Yoga And Health Benefits

 In today’s world of IT along with the hectic schedule, it’s not possible for all people to meet the requirements for physical activity in order to promote health and prevent heart disease. But, like others, this problem also has some solution. And that one is Yoga since it effectively can fulfill this gap of physical activity in our life. Also, it has been proved that it is same as beneficial as aerobic and another exercise.

The benefits of yoga

Ancient Indian tradition teaches us that the practice of yoga is based on the belief that the body is one with the mind. Combines physical exercise (through postures) and breathing right meditation. Therefore, not only to improve physical health by promoting the strength, stability, and flexibility but also it reduces stress and calms the spirit.
The beauty of yoga lies in the fact that you can do anytime, anywhere, by anyone. Even the elderly and people with limited physical abilities can practice some form of yoga and benefit from it. One can make simple to more challenging postures while standing, sitting, lying down or in a headstand position. However, health experts do not have yoga exercises in compliance with the requirements of physical activity, which consist of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (150 minutes per week).

A review of several European and American studies, however, show that compared with no exercise, yoga is a prevention strategy low cost effective against the cardiovascular disease. In addition, the review also found that benefits are comparable to practice in the prevention or reversal of heart disease.

The researchers reviewed 37 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 3,000 participants also found that yoga practice can have the same benefits in reducing risk factors for heart disease as conventional exercises such as brisk walking or riding a bicycle. They believe this is a significant finding, especially for people who can not or prefer not to make the most strenuous aerobic exercise for health.

The meta-analysis found that compared to no exercise, yoga practice was associated with improvements in:

• Cholesterol
• Heart rate
• (LDL), the bad cholesterol levels
• Systolic blood pressure
• Body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat
• Good (HDL) cholesterol levels

Participants who practice yoga, in addition to taking medications for cardiovascular disease also experienced significant improvement in their risk factors. However, scientists found no differences in benefits in terms of reducing sugar levels in the blood, a risk factor involved in diabetes.

Yoga Versus Aerobic Exercise

Researchers reviewed the results of several international studies on yoga also found that compared with aerobic exercise, yoga has similar benefits in cardiac risk factors. They noted that this could be due to an impact of yoga on stress reduction, which has a positive impact on metabolic and neuroendocrine heart function. Their finding suggests that yoga may have similar mechanisms as aerobic exercise in achieving the health benefits, including relaxation and stress-reducing effects.

According to Professor Myriam Hunink, lead author of the study, it is still unclear how yoga exercises its benefits on cardiovascular health, but the evidence is growing, which shows that the relative costs and benefits of yoga are comparable with exercise and medication. In addition, yoga is acceptable as an alternative treatment, especially for patients who have little tolerance for physical activity, such as the elderly.

Yoga and heart health

Although the practice of yoga does not count as aerobic exercise, what to do at least 150 minutes per week for general health, experts like M. Mala Cunningham, Ph.D., founder of Heart Yoga believe that yoga can help prevent or even reverse heart disease. When practiced in combination with a lifestyle and healthy, traditional yoga can promote physical, emotional, and mental happiness. It has been found that yoga can help:

• improve muscle tone
• low blood pressure
• increase lung capacity
• improve respiratory function
• reduce stress
• improve heart rate
• increase strength
• increase circulation

One study, which included more than 15,000 participants, showed that the practice of yoga can help people lose excess weight. Besides burning calories, yoga also promotes attention, reinforcing healthy habits that include proper eating habits.

Healthy people can benefit greatly by combining a healthy lifestyle consisting of a balanced diet and regular exercise, and yoga to achieve physical, mental, and emotional health. However, for people who cannot participate in moderate or vigorous physical exercise, yoga offers an alternative form of therapy that can still help increase physical strength, flexibility, and stability, while promoting respiratory function and cardiovascular.

For people who have suffered a cardiac event like a heart attack or cardiac arrest, emotional stress can have adverse effects on the heart. Patients who have undergone bypass surgery may also have anxiety, depression, and pain, which are common in people with chronic diseases. In these cases, yoga can help calm these emotions, promote relaxation, and improve blood pressure levels and cholesterol patient. When practiced regularly, yoga can lead to improved long-term health and overall functionality.

Cunningham advises patients who are obese, diabetic or suffering from heart disease, consult a doctor before starting a yoga program and seek help from a qualified instructor who is trained in heart yoga. Patients can contact their local cardiac rehabilitation center for more information on how to practice yoga for heart health.