Fight Off Cold Season With These 5 Yoga Poses

When you take deep belly breaths in Child's Pose, your central nervous system and adrenal glands have a chance to calm down. This simple restorative pose helps your entire body reset, relax, and perform at its full potential.

• Kneel on your mat with your knees hips-width distance apart and your big toes touching behind you.
• Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, lie your torso down onto your thighs. Try to lengthen your neck and spine by drawing your ribs away from your tailbone and moving the crown of your head away from your shoulders.
• Extend your arms out, fully, in front of you.
• Stay here for five breaths or longer.

Wide-Legged Forward Bend is a feel-good inversion that gives your whole body a big release. Even better, whenever you invert (or whenever your head is below your heart), you're helping your lymphatic system cleanse your body of toxins, therefore boosting your body's ability to fight off infection.

• Stand with your feet four feet or so apart, heels turned out slightly wider than the toes. Standing tall, interlace your hands behind you, pressing the heels of your palms together in a double fist.
• Take a deep breath in, and slowly fold forward at the waist, lowering your hands as far as you can. Keep the spine long and straight as you breathe for five deep breaths. Engage your legs, and slowly rise up to stand.

Twist out toxins from your internal organs, and give your body a jump start with this energizing pose.

• Stand with both feet together, bend your knees, and squat down, coming into Fierce Pose. Cross your right elbow over your left thigh, planting your right palm on the floor beside your left foot. If you can't reach all the way, just allow your fingers to hover in the air, as close to the floor as possible.
• Extend your left arm straight up toward the ceiling, stacking your shoulders, and gaze at your lifted palm. Make sure both knees are parallel. Hold for five deep breaths.
• Press into your feet, inhale to rise back up to Fierce, and exhale to repeat this pose on the right side, holding for another five breaths. Then rise back up to Fierce Pose, and straighten the legs.

This Downward Dog variation is one of the most common inversions in a yoga practice that can help your body reap the big benefits of flipping upside down — even if you're a beginner. This pose challenges your strength and is also incredibly effective when it comes to promoting healthy circulation throughout the body.

• Come onto your hands and knees, so your hands are shoulder-width distance apart, with your knees directly below each hip. Tuck your toes, and straighten your legs, coming into Downward Facing Dog.
• Keeping your shoulders parallel with the floor, step both feet together, and raise your right leg into the air. After five deep breaths, lower the leg, and repeat this pose with the left leg lifted.

Help your digestive system grow stronger and healthier by bringing fresh blood to the organs with Bow Pose. If your core is sore or your digestion needs some help, opt for this pose ASAP.

• Lie down on your belly, bend your knees, and hold onto the outside edge of your right ankle and then your left. Once you have a firm hold of each ankle, flex both feet, pulling your feet away from you to increase the stretch in your chest and shoulders.
• Lift your feet up as high as you can, and shift your weight forward, so you're resting on your navel instead of on your pubic bone.
• Hold for five deep breaths, and then slowly release.