Controlling Blood Pressure Through Yoga

High blood pressure (HBP) is a serious health problem that can lead to heart attacks, kidney failure, and a multitude of other health problems. The number of people suffering from high blood pressure has rapidly increased in recent times. Nearly 1 in every 3 adults in the U.S. suffers from high blood pressure. Our modern lifestyle, with its irregular food habits, lack of sleep, excessive sodium (salt) intake, and heightened levels of stress, has triggered this collective jump in blood pressure. Returning blood pressure to normal requires balancing your daily life.

There are many allopathic and homeopathic medicines available to control even the most extreme instances of this condition. In alternate medicine, yoga is very beneficial in controlling blood pressure. Here are a few types of yoga you can try:

Shitali Pranayam – This yoga begins with you sitting down on the floor with both legs folded and your palms on your knees. Close your eyes and practice “anulom vilom” (inhale and exhale). Then fold your tongue in the form of a canal and inhale through your mouth. Close your mouth and exhale through your nose. Repeat this 5 times a day at first, but slowly increase your repetitions to between 50 and 60 times a day.

Aang Sanchalan – This is a type of yoga that involves your entire body and improves blood circulation. To start, sit down on the floor with both legs stretched out in front of you. Then slowly move your feet in a circular motion while stretching forward and backward. Do the same with your eyes, neck, shoulders, and wrists. Finally, open and close your hands. One can use soft balls for this reflexive yoga variant.

Dhyan – Dhyan means meditation, and thus helps remove tension from the body, which is one of the key causes of high blood pressure. This posture involves sitting in “siddhasana” (on the floor with both legs folded and your backbone straight) and keeping both hands on your lap. Join the thumbs of both hands together in an upward position and close your eyes. Try to listen to the sounds of your inhalations and exhalations.

Shavasan – As the very name suggests, this posture involves sleeping on the floor and relaxing your body. Try to feel as if you are in a deep sleep. Practice this for 10 to 15 minutes a day.

While practicing these types of yoga, you should have only ingest vegetarian “satvik bhojan” simple foods, meaning sans garlic, onion, and fried food.