8 Best Yoga Poses For Healthy Heart - Cardiac Rehabilitation

In recent decades the practice of yoga has enjoyed a rising popularity in Western cultures. The most widely practiced forms are Hatha (forceful) and Ashtanga (traditional) yoga. Both Hatha and Ashtanga emphasizes specific postures, breathe control, concentration, and meditation. In the Western world, Hatha yoga is the most commonly practiced.

The advantages of yoga run broad and deep. It is usually practiced to alleviate stress, improved health and increase fitness. What makes it so appealing is the fact that it's economical, has no significant side effects, yet the lifestyle benefits are significant. It’s safe, easy to learn and even the elderly and disable can practice yoga.

Our heart is an organ that works continuously even when we fall asleep. It is the most vital organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body and so it is crucial to take better care of it. These days stress is pretty common especially with mid-age and youngsters. Although stress is different for everyone but the common signs of stress overload include:

1. Panic attacks

2. Depression

3. Worrying all the time

4. Feeling you’re under constant pressure

5. Drinking or doing drugs to deal with your stress

6. Overeating

7. Smoking

Heart disease is another potential stress-related problem. Stress may lead to high blood pressure, which can pose a risk for heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke.

What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. It can come on suddenly or in the wake of other symptoms. Cardiac arrest is often fatal if appropriate steps aren’t taken immediately. More than 356,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the U.S. each year. Adults with a ratio 347,322and children 7,037. The typical victim of cardiac arrest is a man in his early 60's and a woman in her late 60's. But these days the symptoms have been seen in young population of 40's and below.

Why yoga is so important?

As part of an overall healthy lifestyle yoga can help lower blood pressure, increase lung capacity, respiratory function and heart rate, and boost circulation and muscle tone. It can also improve your overall well-being while offering strength-building benefits. The calming benefits of yoga may help with that — and you may see benefits right away. After your first yoga class, your blood pressure will likely be lower, you’ll be relaxed and you’ll feel better, Also, Long-term sustained yoga may play a role in improving your overall health.

Specific benefits for cardiac patients have been studied, but most recently have been complied and reviewed. Reductions in risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been pronounced with the introduction and practice of yoga for as little as 4 weeks to 12 months. Yoga also has proven benefits for those who have faced cardiac arrest, heart attack or other heart event.

Top 8 Yoga Poses For Healthy Heart

• Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)

• Veerabhadrasana (Warrior Pose)

• Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend Pose)

• Adho Mukho Svanasana (Downward facing Dog)

• Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

• Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

• Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Spinal Twist Pose)

• Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend Pose)

Caution: In the case of any medical condition, practice these yoga postures after consulting a doctor.