Yes, yoga can help you deal with motion sickness. Motion sickness is a problem that is faced by many people across the world. There are many remedies that you can try for motion sickness. One very effective and proved way to prevent motion sickness is yoga

If a person in the family has motion sickness then it can be a problem for the entire family. Especially when you are travelling due to motion sickness you can create a lot of trouble to others. There are remedies like ginger slice and chewing gum that can reduce motion sickness. Of course there are medicated pills which help you to avoid motion sickness but if we can control something in a natural manner it is better than taking medicines.

Reasons for Motion Sickness

Motion sickness happens to people who feel sick when they are in motion. It can happen when you are in a bus, a car or on any vehicle that is moving. Sea sickness is a special case of motion sickness which occurs when you are travelling on a ship, boat or any such water borne vessel.

Motion sickness usually occur when the eye, inner ear and other areas of the body send conflicting signals to the brain as a result the brain is not able to deal with the situation. The sensory nerves of the body sense motion but the other parts of the body do not sense so as a result the brain gets confused.

Symptoms of Motion Sickness

Motion sickness can lead to nausea and even vomiting. It can happen to anyone no matter what the age of the person is. Most of the time people have motion sickness from birth. Some people have serious problem of motion sickness and some do get it occasionally. There can be reasons for getting motion sickness at times. Especially if you are travelling empty stomach the effect of motion sickness can be even more.

Yoga in Motion Sickness

Note: Before discussing more about the role of yoga in treating or controlling motion sickness let me tell you that basically this is not an instant remedy like taking motion sickness pills. In case you have strong tendency to get motion sickness and have to travel, you would be in a better position if you take motion sickness pills. Yoga is something which you need to practice for at least a certain minimum  period of time before your body gets over the motion sickness phenomenon.

Many people who had chronic problem of motion sickness have benefited from the Yoga in the past. The logical explanation to this is there. Yoga helps the mind to get a better control over the body. This is exactly why when you are doing yoga your mind gets more relaxed and the body comes under the control of the mind.

As a result you slowly learn to deal with the problems of motion sickness. You must follow the following yoga session each day. Try to do it for twenty to thirty minutes on a daily basis. You will slowly notice that your problem of motion sickness is gone. These yoga asanas can solve many other health and mind related problems too. So let us start by taking a look at some of the asanas associated with motion sickness reduction.

Yoga Asanas for Motion Sickness

Suryanamaskara

Start with Suryanamaskara, the twelve set Suryanamaskara has already been explained in our other articles. It helps to improve the blood circulation in the body and is immensely beneficial. You must do at least five rounds of the same. You can read more about Suryanamaskara here.

Meru Prithasana

Follow this with meru prithasana. In this you need to stand straight and rotate only the upper half of the body.

Vrikshasana

After this you can do the Vrikshasana which is also called the tree pose. This is one of the few asanas that must be done with eyes open. You must stand on one leg and you hands should be stretched out to the ceiling. You must breathe in and as release the pose breath out. This improves the sense of balance and as a result reduces the sense of motion sickness.

Vrikshasana or Tree Pose

Virbhadrasana

Follow this with a session of the virbhadrasana. This is also called the warrior pose. You need to stand with your legs stretched. Your hands should be stretched at the sides. We have enclosed a picture of the same.

Warrior Pose

Matsyasana

Matsyasana can be beneficial too. Practice the same for a few seconds. This is also called the fish pose. All that you need to do is sit on the floor. Now fold your legs as shown in the picture. Your head should support the upper half of the body.

Matsyasana

Sarvangasana

If you can do a session of sarvagasana it can really help your motion sickness problem. This is also called the shoulder stand. In this you need to rest your whole body on the shoulder. This might not be easy to learn and do for all. Still you can try if possible.

Sarvangasana

The session of yoga must be ended with shavasana. This is also called the corpse pose. This will make the session of the yoga that you have done so far more effective and stronger.

Image Sources

YIL Website

Hindu Yoga Website

Teachers in Yoga Training Kaithal Ashrama