Complement Your Thyroid Treatment with Yoga

Yoga plays a therapeutic role in restoring thyroid function. Whether you have an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) or an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism), yoga can help reduce the symptoms and reverse the hormonal imbalance with regular practice.

Yoga poses for hypothyroidism

Supported shoulder stand or sarvangasana

This pose stimulates the thyroid gland and helps balance the endocrine, circulatory, nervous, and respiratory system. This supported inversion calms the mind and relieves mental and emotional stress while also boosting the immune system.

Fish pose or matsyasana

Matsyasana exposes the throat with a reverse stretch and stimulates the thorax, spine, and cervical muscles. This pose also expands the rib cage and improves lung capacity. 

Seated head to knee pose or janu sirsasana 

This forward bend increases the flexibility in the hip joints, gives a good stretch to the hamstring muscles, calms the nervous system, and reduces anxiety and stress.

Boat pose or naukasana

The boat pose stimulates the thyroid glands, kidneys, intestines, and adrenal glands while relieving stress, improving balance and digestion, and strengthening abdominal muscles, spine, and hip flexors.

Cat-cow pose or marjaryasana/bitilasana

The combination of two yoga asanas, cat stretch (marjaryasana) and cow stretch (bitilasana) releases stress while improving body coordination. Doing these asanas with the awareness of breath helps increase emotional balance. It stimulates the throat chakra, abdominal area, the kidneys, and the adrenal glands.

Camel pose or ustrasana

This pose stretches the chest and neck muscles and stimulates the thyroid gland to improve its functioning. The powerful stretch also has a positive impact on anxiety and stress relief. The backbend releases tension, helps calm the mind, improves digestion, lowers high blood pressure, and corrects posture.

Yoga Poses for Hyperthyroidism

Bridge pose or setu bandhasana

This pose gives a good stretch to the neck, chest, and spine while working the lower body and toning the hamstrings and buttocks. The benefits of the bridge pose also includes stimulating the abdominal muscles and thyroid gland, calming the nervous system, relieving symptoms of menopause, reducing tiredness, and lowering high blood pressure.

Child’s pose or balasana

The child’s pose effectively strengthens and stretches the back muscles and relieves tension in the neck and spine. Owing to its calming effect on the mind, this pose is usually practiced as a rest pose during vinyasa yoga, which includes flowing movement. 

Corpse pose or savasana

This pose offers deep relaxation for the body and mind while increasing inner awareness. It can be practiced at any time of the day to relax and de-stress completely. Savasana practice can extend from 5 minutes to 30 minutes and can be paired with yoga nidra for deep healing.

Remember, yoga is not a replacement for any traditional treatment you might be undergoing, but it is a complementary therapy that can help you ease your symptoms and speed up your recovery. Please consult your doctor before discontinuing any current treatment or starting yoga for thyroid treatment.

If you are a beginner and have never done yoga before, it is important to practice these poses under the guidance of an experienced yoga trainer to avoid injuries. ImStrong yoga teachers guide you every step of the way to ensure the right form and help you get the most benefit from every asana.