Since last two years I have been practicing Pranayama, and Hatha Yoga for the last six months. I also do Tibetan yoga everyday. I have been having genital herpes outbreaks more frequently since my pranayama, and with increased frequency for longer healing periods since my Yoga practice. Instead of feeling rejuvenated, I feel tired and sleepy. Any insights into my condition? Do I need to stop my yoga and pranayama? IS there a way out to continue my practcies? Thank you.
[QUOTE=Ran;45577]Since last two years I have been practicing Pranayama, and Hatha Yoga for the last six months. I also do Tibetan yoga everyday. I have been having genital herpes outbreaks more frequently since my pranayama, and with increased frequency for longer healing periods since my Yoga practice. Instead of feeling rejuvenated, I feel tired and sleepy. Any insights into my condition? Do I need to stop my yoga and pranayama? IS there a way out to continue my practcies? Thank you.[/QUOTE]
You’ve changed your diet? Dietary changes are more likely a cause than yoga.
Or you were smooching on someone who had a different HSV1 virus than you had prior & so you’re having more outbreaks due to exposure to a new virus?
Either way, you’re dirty for posting this first. 
[QUOTE=Ran;45577]Since last two years I have been practicing Pranayama, and Hatha Yoga for the last six months. I also do Tibetan yoga everyday. I have been having genital herpes outbreaks more frequently since my pranayama, and with increased frequency for longer healing periods since my Yoga practice. Instead of feeling rejuvenated, I feel tired and sleepy. Any insights into my condition? Do I need to stop my yoga and pranayama? IS there a way out to continue my practcies? Thank you.[/QUOTE]
Can you say what your practice is? What type of hatha and pranayama practices do you do each day? If the practices are not right for your body, it may be decreasing the effectiveness of your immune system to fight off outbreaks. Are you taking anything preventative? Are you practicing a good diet for herpes or using Lysine supplements at all?
For Pranayama, I do Bhastrika, Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma.
For Hatha Yoga, I follow Sivananda school, which contains twelve asanas.
I also do five tibetans.
My diet is mostly vegetarian. I drink alchohol socially very infrequently.
I do not follow any particular diet for prevention of herpes. I contracted it eight years ago, but only now I feel its severity.
[QUOTE=Ran;45614]For Pranayama, I do Bhastrika, Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma.
For Hatha Yoga, I follow Sivananda school, which contains twelve asanas.
I also do five tibetans.
My diet is mostly vegetarian. I drink alchohol socially very infrequently.
I do not follow any particular diet for prevention of herpes. I contracted it eight years ago, but only now I feel its severity.[/QUOTE]
Are you making sure to eat a balance veg diet & making sure to get enough daily calories? Taking any supplements or vitamins & minerals?
[QUOTE=Ran;45614]For Pranayama, I do Bhastrika, Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma.
For Hatha Yoga, I follow Sivananda school, which contains twelve asanas.
I also do five tibetans.
My diet is mostly vegetarian. I drink alchohol socially very infrequently.
I do not follow any particular diet for prevention of herpes. I contracted it eight years ago, but only now I feel its severity.[/QUOTE]
I believe (I don’t have my notebooks) that Bhastrika and Kapalabhati pranayama both increase heat in the body. Since HSV is an inflammatory disease, you may want to consider decreasing or eliminating them from your practice. Cooling and balancing pranayama practices could be better for you, but it would be best to speak to a good teacher about which would be the best practice for you.
I don’t know much about the Sivananda program or the five Tibetans - but tiredness, sleepiness, and increased outbreaks are a sign that your immune system is either fighting something, or not able to function at it’s optimum level. If you have a teacher, you may want to speak to them about adjusting the frequency and intensity of your practices, or giving you a different practice all together to help you build strength. If you don’t have a teacher, try taking a break for two weeks to see if you feel better or have more energy. If you do, then you should find a teacher to give you a more suitable practice.
Diet: Do a google search for lysine / arginine ratio in relation to HSV. Simple changes to your diet or the use of appropriate supplements may decrease the frequency of outbreaks.
Keep in mine that stress has an incredible effect on the immune system also. If there have been any major life changes lately, or increased pressure in any realm - reflect on that as well.
Good luck.
[QUOTE=suryadaya;45621]…Diet: Do a google search for lysine / arginine ratio in relation to HSV. Simple changes to your diet or the use of appropriate supplements may decrease the frequency of outbreaks…[/QUOTE]
& try going a little more sattvic in the diet, avoid the rajasic. In the past spicy foods always set off my oral herpes but I suppose the virus ran it’s course, now I could use Scotch Bonnet chap stick & it wouldn’t do anything.
Thank you Indradeva and Suryadeva for your very helpful answers. I eat eggs four times a week for breakfast and I dont eat very spicy food generally. I dont take any vitamin supplements, I used to take them couple of years back. I have read somewhere that any yoga asnas which stimulate muladhara chakra, possibly spike up herpes. Anyoid thi truth in that? I could then avoid those asanas.
Both the Tibetan rites and the first two pranayamas you mention I would likely not do with your condition. They are very pitta in nature and likely to aggravate something that needs to be calmed.
Do you feel tired and sleepy all the time or just after your practices?
I feel tired and sleepy after Yoga and pranayama. Tibetan rites boost energy but after a few hours, I am sleepy again. As far as stress is concerned, I am fairly relaxed and not in a hurry. No major lifestyle changes really, but I have been off smoking, alchohol and meat since last three months.
If I was in your position, I would probably go to my trusted doctor for a physical. With your recent dietary changes, are you sure you’re getting enough iron and other essential nutrients? A good physical would also cover that.
Symptoms for herpes can vary from person to person. Some people can experience strong recurring symptoms, others can experience light symptoms, or none at all.