Ringing inside the ears, also known as tinnitus, afflicts 50 million people in the United States, according to the American Tinnitus Association, or ATA. Continual ear ringing is a debilitating condition that has no cure yet. Due to this, many people look for alternative approaches, such as yoga, to alleviate their suffering.
Approaches To Tinnitus Alleviation
Due to the complex nature of the condition, you should seek the advice from a medical professional before embarking on a treatment. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, it may be a symptom of other underlying conditions. Addressing the underlying conditions for ear ringing are as important treating the condition. As a holistic approach to treatment, yoga can assist ringing inside the ears in two main ways: through breathing techniques and poses.
Breathing Techniques
Deep breathing, or pranayama, helps to reduce stress and bring calmness. Holistic Online suggests 175 deep breathes every hour until the condition improves. You can try the yoga breathing technique kapalabhati, the cleansing breath. To do this, breath in, then exhale while pulling in the abdomen. Repeat this rhythmically, focusing on inhaling into the belly and exhaling slowly and completely.
Poses For Tinnitus
Yoga, on the whole, can help reduce stress and increase body awareness, which can lead to overall health, according to instructor and owner of Karma Yoga, Angie Pyles. To specifically address tinnitus and ear health, Pyles recommends the plow pose, halasana, and deaf man's pose, karna pidasana. She says "both poses help to open the sinus canals, which can help with the ringing."
Plow and Deaf Man
Plow pose and deaf man's pose can be done in succession. First get into a shoulder stand by lifting your pelvis and torso off the floor until your legs are straight above your head. Then proceed to slowly lower your feet to the floor behind your head. This is plow pose. To get into deaf man's pose, lower your knees to the floor next to your ears. Practice these moves with care, going only as far as you can.
