Asanas for Motion Sickness
Yoga asanas may help alleviate symptoms like nausea and dizziness by promoting circulation, calming the nervous system, and supporting better breath regulation. Grounding poses are particularly beneficial, although the most effective practices can vary between individuals due to the personal nature of motion sickness triggers.
These grounding poses work by helping the body shift into a parasympathetic state—associated with rest and recovery—counteracting the overstimulation of the senses that often accompanies motion sickness. By keeping the body close to the floor, engaging steady breath awareness, and encouraging stillness, these poses create a sense of physical and emotional stability. This anchoring effect can help reduce the intensity of disorientation and ease the cycle of discomfort.
Motion sickness can occur during travel by car, train, boat, or other forms of transportation. It arises from conflicting signals between the inner ear (which senses motion), the eyes (which may not register movement), and the body’s sense of position. This sensory mismatch can lead to symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and vomiting. While the underlying cause is the same, the specific triggers may differ depending on the type of movement involved.
To complement these poses, Dirga Pranayama (three-part breath) can be practised during or after an episode. By guiding the breath into the belly, ribs, and upper chest in a slow and rhythmic pattern, it activates the diaphragm and calms the vagus nerve. This supports digestion, soothes the nervous system, and helps shift attention inward—restoring a sense of internal balance even when the external environment feels unsteady. Additionally, pranayama (breath control) techniques like alternate-nostril breathing and Kapalabhati can be helpful.
Through gentle movement and conscious breathing, yoga and pranayama support the body’s natural ability to regulate stress, stabilise the nervous system, and ease the disorientation caused by motion sickness.
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