Yoga exercises or asanas have been practiced globally over the years. Baba Ramdev has popularised and brought Yoga exercises back into the limelight. The selection of Yoga exercises or a particular asana is recommended as per the ailment, each exercise helps a particular part of the body. Similarly, we have specific Yoga exercises for our ears for better hearing power or to improve our hearing ability.
Do Yoga Exercises for Ears Help in Hearing Loss?
Yoga exercises or Asanas is a natural hearing loss solution, the exercises are very beneficial and will certainly help in hearing loss. The exercises or Asanas will help in overcoming the Hearing deficiency and reduce your dependence on medicines and hearing aid machines. Regular Yoga exercises can stop your hearing loss progressing or increasing.
Can Yoga Exercises for Ears Help for Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Yoga exercises for ears or Asanas can certainly help for Sensorineural Hearing Loss. The elders or those over the age of 50 are more affected as it is age-related and caused by the damage or weakening of the Auditotry nerve, this nerves carry the speech or sound signals to our brain. The Yoga exercises or asanas will help rejuvenate the nerves to improve their ability to carry signals to the brain.
Can Yoga Exercises for Ears Help for Conductive Hearing Loss?
Yoga exercises or Asanas can help by reducing chances of an ear infection which is one of the causes of Conductive Hearing Loss.
Which Yoga Exercises or Asanas Will Help Me Improve My Hearing Naturally?
The following asanas or Yoga exercises for ears have been selected. Though there are many more exercises for better hearing power or improved ear health.
1. Bhramari Pranayama
2. Matsyasana or Fish Pose
3. Shunya Mudra
Why These 3 Exercises or Asanas?
These Yoga exercises have been selected with the primary intention to increase the blood supply to the Ear, release the stiffness around the neck and shoulder area and strengthen the spinal cord. Improvement gained by practising these will bring about a definite improvement in Ear Health.
1. Bhramari Pranayama
The exercises or asanas for breathing are called Pranayama, there are different Pranayama asanas, the Bhramari Pranayama or the Bee Breath is recommended for better hearing power. The word Bhramari is derived from the Hindi word Bhramar or Bhavra which means a Honey Bee. This exercise is especially for the Ear, Nose and Throat. The exhaling of air during the exercise sounds similar to the humming of the Bee, this produces an echo in the ears and also resonates the skull and stimulates the hair cells which are instrumental in converting the sound signals into electrical impulses. The weakening of these hair cells is the main cause of Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
Easy Steps for Bhrambari Yoga Exercise.
Repeat the process about 5 to 7 times.
This will free up the sinuses and blocked ears and will also stimulate parts of the Ear.
- Sit crossed leg or in the Padmasana pose
- Close your eyes.
- Close your ears by turning the earlobes using your index finger or your thumb. (Do not press very hard)
- Inhale deeply, keep your mouth closed and let out the air (exhale) through your nose making a humming sound or recite Om!
2. Matsyasana or Fish Pose
Due to age, there is a reduction in the blood supply to the head and the parts of the Ear, one of the reasons being the compression of the vertebral artery due to age-related cervical spondylitis. Exercises which help improve the blood supply by freeing or reducing the stiffness in the neck region will greatly improve Hearing Power.
Though Shirshana or Headstand and Sarvangasana or shoulder stand are considered the best exercises for improved blood flow to the head, the Matsyasana is relatively easy to perform.
Matsyasana or Fish Pose Explained
Yoga largely takes inspiration from nature, most of the asanas are named after animals and other wildlife.
Matsyasana strengthens the muscles of the back of the neck and the upper back, it also stretches the throat and the upper neck.
If the above pose is difficult, one can start with the easy posture as shown below.
Easy Steps for Matsyasana Yoga Exercise
- Lie on your back with your hands on your side.
- keep your hands palm down under your hip for support, Inhale deeply and slowly raise your head and chest.
- Maintain the same position and try lowering your head back to touch the ground.
- Lift your chest up with the weight on the elbows and breathe in and out.
- Relax as you exhale and stiffen when you inhale, do it as long as you are comfortable.
- To finish, bring the head up slowly and lower the chest, bring back your hands to your side as in the starting position.
- Relax.
Shunya Mudra
Besides Asanas, Mudras (hand gestures) are also an important part of Yogic healing process.
The Shunya Mudra interpreted as Zero or Sky in Sanskrit is also known as Akash Mudra, this Mudra deals with the space within.
According to the Mudras, the 5 fingers represent the 5 elements of this Universe, these elements are Fire, Air, Space, Earth, Water.
Starting from the thumb which represents Fire the third finger represents Space. It is said that when a particular finger representing an element comes in contact with the thumb which represents fire, a charge is generated which rectifies that particular element.
The Shunya Mudra is strongly recommended for Tinnitus, Vertigo and for better overall Hearing power. The exercise should be done for 30 to 45 minutes every day.
Easy Steps for Shunya Mudra
- Sit crossed leg or in the Padmasana pose. Ensure that you are comfortable as you will be sitting for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Bend the middle finger, bring the thumb over the middle finger.
- Press the thumb gently till the middle finger touches the base of the thumb.
- The thumb should exert a slight pressure to keep the finger in place.
The advantage of this Mudra is that it can be done at any time of the day, in case it’s not possible to do it continuously for 30 to 40 minutes, it can be done for 15 minutes 3 times a day.
The ever-increasing stress and the noise are some of the major hearing loss causes, one should practice Yoga exercises for ears as a general routine and not wait for the ailment to strike. Yoga will improve your body language, boost your energy and improve mental faculties to face the challenges of life.
CAUTION: All Yoga exercises to be done under expert supervision.
