Discover the benefits of yoga to improve heart health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia!
In this article we help you discover the benefits of yoga t0 improve heart health. Recent reports suggest that heart disease is on the rise. The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted a concerning statistic in January 2023, revealing that more than 10,200 Australians died of Ischemic heart disease in the first eight months of 2022, representing a 17% increase compared to a normal year. Ischemic heart disease is primarily caused by blockages in the blood vessels, which lead to damage in the heart muscle and ultimately heart failure. You can read the full article here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/fatal-heart-attacks-have-surged-in-australia-here-s-why-20230117-p5cd22
One of the leading contributors to heart failure is high blood pressure!
Chronic stress plays a significant role in elevating blood pressure levels. When individuals experience stress, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released, causing an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Prolonged periods of stress can be particularly dangerous for those with existing blockages in their blood vessels. However, research indicates that high and consistent levels of stress can even lead to heart attacks in the absence of blockages.
Promoting heart health requires effective strategies. One such approach is the practice of yoga. Yoga has the potential to reduce the risk of heart attack by reducing effects of stress. Regular yoga practice fosters psychological equanimity, cultivating peace of mind regardless of circumstances, and promotes compassion for oneself and others.
Yoga offers specific tools, such as breathing techniques (pranayama), which can help in managing anger and preventing its escalation to the fight or flight response. Pranayama has been shown to improve cardiovascular conditioning and lung function, enhancing oxygenation. Consequently, even in cases where partial blockages compromise blood flow, more oxygen can reach the heart muscles.
Additionally, yoga postures (asanas) can aid in weight loss, not only due to the calories burned during practice but also because lower stress hormone levels decrease appetite. Regular yoga practitioners also tend to develop a heightened awareness of their eating habits and make more conscious choices regarding their nutrition.
A significant benefit of yoga is to improve heart health
Regulating the nervous system helps to reduce high blood pressure. Personal experience serves as a testament to this effect. I myself, who previously led a highly stressful life and did not have time for regular yoga practice required four times the dose of blood pressure medication than I currently take. With the incorporation of daily yoga and meditation into my routine, I felt a remarkable transformation. By practicing diaphragmatic breathing and oxygenating the body, I was able to restore balance to their nervous system and reduce the medication dosage, with doctor’s approval.
The positive changes experienced by individuals through yoga are truly remarkable. This is why yoga teachers are passionate about sharing the knowledge and teachings of yoga. By equipping students with the skills to incorporate yoga into their lives, they aim to help them bring about positive transformations. Discover the benefits of yoga t0 improve heart health here: https://purewellnessyoga.com.au/yoga-classes/
It is important to note that practicing yoga and meditation does not mean that stressful situations will cease to exist. Life will undoubtedly present challenges, but yoga and meditation provide invaluable tools to cope with stress and restore balance to both mind and body. By embracing these practices, individuals can take proactive steps toward improving their heart health and overall well-being.
More activities to promote heart health can be found here: https://www.acls.net/heart-health
Reference:
Yoga as Medicine – The Yogic Prescription for health and healing by Timothy McCall, M.D. ISBN 978-0-553-38406-2
What are the benefits of chair yoga for seniors
The population is aging at a rate never seen in human history. We are moving towards a time where we are seeing a rise in age-related cognitive impairments as well as a decline in physical ability.
Drugs are ineffective to stop this, they can relieve pain and suffering to a certain extent, but will not bring lasting improvements. It is now known that preventative interventions can bring about better wellness, without the side effects of drugs.
Yoga is rapidly gaining popularity in the West (it has been used in the East for thousands of years). The benefits of a gentle chair based yoga and meditation practice will help with:
- stress-reduction,
- clarity of mind and creating a sense of inner peace
- greater awareness and cognition
- flexibility
- better range of movement
- easing stiffness of joints and
- improving posture
- balance of mind and body
Being part of a regular yoga group for seniors has the potential to offer social interaction and a feeling of belonging.
Watching my participants who attend regular classes becoming more mobile and some even glowing, is why I teach mindful chair yoga. I have a lady who was stooped and we never saw her face, to now moving with her head held high and her beautiful smile out there for all to see.
Is 50 too old to start Yoga?
Above all, I love researching everything yoga and my latest research has predominantly been around how yoga can benefit the ageing body and mind. I myself have practiced yoga since my 30’s sporadically . Surprisingly my yoga teacher training begun in my 52nd year of life. I am convinced that this has significantly changed my life for the better – physically, emotionally and mentally.
Here are 5 great reasons why it is absolutely fabulous to begin Yoga in your middle years:
1. Mobility, strength & flexibility
Tailored yoga classes for your age specific group will address the issues of mobility, flexibility and core strength, all very important to remain healthy, strong and vibrant into the golden years.
2. Prevention is better than cure
We have all heard the saying “prevention is better than cure” well surprise, this is truth. Prevention aims to promote population health and well-being, as a means to prevent disease and harm before it occurs, yoga is a gentle form of exercise with benefits to both body and mind. Yoga is a mind-body experience. This helps to ease the burden on the health care system and for the individual, it can help to lessen the trauma of being ill or needing surgery..
