Let’s be honest—snoring is that one uninvited nighttime guest nobody asked for. Whether you are the one doing it or you are the unfortunate soul trying to sleep beside it, snoring can really mess with your sleep quality, mood, and even relationships. Snoring usually happens when air can’t move freely through your nose and throat while you sleep. Weak throat muscles, blocked nasal passages, poor sleep posture, or even being overweight can all contribute to snoring.
But here’s the good news: you don’t always need fancy machines or medicines to fix it. Sometimes, all it takes is a yoga mat and a little consistency. Yoga is an age-old practice can actually help tone the muscles around your throat, improve airflow through your nasal passages, and boost your overall breathing efficiency.
Here are 7 yoga asanas to help control snoring and improve your sleep:
This gentle backbend opens up the chest and strengthens the throat muscles—two key areas when it comes to snoring. It promotes better lung expansion and helps clear blocked airways. It opens up your chest and throat, making breathing smoother and reducing snoring caused by airway blockage.
How to do it:
Lie face down on the mat with legs extended and palms under your shoulders.Inhale and lift your chest off the floor, using your back muscles (not just your hands).Keep your elbows slightly bent and your shoulders relaxed.Hold for 15�?0 seconds while breathing deeply.Exhale and slowly lower down.
Simhasana tones the tongue, soft palate, and throat while also reducing stress (a lesser-known snoring trigger). This yoga asana strengthens the throat and face muscles, keeps the airway open, and improves circulation in the upper respiratory tract.
How to do it:
Sit in a kneeling position or cross-legged.Place your palms on your knees, fingers spread.Inhale deeply through your nose.Open your mouth wide, stick your tongue out as far as you can, and exhale forcefully while making a loud “haaa�?sound.
This calming breathing technique helps clear nasal blockages and relieves tension around the throat and sinuses. Vibrations from the humming sound massage the sinuses and throat, keeping them open and relaxed.
How to do it:Sit comfortably with your back straight. Make sure your back is straight and you don't slouchClose your eyes and breathe deeply for a few times.Place your thumbs over your ears, put index fingers on your forehead, and other fingers lightly over your eyes.Breathe in slowly, then breathe out slowly while humming like a bee.Repeat for 5�? rounds.
This pose stretches the entire front of the body and strengthens the back muscles. It opens up the chest and neck, which can help reduce snoring caused by restricted airflow. Expands the chest, tones the throat muscles, and improves lung capacity—all of which support smoother breathing.
How to do it:
Lie on your stomach and bend your knees.Reach back and hold your ankles with your hands.Inhale and lift your chest and thighs off the floor, pulling your legs up.Hold for 15�?0 seconds, then release with an exhale.
Often used during yoga flows, Ujjayi breath involves gentle constriction of the throat, which trains it to stay open and strong. It’s also very relaxing—great for those whose snoring is stress-related. It builds throat control and enhances oxygen flow—both crucial for reducing snoring.
How to do it:
Sit or lie down comfortably.Inhale deeply through your nose.Slightly constrict the back of your throat (like you’re fogging a mirror with your mouth closed).Exhale slowly through your nose, maintaining the same throat constriction.Your breath should sound like gentle ocean waves.
This classic pose lifts the chest and opens the airways while also strengthening neck muscles and reducing tension around the shoulders. Opens the nasal and throat area, promoting smoother airflow and easing breathing during sleep.
How to do it:Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.Keep arms beside you, palms facing down.Inhale and lift your hips toward the ceiling.Hold for a few breaths, then slowly come down on an exhale.
This is your go-to for calming the nervous system and balancing airflow through the nostrils. It’s especially helpful if your snoring is linked to nasal congestion or imbalance in breathing patterns. Clears nasal passages, reduces congestion, and helps you breathe more freely at night.
How to do it:
Sit in an easy cross-legged position.Close your right nostril using your right thumb and breathe in through the left.Block the left nostril with your ring finger and blow out through the right.Breathe in through the right nostril, then switch again.Proceed for 5�?0 minutes.
Snoring isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a red flag that your body’s breathing isn’t working as smoothly as it should. And while it might seem like just a nighttime issue, it can affect your energy, focus, and overall health during the day. So roll out that yoga mat, breathe deep, and say goodbye to noisy nights—both for you and anyone sleeping nearby!