
Yoga can help treat many different ailments. In particular, yoga to support thyroid treatment has been shown to be effective.
India is the birthplace of yoga more than 5,000 years ago. Over time and development, today, yoga has been proven as a discipline that can help treat many diseases, including thyroid diseases. Let’s see the sharing below with easyhealthylive.com to understand more about how yoga treats thyroid.
How does yoga treat the thyroid?
Thyroid disorder is a very common disease in recent years. This is an endocrine disorder, manifesting as either hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormone) or hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency). This condition adversely affects the metabolism in the body.
When you have thyroid problems, you may experience symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain or loss, changes in your heart rate, and neck swelling. Unscientific lifestyle, constant stress and fatigue are the “culprits” of this condition. Yoga helps support thyroid treatment by reducing stress. Not only that, twisting, bending and stretching movements also help massage the thyroid gland and regulate the release of hormones.
10 yoga poses to help treat thyroid diseases extremely effectively
1. Shoulder Stand
This is a simple inversion with shoulder support. When performing this pose, the blood flow to the throat will increase, which is very beneficial for the treatment of hypothyroidism.
Doing
- Lie on your back with your back straight on an exercise mat
- Place a folded towel below your shoulders
- Place your arms at your sides, palms facing down
- Press your arms firmly and place your back on the floor. Inhale and raise your legs perpendicular to the ground
- Place your hands on your lower back to support your hips
- Make sure your legs and torso are in a straight line with your chin tucked into your chest
- Inhale and exhale for about 3 counts before lowering your legs.
- Tighten your abdominal muscles throughout the exercise.
The shoulder stand can damage the neck if not done properly. If you have Graves disease or hyperthyroidism, you should avoid this exercise because this pose can increase thyroid function.
2. Legs up the wall pose (Viparita Karani)
This is also an inverted pose that can help reduce hypothyroidism by improving blood circulation to the thyroid glands. In addition, this pose also helps to improve the spirit, reduce fatigue and treat insomnia.
Doing
- Lie on your back and keep your elbows on the ground
- Support your hips with your hands and slowly raise your legs up
- Pull the shoulder blades towards each other
- Stretch your neck, try to keep your neck and ground in line
- Put your feet against the wall and hold the pose for 5 minutes
This pose is not beneficial for people with hyperthyroidism.
3. Plow pose
The plow pose has the effect of activating the thyroid gland, at the same time toning the back and abdominal muscles and helping to relax the nervous system.
Doing
- Lie on your back on the mat, keeping your head stationary, feet, palms, and elbows flat on the floor.
- Raise your legs until they are perpendicular to the floor
- Push your feet behind your head until your feet touch the floor
- Hold this pose for a minute while breathing deeply
- To make it easier, you can press your hands to your waist while lifting your body with your elbows
Note: People with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis should not perform this pose.
4. Fish Pose
The fish pose helps to increase blood circulation to the thyroid gland. In addition, this pose also helps to treat hypothyroidism and improve spine health.
Doing
- Sit in the lotus position on the mat
- Leaning back while still sitting in the lotus position
- Hold your body weight with your elbows. Place your forearm on the mat, palm facing down.
- Hold this pose for as long as possible
You should do the fish pose right after the shoulder stand to get the most benefit. Avoid this pose if you have high blood pressure, spondylitis, or migraines.
5. Bow Pose
Bow pose has the effect of massaging the thyroid gland. This pose is very helpful in treating hypothyroidism as it stimulates hormone production. In addition, the bow pose also helps relieve menstrual pain, strengthens the back, and relieves stress.
Doing
- Lie face down on the carpet
- Lift and flex your legs while moving towards your buttocks
- Stretch your arms back until you can hold your legs
- Lift the upper body while holding the legs
- Hold the pose for 5 minutes
This pose is not recommended for people with herniated discs and pregnant women.
6. Camel Pose
Camel pose stretches the neck and improves blood circulation. In addition, this pose also helps to treat asthma and reduce spine problems.
Doing
- Kneel and place your heels toward the ceiling. Ankle touches the ground.
- Keep your back straight
- Bend back and move towards the toes. Try to keep your chest parallel to the floor and legs
- Bend back while holding your heels with your hands
- Hold the pose for 5 minutes
The camel pose is not suitable for people with stomach ulcers, herniated discs, pregnant women, people with arthritis and dizziness.
7. Bridge Pose
Practicing the bridge pose regularly is a great way to regulate thyroid hormones. In particular, this pose also increases blood flow to the brain, helping to relax and indirectly control hyperthyroidism.
Doing
- Lie on your back
- Slowly bend your knees so that your feet make a 90-degree angle with the ground. Reach out to touch your heels
- Hands on the mat, head resting on the ground. Lift your back, feel the stretch in your back and neck
- Hold the pose for 5 minutes while breathing steadily
Pregnant women, people with stomach ulcers and herniated discs should avoid this pose.
8. Ujjayi Pranayama Breathing Exercise
Ujjayi Pranayama is a breathing exercise that stimulates reflexes in the throat to regulate thyroid hormone production, thereby assisting in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Doing
- Choose a comfortable meditation posture such as the lotus pose
- Using both nostrils, take a deep breath
- Exhale and make a sound like “HHAAA” from your throat
- Repeat this exercise about ten times
- Workout three times a day
Anyone can do the Ujjayi Pranayama breathing exercise whether or not they have an underlying medical condition.
9. Cobra Pose
Cobra pose helps stretch the neck and throat, increases hormone production and helps treat hypothyroidism. In particular, the cobra pose also helps treat chronic back pain.
Doing
- Lie on your stomach and put your palms on the ground
- Raise your upper body up and form a snake-like shape
- Tilt your head back
- Hold this pose for a few minutes
Do not perform the cobra pose if you have just had abdominal surgery or have a herniated disc or stomach ulcer.
10. Boat Pose
The boat pose has a stimulating effect on the thyroid area and provides great support in the treatment of hypothyroidism. In addition, this pose is a great way to strengthen the abdominal area and improve the strength of the spine.
Doing
- Sit with your legs straight on the mat
- Place your palms face down on either side of your legs
- Lean back after squeezing your body
- Lift your feet off the floor by bending your knees
- If possible, extend your legs so that your feet are facing out, forming a ‘V’ shape.
- Raise your arms at shoulder height
- Point palms together with fingers extended
- Inhale and exhale for 5 breaths
Pregnant women and people with abdominal pain should not perform this pose. Regular yoga practice can help improve mental clarity and release energy, thereby reducing the symptoms of some thyroid diseases. If you are having a headache about thyroid-related diseases, try yoga today to feel the change.
Reference source
Yoga for Thyroid Problems – 11 Poses (Asanas) to Live a Better Life https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/yoga-for-thyroid-problems-11-possess-asanas-to-live-a-better-life/ Access date: 12/8/2020

John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.