Yoga For A Healthy Heart
January 5, 2009
With stress being the main contributing factor, more women today are living with heart diseases at younger ages. Yoga serves as good exercise, as it’s gentle and it does not strain the heart and other organs.
Several yoga poses are good for the heart as they increase the blood circulation, massage the heart and develop stronger heart muscles. No doubt, yoga also helps to cope with stress and anxiety, which can lead to coronary artery diseases (CAD). With a yoga lifestyle and a proper vegetarian diet, one can make the progression of CAD slower and the serious patients can recover faster. There are several yoga poses which relax and relieve the body of stress and tension that leads to CAD. Some of the poses or asanas are:
Cleaning breath pose or kapalabhati breath: This is a breathing technique that is used for cleansing. In kapalabhati, breathing is short, rapid and strong. This uses the lungs to pump the air and the water is removed from the passages through the nostrils from the lungs. This pose is good if one feels heavy in the head. It also helps with sinus problems.
The mountain pose or tandasana: This pose promotes strength, relaxation and stillness. It radiates energy through two points from the center of the body. One line goes up the body and the other goes down the body.
Pada hastasana or the hands to feet pose: This pose trims the waist, stretches the ligaments, legs and hamstrings and restores elasticity of the spine. It improves the blood circulation to the brain. In a standing position, exhale, then raise the arms above the head and inhale. Try to stretch your head upwards and make yourself as tall as you can. While exhaling, bend forward from the pelvis and keep the knees and the spine straight. Try to lower your head as much as possible and hold your ankles or toes with your thumb and index finger.
Vriksha asana or the tree pose: With regular practice of this pose one can focus the mind and develop concentration. Stand straight with your feet together and your arms by your sides. Bring the sole of your right foot to your left knee so that it touches the side of your knee.
Now, slide the sole of your foot inside your thigh, as much as you can. Balance your body on your left foot and raise both hands over your head, keeping them straight. Now, holding this pose, breathe gently and slowly through your nose. After 10 breaths, lower your arms and right leg to normal standing position and relax. Repeat again with your other leg.


























