Get the Answer to All Your Questions Related to Heart Ailments and Learn 5 Effective Yoga Tips for Heart Blockage Ailments and Heart Disease Prevention from Yoga Guru Dr. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra
Q: What are the main factors that put you at risk of suffering from heart ailments?
A: When we talk of heart ailments, we should understand that there are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Factors such as the natural ageing process and hereditary traits of an individual are non-modifiable, but in such cases, the risk of heart disease can be reduced and managed to a certain degree. Modifiable factors like food habits, routines, exercise, stress, anxiety, and lifestyle changes can be controlled. Yoga advocates “Prevention is better than cure” and focuses on the modifiable factors so that heart ailments can be eradicated from our lives.
So, let’s take a deeper look at how yoga can help in the treatment of heart blockages and promote yoga for heart health.
Q: How can yoga help?
A: People are taught to cultivate and nurture desirable and beneficial habits that help them live a healthy life. Positive changes occur in an individual’s life by adopting a home-made sattvic diet , fixed routines, cultivating objectivity, an optimistic approach, and harnessing good thoughts.
Yoga can help patients with heart diseases in the following aspects:
Understanding the Body and Mind: Yoga helps people understand their own body and mind. This is important to combat any diseases and prevent cardiac ailments by following a Yogic diet and healthy lifestyle through regular practice of yoga asanas.
Psychological Benefits: Yoga helps reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, promoting a sense of well-being. It is a key component in using yoga to avoid heart attacks.
Stress Reduction: Stress is a significant factor that increases coronary spasm. Yoga techniques can help prevent and control spasms in blood vessels, bring down blood pressure, and normalize heart rate.
Awareness: Yoga teaches us to become aware of ourselves , our feelings, our thought processes, and our habitual patterns. This awareness, combined with a philosophical approach, can help significantly reduce modifiable risk factors like stress. An aware person will understand their body better, be cautious about their lifestyle, and tend to control external circumstances that can cause trouble.
For those who already have heart trouble, minimizing stress, making conducive lifestyle changes, and practicing yoga techniques like meditation and asanas regularly can help maintain their heart condition at the best possible level and prevent further damage. Using yoga to address heart problems is an organic and holistic process.
Q: What yoga can I do to prevent, control, and reverse heart disease?
A: Here are 5 effective yoga tips for heart blockage control and reversal of heart disease by Dr. Hansaji Yogendra:
Yogendra Nishpandabhava: Lean against a wall, resting the head and shoulders with the legs stretched in front. Keep a distance of 2-3 feet between your legs for comfort. Place the hands gently on the upper thighs with palms facing upwards and close the eyes. If sitting on the floor isn't possible, sit on a firm chair. Focus on comfort rather than posture to minimize distractions. Start by observing the breath for a few minutes and then gently direct attention to a continuous but feeble sound. Passively hear this sound without associating with the object. Sit in this posture for 15 minutes. If the mind wanders, gently bring it back to the sound. Practice daily in the morning or during the day as convenient.
Yogendra Anitya Bhavana: Sit in Sukhasana/Vajrasana or any other meditative posture and close the eyes. If sitting on the floor isn't possible, sit on a firm chair with an erect backrest. Mentally review the previous day's events in detail and in chronological order without judgment or analysis. Analyze your state of mind, feelings, and thoughts while living those moments. Practice daily, preferably before bedtime. This meditation helps develop Anitya Bhavana and is an effective yogic practice for the treatment of heart blockages.
Yogendra Sthitaprarthanasana (Standing Prayer Pose): Stand erect with hands at their sides and feet close together. Keep the knees straight but not stiff. Place body weight on the balls of the feet towards the big toe. Keep the neck straight, abdomen in normal contour, and chin drawn in. Tilt the pelvis subtly to prevent exaggeration of the lumbar curve. Focus your eyes on a point straight ahead, keeping the mind calm and body relaxed. Fold both hands in Namaskar mudra in front of the chest, relax the shoulders and elbows, and observe the breath. Stay in the position for a few minutes, gradually increasing to 10 minutes with regular practice. This pose promotes mental poise and spiritual elevation, making it suitable for patients with heart diseases.
Dradhasana (Firm Posture): Lie on your back, then turn to your left side. Align your body in a straight line with legs one on top of the other. Rest the right arm on the body. Close the eyes and relax in this posture for 5 minutes. This is a recommended yoga asana for heart disease.
Anulom Vilom Pranayama: This breathing exercise can help beat diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Regular practice of this pranayama helps maintain a healthy heart rhythm.
Singer Sukhwinder Singh's Experience with Yoga for Heart Health
Singer Sukhwinder Singh of Bollywood fame beat heart disease with yoga, which illustrates the potential benefits of yoga for heart disease prevention. He shares that he has been practicing yoga for roughly three years, guided by a teacher from The Yoga Institute. He began yoga after being advised by his doctor, who informed him he was a borderline case of heart disease. A year later, he was amazed to learn that his heart health had significantly improved.
Sukhwinder Singh’s story emphasizes the importance of regular yoga practice for heart health. Yoga has completely changed his perspective on life, making him more positive and mindful. He believes that relaxation is the cornerstone of living a good yogic life, balancing activity and rest.
Conclusion
Incorporating yoga into daily life can significantly help in preventing heart ailments, managing existing heart conditions, and promoting overall heart health. Regular practice of yoga for heart disease prevention, yoga to avoid heart attacks, and understanding the benefits of yoga for heart can lead to a healthier, more balanced life.
Must Read following Book and share with your friend & Family who suffering from Heart Disease:
Heart Care (English) – Hansaji & Armaiti Desa
Yoga therapy in asthma, diabetes & heart disease – dr. Jayadeva