Can Practicing Yoga Help Lower Blood Pressure?

Since its inception, many millions – and possibly billions – of yoga practitioners have benefited from increased flexibility, improved relaxation techniques, weight loss, and other benefits. Due to its many health benefits, people have often wondered if practicing yoga for high blood pressure is effective. Many studies have been done over the years, several of which have been compiled by Medical News Today. The overall consensus is that routine yoga practice can definitely have a light to moderate effect on reducing blood pressure.

Benefits of Yoga That May Lower Blood Pressure

The reasons why using yoga for high blood pressure may be effective is due to the many health benefits that have been well-connected to the practice. Let’s take a quick look at some of the benefits of yoga that may help reduce your blood pressure:

Moderate Exercise

One of the best ways to lower your blood pressure is by engaging in strenuous exercise. Although yoga typically only qualifies as light to moderate exercise, this can be enough to have an effect on your blood pressure. At the very least, it will help maintain a healthier level, along with other benefits.

Stress Reduction

Everyone knows that people with high blood pressure often have a lot of stress in their life. A huge part of yoga exercise is the implementation of relaxation and stress-relieving techniques. Since various poses help reduce stress, this can be helpful when trying to lower your blood pressure.

Focus on Breathing

Proper breathing is an essential component for exercise, but many people fail at this very basic activity. Yoga focuses heavily on breathing, which will help you relax and optimize every session. Improving your breathing is another helpful factor in lowering blood pressure because of its ability to relax your body and mind.

Healthy Weight

Being overweight, and especially obese, causes many negative effects on your body from joint damage to heart disease. When you don’t maintain a healthy weight, this can raise your blood pressure to very harmful levels. By practicing yoga to lose weight, you can effectively reduce your blood pressure.

5 Best Yoga Poses for Lowering Blood Pressure

Any yoga poses you use will help you gain flexibility, stay in shape, and learn how to relax. These particular poses, however, are some of the most popular when wanting to use yoga for high blood pressure:

Child Pose

The child pose is beneficial for those with high blood pressure because it helps reduce stress and improve blood circulation. You’ll also learn controlled breathing that promotes calmness and helps reduce stress felt in your neck and shoulders. If you suffer from hypertension, this pose can be quite effective.

Easy Pose

The primary benefit of the easy pose is to reduce stress and promote a relaxed, peaceful mind. This pose also regulates breathing while stretching your back and neck. You’ll even discover that your body’s posture will improve by adding this pose to your regular yoga routine.

Corpse Pose

The corpse pose is one of the simplest poses for those who are trying to control their blood pressure. Relaxation is its primary function and it does a great job at calming your mind, relieving stress, and relaxing your body. It also helps reduce fatigue, headaches, and insomnia, all of which are risk factors of high blood pressure.

Bridge Pose

The bridge pose is known for helping practitioners manage mild depression while also calming the brain and alleviating stress. This makes it an effective pose when trying to reduce high blood pressure. It’s also great for your abdominal organs and lungs, in addition to reducing fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and menstrual pain.

Cobra Pose

The cobra pose is another pose that assists you with relieving stress, in addition to promoting heart health. It’s helpful in improving blood circulation and the oxygen content of your blood. All practitioners will notice better flexibility when doing this pose while those suffering from asthma will see benefits to their lungs and breathing.

Seek Medical Help If Blood Pressure Stays High

Although practicing yoga for high blood pressure can be beneficial, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore certain warning signs. If you have high blood pressure for a long period of time, yoga or no yoga, you need to consult a doctor. Plus, if you’re on medication for it, be sure to check with your doctor prior to starting yoga or any other exercise regimen.

Contact East West Healing Solutions to Learn How to Practice Yoga for High Blood Pressure

East West Healing Solutions can show you how to use yoga poses for the reduction of high blood pressure, in addition to weight loss, relaxation, flexibility, and other benefits. If you have any questions, reach out to our staff by calling (727) 216-3972 today or review our yoga class calendar! Don’t forget to visit our East West Healing Solutions store for all of your yoga supply needs.