Uncommon Cure For the Common Cold

Forget band-aid pharmaceuticals when dealing with a cold…

I used to try to rest when ever I caught a cold--took the doctor’s advice and toned down my workouts to almost nil. I have asthma and it inevitably heads into my lungs and I get bronchitis.

But waiting out a cold has only ever depressed me, made my mind anxious and it never seemed to clear it up any faster.

I hate not working out and resting my lungs. So, I looked for another alternative to resting and waiting it out.

How I handle a cold changed when I started teaching Zumba. It was almost impossible to find a last-minute sub so I would have to teach a class whether I was sick or not, even when I had bronchitis.

I’d take a puff of my steroid inhaler and rescue inhaler* before class and go for it, as best I could.

*(I only ever use and need this when I have a respiratory virus or the air is especially mildewy) .

While continuing to teach Zumba throughout a cold and bronchitis, I discovered that my colds and bronchitis clear up 

faster when I stress my lungs through working out hard.

Nothing is a harder cardio vascular workout than my Zumba classes–whether I’m the teacher or student; they make spin class and running up mountains feel like a leisurely stroll in the park.

So, I caught a cold. My throat is killing me; I’m tired and my lungs are inflamed. What to do? I headed out to dance last night. I took my asthma inhaler, danced hard-core for an hour, and survived it.

I believe the sweat blows the cold virus right out of my body and the happy endorphins I get from dancing, boost my immune system.

I don’t recommend dancing your cold away to everyone. Your body can only give you its best each day and nothing more. I respect what my body can give me and although each day is different, I still go for it on the dance floor. It has been working for me, so far.

I’ll keep dancing and walking my dogs and hopefully this cold will be short-lived.