Hypertension: Here’s how yoga helps in controlling high blood pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension is a serious condition which leads to heart attacks, strokes and even death. It is important to maintain your blood pressure before it takes over your life. 

How does yoga help to control High Blood Pressure?

Yoga, when performed mindfully, can reduce blood pressure and make you feel better. Yoga exercises involve deep breathing while synchronising body movements which helps to control blood pressure and relieve stress. It soothes the nerves and lowers abnormal heart rate. Yoga helps to increase immunity and reduce risks of heart attacks and strokes. Regular yoga can reduce the risk of obesity which leads to high blood pressure. Overall, yoga gives positive energy to the body and mind. It makes you hopeful and happy in life. 

Besides medications, there are a number of things you must do to manage your blood pressure:

Only yoga is not sufficient to control high blood pressure. You should know what’s good for you and what is not. High blood pressure is a serious condition and must be taken care of. 

Yoga for High Blood Pressure

Check out these yoga poses for controlling high blood pressure:

Forward Bend Pose - Paschimottanasana

How to do: 

Sit on a mat and extend your legs straight in front of you. Press your thighbones towards the floor as much as you can without allowing your heels to lift. Extend forward and hold the outside of your feet with your hands. 

Benefits:

It helps to reduce fatty deposits in the abdominal region, thus enabling weight loss. It normalises blood pressure and also acts as stress reliever. 

Forwad Bend Pose

Bridge Pose - Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

How to do:

From bound angle, release your feet on the floor and knees bent. Your legs and feet should be parallel and approximately hip-width apart from your arms. As you inhale, rock your pelvis so your stomach pulls in and lower back gently presses against the floor. Finally, in fluid motion, lift your hips as you press into your feet. Keep your shoulder blades in contact with the floor at all times. Hold the pose for a few breaths and repeat it 10 times. 

Benefits:

Provides gentle strengthening of abdomen, hamstrings and glutes. It helps to relieve hip and lower back aches. It regulates blood pressure in the body.

Standing Forward Bend Pose - Uttanasana

How to do:

Separate your feet as wide apart as the narrow side of a yoga mat. Bend forward, straighten your legs and touch your toes with your hands. Move your shoulder blades away from your neck and stay in the pose for about 3 minutes. 

Benefits:

It improves digestion and calms the brain by stretching the back of your legs, spine and groin. 

Standing Forward Bend Pose

Legs up the wall - Viparita Karani

How to do:

Place your mat perpendicular to the wall and sit parallel to the wall on your mat. Lie down on your mat with your knees bent. Using your lower back as a pivot point, pick up your feet and gently swing your torso so it’s perpendicular to the wall. Once you’re in a comfortable person, extend your legs up the wall. Keep shoulder blades in contact with floor to avoid pressure on the neck. Rest your arms next to you. You can stay in this position as long as you like.

Benefits:

It is a passive and calming inversion pose since your heart and head are on the ground. It is safe for people with high blood pressure.

Yoga

It is advisable to consult your doctor about yoga poses as some yoga poses are risky for patients with high blood pressure. However, keeping your body active is very important. Indulge yourself in any physical activity you like.