This time I tried practicing a gentle, easy, yoga sequence combined with everything I've been learning about nutrition and Ayurveda. If you are at all interested in Ayurveda, the science of life, I highly recommend The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasad Lad. I reference it for literally everything, including this. So here is my,
Yoga and Ayurveda Guide to the Common Cold:
(I'm not a doctor, but it certainly worked for me!)
1. Avoid dairy and sugar like the plague. Dairy (especially milk and yogurt) is a natural phlegm producer and can worsen an already congested system. Sugar depresses our immune systems, just resist the brownies, if I did it you can too.
2. Eat Protein. I did a ton of reading on how much protein we need when I became vegetarian, and everything I read stated the amount of protein you need increases when you're sick or recovering from an illness. I recommend starting your day with warm steel cut oatmeal (no sugar added), throw in some dried fruit and a dash of maple syrup (the real stuff), and it nourish your soul and your body. Lean meats, beans, quinoa, and nuts are also packed with protein.
3. Ginger. According to Ayurveda, ginger is an excellent cure for a cold. Cook with it, drink a ginger tea, or juice it.
4. Drink Warm or Room Temperature Water. According to Ayurveda, ice water extinguishes our digestive fire, and according the nutrition it's more difficult to digest and absorb compared to room temp. Cold water also feels pretty horrible on a sore throat.
5. Vibrating Om. Find a comfortable seat. Take a deep full inhale chant the word OM with the lips closed. Imagine you could send the sound forward in your face, think nasally. The vibrations actually loosen congestion in your face and sinuses. I was skeptical of this at first, but it actually worked well!
6. Gentle Yoga Nothing intense, just a few simple movements to create space in the body for a deeper, fuller breath even if it has to be in and our through your mouth due to a stuffy nose. In yoga, Prana or "life force" rides on our breath. When we are unable to breath deeply we lack this life force energy that we need so desperately when we're sick. Below is a quick yoga sequence I came up with for myself. It helped me feel better and breath deeper.
Backbend over blocks. Take a block on the medium height under the head and a block on the lowest height under the bottom of the shoulder blades (about bra-strape line). When you lie down make sure your forehead and chin are level with each other, if they aren't adjust the height of the top block. If you don't have blocks, you can use thick books. Take a couple deep full breaths into the chest. Inflate your rib cage and chest. Create space. To get out of the pose, gentle bend your knees and roll to the right side, come off your blocks. 
Garudasana (Eagle) Arms
Find a comfortable seat. Reach your arms wide like airplane wings, then cross your right arm under your left, crossing at the elbows. Bend your elbows and bring your palms to touch. Lift the elbows to the height of the shoulders, guide the forearms away from your face. Take 5 deep breaths into your upper back and shoulders. Unwind and repeat the other side.
Urdhva Baddhanguliyasana
Interlace your fingers, flip palms, and reach your arms up overhead. Imagine you could life your rib cage away from your waist, but soften your shoulders away from your ears.
Inhale, life your chest, broaden across your collar bones. Exhale, round your back, tuck your tailbone. Move through this sequence a couple times on your breath.
Child's pose
Take your knees wide and big toes to touch, press your hips back towards your heels. To avoid congestion rushing forward to your face, stay up on forearms. Take a couple deep breaths.
End your practice with Savasana or Nap Time and relax.
