it… 10 of our absolute best healthy habits to keep your immune system in tip top condition – how many of the list do you already utilise in your health first aid kit, and how many of the list can you start this week?

Keep well friends!
Love and Light, 
The Eye of Hatha Team 

3. Gentle Exercise

The first point to note is obviously keep moving your body. Exercise boosts circulation which helps the function of all workings in the body and is therefore essential to keeping the immune system strong. A mix of gentle movement, functional cardio and stretching, will keep your body motoring in optimal condition. A few great pieces of exercise equipment to have at home are: a workout mat, a set of resistance bands, and a pair of floor sliders. They are all economic, take up no room, and give a huge range of exercise options. Hatha yoga is a wonderful way to incorporate this into your day as the mix of static postures and movement allows for gentle movement with the breath which keeps the nervous system calm. 

4. Ginger & Turmeric

f you don’t have any form of ginger in your diet already…start! This superfood is renowned for boosting immunity and research shows ginger also protects the respiratory system. A couple of great ways to add some ginger into your life: ginger tea, ginger shots which are available in to-go form from lots of places, and why not try grating ginger into your cooking. This works great to add some bold freshness to salads or a stir fry.

Here’s out favourite and super easy recipe for homemade tea:

FRESH GINGER TEA

 

Peel and grate two inches of ginger into a saucepan. Then fill with 2 cups of water and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat to simmer and cover with a lid. Let steep for twenty minutes. Add 1/2 a lemon sliced and a tablespoon of organic maple syrup to taste, stir through. Strain, serve, and enjoy! 

(This recipe makes enough tea for 1 person, for extra servings just double the quantity of everything involved)

There you have it, a super simple recipe that makes the perfect warming winter drink or if the sun’s out why not ice it after cooking to enjoy a refreshing immunity boosting aid! 

Turmeric has also hit the press a lot in recent years and with good reason. This superfood is shown to fight off viral infections and even be anti-cancerous. Great ways of getting turmeric into your system are: Sprinkling the powder over cooking, adding to curries and sauces, again on-the-go shots, and my favourite is Golden Milk.

 5. Yoga

Yoga is known to help overall wellbeing and it’s not all spiritual jargon. The science shows that as we bend and move in and out of postures we gently massage our internal organs and glands, stimulating their function. This visceral massage not only helps boost the immune system, but also the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Another little piece of info for you all, Salamba Sarvangāsana, or shoulder stand as we know it, is referred to as the king of all yoga poses because it is just that good for you! This inversion stimulates the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are responsible for total body wellbeing. So if you want to stay healthy, grab a blanket and try a supported shoulder stand for a couple of minutes a day. When you feel secure in your shoulder stand feel free to have a little upside play with leg shapes or a slight backbend like in this picture, whilst still getting all the inversion benefits.

Don’t forget to always follow your Shoulderstand with Fish pose, Matsyāsana! For a real treat try a supported fish pose on a block or bolster.

6. Stress

Cortisol, the hormone the body releases when physically or emotionally stressed, plays absolute havoc on the body and particularly the digestive and immune systems. Reduce stress fro your life wherever possible, be it in your work, home, or social life. Some great stress-reducing habits to include into your daily routine are: simple 1-1 breathing where you inhale and exhale for the same length of counts, a quick 5-10 guided meditation, journalling what you’re grateful for each morning – list at leats 5 things, and never forgetting a quick daily dose or movement to improve circulation, lower stress, and boost endorphins, the happy hormones!

7. Vitamin C

We all know the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ and it’s true. Vitamin C plays a key role in keeping your immunity levels high. Don’t worry it’s not all oranges you need, here are some great other fresh sources of Vitamin C: red peppers, kiwis, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and strawberries.

8. Avoid Added Sugars

Sugar can lower your immune system for as much as 6 hours by increasing the blood’s acidity, which we already know is a what viruses need to breach cell walls and infect you. Avoid excess and added sugars by staying away from processed foods and confectionary.

9. Water

The simplest yet most effective healthy habit to boost your immune system and keep the body functioning in optimal condition… water, water, water! The key is to sip throughout the day so you never actually feel thirsty and are never dehydrated. Water carries oxygen around the body helping to remove toxin build up and allowing the immune system to run efficiently.

If you struggle to drink plain water, try adding herbs, citrus fruits, and berries to make it interesting! We also recommend using a good brand of electrolytes when travelling, after being ill, or when you’re feeling run down to keep your body hydrated.

10. Sleep

Last but not least, sleep! This is so important for us as humans, we cannot run on empty and need to let our bodies rest and recuperate from our crazy lives. Aim for a solid 7-8 hours a night and also take time out during the day for you to actually rest. Not watching TV or scrolling on digital devices, try nourishing activities like stretching, having a bath, spending time in nature, reading a book. Really take care of you and your wellbeing.

There you have it… 10 of our absolute best healthy habits to keep your immune system in tip top condition – how many of the list do you already utilise in your health first aid kit, and how many of the list can you start this week?

Keep well friends!
Love and Light, 
The Eye of Hatha Team