By Renuka Dhakal

Kathmandu, Apr. 20: It was a fun time for him to stay home with family members for a week. But when the lockdown prolonged for another week, Maheshwor Rijal, a resident of Jorpati, started feeling restless.
He said that he was getting frustrated as there was no sign of positive atmosphere as the coronavirus was spreading rapidly day by day.
People are confined in their houses with the enforcement of lockdown to combat the coronavirus. And in about four months since it was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019, over two million people have been infected and 160,000 died around the world. In Nepal, 31 people have been found infected with the coronavirus.
No medicine or vaccination has been found to control the spread of the deadly virus.
People are stressed and frustrated as they have no option but to stay indoors to avoid the contagion.
So far, the main measures to protect ourselves against the deadly virus are to maintain social/physical distancing, wash hands frequently, wear face masks, etc.
However, spiritual leaders are claiming that yoga and meditation could help one to stay safe from coronavirus.
In this regard, Nepali spiritual guru and founding Principal of Hindu Vidyapeeth, Dr Chinta Mani Yogi, urged people to use the natural herbs available in our kitchen and backyard easily to protect oneself from any kind of virus.
He said that Basil, cow urine, turmeric powder and other kinds of herbs that we use every day help boost human immune system.
He emphasized that the people should return to what he calls ‘kitchen therapy’.
“Nepal is stronger than other developed countries in terms of health and lifestyle because, we, Nepalis use natural herbs in our food which may have slowed the infection rate of the deadly coronavirus unlike in many advanced countries,” he said.
The second thing is breathing exercise can help protect oneself from the viruses, said Yogi. Breathing techniques such as Kapalbhati, Anulom bilom (alternate nostril), Bhastrika, Bhramari and other types of breathing techniques help us to keep our respiratory system robust. He said that any kind of chest infection or other types of infection can be cured by the breathing techniques.
Such breathing exercise helps generate high energy in people’s lungs so he believes that if people regularly practice Pranayam for at least 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening no virus and bacteria, even the deadly coronavirus, can affect the human body.
There are altogether eight forms of yoga, including Yama (abstinence), Niyama (observance), Asana (Yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing technique), and Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (absorption), and during this nationwide lockdown, people should at the least practice meditation, yoga and pranayaam to keep their heart and mind free from any kind of mental and physical discomfort, said Yogi.
Likewise, renowned spiritual master Swami Vikashananda said that human immune system is a prime factor that helps people fight against any virus or bacteria.
He emphasised that laughing and happiness were key to build the immune system. Happiness is the key to defeat the attack of the virus in human body and to generate happiness exercise and meditation should be a regular practice, said Vikashananda. According to him, happiness is the key to increase antibody.
According to Simon Neupane, Yoga, Meditation and Motivation Instructor, yoga is the process of moving our body and it is a process of invigorating the immune system. Likewise, breathing helps cleanse internal body organs and regenerate cells. He further added that once one builds a strong immune system and cleanses internal organs through yoga, no virus, bacteria and even current coronavirus can affect the human body.
According to Nawaraj Phuyal alias Chham, who has been working as Yoga instructor for more than 15 years, Yoga and meditation have a therapeutic value; they heal the body and mind and help to maintain balance in our internal system.
He further said that such yogic exercises immensely help bolster immune system and so far it has been told by the people who have recovered from coronavirus, experts and many spiritual masters that a solid immune system is the only way to fight against the deadly virus.
Indian Yoga Guru Ramdev has frequently been telling from various media that breathing is the best technique to protect oneself from the coronavirus.
He said that the first attack of the coronavirus is on the human respiratory system, heart and then it grips the entire internal organs of human body. “Coronavirus weakens the human respiratory system, however, various types of breathing techniques help cleanse the lungs and other internal body organs that untimely prevents infection.”
Harvard Medical School has also recommended that Yoga, meditation and control of breathing may help cope up with anxiety during this pandemic.