Yoga: Chicken Soup for the Heart!

More of this Feature • Yogic Prevention • An Effective Alternative • How Yoga Helps

Join the Discussion "There's a lack of good Yoga trainers. So heart patients should not risk taking up Yoga..." DUSH123

Related Resources • Yoga For All • Yoga Web Resources • Yoga Web Resources • Yoga Audio/Video CDs

How to... • Meditate • Exercise Breath Control • Do 'Sun-Salutation'

From Other Guides • Stress & the Heart • Yoga & Thyroid Disease • Hatha Yoga

Heart Care Programs

Cardiologists recommend Yoga for its multiple actions in the form of exercises, breath control, sleep control and mind control.

Asanas
Asanas are an essential component of Yoga that bring steadiness and stability to the body. Asanas that are particularly effective for heart care, says cardiologist Dr. HS Wasir, are the Sidhasana, Padmasana and Shavasana, which help the body and mind relax far better than drugs and, most importantly, sans any side effect.

Asanas have been found to improve cardio-vascular efficiency even in a diseased person. Many physicians recommend yogasanas to patients recovering after a coronary bypass operation. If a person has a severe obstruction of a heart valve, then one has to be extra cautious. However, there are asanas which heart patients should not try: Koormasana (tortoise posture) and Uttan Koormasana (stretching tortoise), Dhanur Asana (bow posture) and Myurasana (peacock posture).

Pranayama
Conscious respiration, as in Pranayama, is an effective means of taking care of the heart. Practice of Pranayama or breathing exercises directly affects the functioning of the cardiopulmonary system. Breath control in pranayama strengthens heart muscles and improves the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood vessels.

Yoganidra
Yoganidra, or yogic sleep - in which the conscious mind subsides, but awareness remains - relaxes the heart to the point of dissolution. Yoganidra when practised even for short durations in postures like Ganeshasana - which can be exercised while sitting on your chair - has been found to relieve fatigue considerably.

Karma Yoga
Full dedication to ones work, helping fellow beings without expecting returns, being compassionate, performing ones daily duty with honesty and unselfish motive are the ingredients of 'karma yoga'. Work, truth, love, unselfishness not only generate positive emotions but also unfold avenues that benefit health and well-being. Equilibrium of the mind achieved through Karma Yoga can successfully pave the path towards the prevention of hypertension and heart diseases.

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