Get Your Blood Pressure Under Control with Yoga

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common lifestyle disorder prevalent around the world. Take a stock around you — it is likely that at least one person you know, a family member, a close friend, or a coworker, takes medication for hypertension. Rising stress levels and deteriorating lifestyle choices are putting more people at risk of blood pressure imbalance. Hypertension is often tagged as a silent killer as an elevated blood pressure increases the risk of heart conditions, stroke, hormone abnormalities, and kidney disease, among other issues. Yoga can help reduce stress-induced hypertension and bring your blood pressure under control. 

Gentle yoga asanas to improve blood circulation

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline. Above all, it is a mind-body therapy that uses gentle movement, controlled breathing, and meditation to improve overall health. To start your journey to recovery with yoga, try this sequence of stress-relieving asanas that improve blood circulation in the body, alleviate the symptoms of hypertension, and lower high blood pressure.

1. Adho mukha shvanasana or downward-facing dog pose

2. Baddha konasana or bound angle pose

3. Setu bandha sarvangasana or bridge pose

4. Janu sirsasana or head-to-knee forward bend pose

5. Virasana or hero pose

6. Savasana or corpse pose

Breathing techniques complement yoga for high blood pressure

Pranayama is a key component of yoga that involves focused, controlled, meditative breathing. During pranayama, your mind’s entire attention is directed to the breathing pattern. While the breathing exercises calm the entire body, they also increase the blood flow to the heart with the up and down movement of the diaphragm. This calming effect lowers mental stress and, therefore, regulates high blood pressure. However, it is important to practice pranayama (and yoga asanas) under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher if you are a beginner.

Yoga promotes healthy and mindful living

Good health is defined not just by physical fitness but all-round well being, including good mental health. The underlying tenet of yoga is holistic healing through mind-body awareness and mind-body connection. Regular yoga practice increases one’s awareness of their mind and body, which inspires them to be more conscious of the choices they make.

Although yoga is a natural healing method for many lifestyle problems like hypertension, diabetes, hormonal problems, etc., it is not a replacement for traditional therapy. Practice yoga to complement your treatment and please take your doctor’s advice before discontinuing any medication.