Keeping Your Heart Healthy with Yoga
Why Regular Yoga Practice May Help Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
February is all about showing your loved ones how much you care, but it is also about loving yourself. Officially known as American Heart Month, February is the perfect time to prioritize your heart health and reduce your risk for heart disease.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among both men and women in the United States, responsible for 1 in 5 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [1] This makes it all the more important to take care of your heart.
One often-overlooked way to improve your heart health is practicing yoga, a low impact exercise that has been shown to offer significant health benefits for your heart.
Keep reading to discover how yoga can contribute to a heart healthy lifestyle.
4 Benefits of Yoga for Heart Health
Yoga is well-known for improving flexibility and posture, but research also suggests it has incredible benefits for your cardiovascular system.
Here are four key areas yoga has been shown to improve heart health:
- Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (or hypertension) damages the heart and vascular system because the force of the blood against the vessel walls is too high. Studies suggest the breathing, meditation, and posture techniques in yoga may help counteract this condition by relaxing the body [2], helping to lower blood pressure and reduce the strain on the heart. - Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
High blood pressure also increases your risk of heart disease [3] by making the heart work harder. Regular yoga practice may help reduce this risk by promoting relaxation in the body and lowering blood pressure. [2]
- Reduces Chronic Stress
Stress is inevitable in life, from job-related stress to family-related stress. However, prolonged stress can take a toll on the body, especially on the heart. Stress raises the body’s cortisol levels, a stress hormone that can increase your risk of developing certain health conditions, including heart disease. [4] Yoga’s combination of breathing techniques and movement encourage the body to calm down, lowering the body’s stress level. [5]
- Improves mood
Like stress, prolonged depression and anxiety can negatively impact the body and increase the risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). These stressors overstimulate the nervous system, increasing inflammation in the body and raising blood pressure levels. [5] Yoga, through its relaxation techniques, may have a calming effect on the nervous system [5], improving mood and may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Is Yoga Right for You?
One of the beautiful aspects of yoga is that it is low impact, gentle on your body, and can be easily modified based on your individual needs and abilities. Yoga is suitable for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level.
At Restoring Bodies, we specialize in fitness programs designed specifically for the Aging Gracefully community. We understand the importance of routines tailored to this specific stage of life.
Our yoga classes are designed to be gentle on the body, promoting joint health and mobility, and led by expertly trained instructors. We use props in class and offer modifications for every pose to ensure a safe practice. We emphasize listening to your body and foster an encouraging environment to support your progress.
As with any exercise program, always consult your physician before starting yoga, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or injuries.
Conclusion
If you have not tried yoga before, or have not practiced in a while, we invite you to join us for a class. We would love to have you!
Sign up here: https://momence.com/u/restoring-bodies-fitness-&-nutrition-services-htyzkc
References:
- Heart Disease Facts. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
- Murugesan P. (2024). Yoga and Cardiovascular Diseases - A Mechanistic Review. International journal of yoga, 17(2), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_55_24
- About High Blood Pressure. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/about/index.html
- Understanding How Stress Affects the Body. American Heart Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/lower-stress-how-does-stress-affect-the-body
- Is yoga heart-healthy? It's no stretch to see benefits, science suggests. American Heart Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/04/12/is-yoga-heart-healthy-its-no-stretch-to-see-benefits-science-suggests#:~:text=Some%20studies%20suggest%20the%20mind,than%20just%20stretching%20and%20handstands.
Momence: https://momence.com/u/restoring-bodies-fitness-&-nutrition-services-htyzkc