The past almost 2 months have been some of the hardest I’ve ever experienced in terms of my health. I started feeling poorly, and very quickly, things escalated. I ended up with pneumonia that lingered far longer than I could have imagined. Before that, I’d already been worn out by a stomach bug that lasted a grueling 10 days. By the time pneumonia hit, my immune system was completely drained.

As soon as I realized how unwell I was, I took to bed. My body left me no choice. I couldn’t sit up, eat, or even drink water—it demanded absolute rest. After about a week, I managed to start moving around a little and slowly began to regain some strength, but it took three weeks before I felt like I was truly on the mend.

When I was at my worst and couldn’t lift my head, I had no option but to listen to my body. But as soon as my energy began to return, I found myself slipping back into old patterns—the same habits that tend to shape how I live my life. I was doing too much too soon, using every bit of energy I had, and inevitably crashing again. I realized I had to work hard to not overdo it, to remind myself that my body needed time and care to heal fully.

During this time, my usual yoga practice was nearly nonexistent. However, I knew my lungs needed some gentle challenge—even though it was uncomfortable—to help keep the tissues healthy and resilient.

I know there’s a lot of illness going around at the moment, and I’m certainly not the only one. So, here’s what I did as soon as I was through the worst of the first week and started to mend, little by little:

Breathwork Practice for Recovery

Step 1: Start Simple

• Inhale for a count of 3.
• Hold your breath for a count of 3.
• Exhale for a count of 3.

If your lungs feel fragile, take a few regular breaths between rounds. Repeat this simple 3-3-3 breath exercise for anywhere between 3 to 12 rounds, depending on what feels manageable.

Step 2: Progress Gradually

• Once this feels comfortable, increase the count:
• Inhale for 4.
• Hold for 8.
• Exhale for 8.

If this feels too intense or makes you cough, try simply inhaling and holding your breath for a few gentle counts before exhaling. The key is to listen to your body and ease into what feels right for you.

Other Healing Practices

Alongside breathwork, these remedies also supported my recovery:

• A spoonful of manuka honey before bed to soothe my chest.
• Propolis drops in the morning.
• Plenty of ginger tea and water throughout the day.
• A full course of necessary medications prescribed by my doctor.
• Probiotics to restore my gut health after being unwell.
• A consultation with a herbalist, which resulted in a herbal remedy. I’ve just started taking. My first dose felt like it truly nourished my system in a deep way.

This experience reminded me of how important it is to truly listen to our bodies. Rest as much as you can, nourish yourself, and give your body the care it needs to heal.

Stay well and take care of yourself.
xo