3. Bone density
Now let’s talk about menopause and bone density – the sad fact is that once your hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone start to dwindle, this has a negative effect on bone density. Yoga has a component dedicated to increasing bone strength and improving balance to prevent falls. Without the need to push heavy weights in the gym.
4. Health & happiness
A Curtin report titled “To Health & Happiness” says that the number of people reporting feeling very good or excellent health is declining with age. Of those aged 45-54, 39% felt healthy & happy, aged 55-64 was 44% and for the 65 + people only 26%. It was found that around 2/3 of GPs were suggesting their patients use yoga or meditation as a means to achieve better wellbeing.
5. We are living longer than ever before
Because people are living longer than ever before, it is essential to maintain your health. My goal is to provide quality of life to those who can benefit the most from the ancient teachings of yoga and meditation, proven over thousands of years to be effective.
I provide a holistic mind/body path to health for the over 50’s. So people can reduce the need for ever increasing amounts of drugs (which often come with side-effects) in order to stay mobile, strong, happy and healthy. Empower yourself in your health decisions by discussing options like yoga, meditation and mindfulness with your doctor.
It’s never too late to begin gentle yoga classes.
Namaste
Can yoga help with Arthritis
Many companies recognise the value of offering yoga, meditation and relaxation classes for their employees. There are many benefits to a regular yoga practice, however in the busy lives we live today, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to factor in a self-care plan that fits with their work and other commitments. We are seeing increasing dis-ease triggered by stress and lack of life balance.
Can Yoga can help during menopause?
Menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life. it can be smooth and easy for some women. But for others it can bring increased anxiety, depression, endless hot flushes, and sleepless nights. This all can lead to fatigue and exhaustion.
Here are the 5 top benefits of Yoga at work
Many companies recognise the value of offering yoga, meditation and relaxation classes for their employees. There are many benefits to a regular yoga practice, however in the busy lives we live today, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to factor in a self-care plan that fits with their work and other commitments. We are seeing increasing dis-ease triggered by stress and lack of life balance.
Can meditation help with stress?
The benefits of meditation are backed by extensive scientific research over thousands of years, dating back to the study and teachings of the ancient Yogis in the Himalayas and continues to be researched today.
Why Yoga is appropriate for everyone
Why Yoga is appropriate for everyone
Stress is more prevalent in society today, than ever before.
10 health effects of stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Impaired function of the immune system
- Increased inflammation
- Problems with memory
- Increased resistance to insulin
- Poor sleep
- Fatigue
- Increase in sensations of pain
- Adoption of less healthy habits
Yoga helps mankind to understand their inner skills and use them as much as possible to ensure good health.
Beyond the physical positive effects of Yoga, a regular practice offers tools – allowing you to take charge of your own health.
Over time yoga helps you to realise that things that you may regularly get upset about are not all that important.
It teaches acceptance of what is, allowing release of tension and building nervous system resilience.
The truth about how to live a healthier, happier life
The truth about how to live a healthier, happier life
Benefits of Yoga
Discover 10 extra benefits of a slow conscious yoga practice:
- Slow Conscious Yoga is the cutting edge of health and wellness
- Builds an awareness of what is happening inside the body
- Releases unconscious muscular tension
- Helps to reduce inflammation
- Helps manage the symptoms of chronic disease
- Lowers blood pressure
- Calms and soothes an overtaxed nervous system
- Improves strength, flexibility and balance
- Brings a sense of calm and peace to life
- Improves joint health
Yoga is a science studied for thousands of years by the ancient Yogis who emphasised the necessity for holistic health. The study is as ancient as human life.
Chair Yoga for Seniors
- Relaxes the neck and back muscles, helping release stress and tension
- Helps alleviate body pain, tension and fatigue
- Increases flexibility enabling seniors to bend with greater ease
- Helps with co-ordination and improves balance
- Keeps the mind engaged and increases awareness
Not only does yoga help practitioners become steadier and stronger physically, it also helps keep them mentally sharp. Several bodies of research have pointed to meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises as some of the best ways to keep the brain from declining with age.
Chair Yoga is for those who want to remain fit, agile and independent. It also offers human connection and an element of socialisation.
The benefits of yoga for seniors are enhanced by having a regular weekly class, where we see the participants growing and looking forward to the class each week.
This style of yoga has elements of a regular yoga class for seniors, all practiced in the comfort of a chair where participants feel fully supported. The modified movements are simple and will improve wellbeing on so many levels.
Classes start and finish with mindful relaxation, focussing on the breath throughout the class to assist with lung function and nourishing every cell of the body with a little extra oxygen. Whilst introducing gentle movement to bring flexibility and ease of movement. Introducing chanting specifically with the intention of improving cognitive awareness.
Chair yoga is a safe and effective form of yoga with minimal risk of injury, keeping the participants focused and engaged in the practice with fun exercises to lift the mood of the room and create flexibility and balance.
New data collected through research is now suggesting that mind-body interventions including yoga and mindfulness meditation, show very positive effects on cognitive issues related to aging. Improving memory, self-worth and a sense of achievement whilst bringing people together as a collective to raise their energy levels. Yoga can be used systematically and sustainably, as a preventative step towards reducing the burdens on the health system due to the ever-increasing aging population.
The Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation (USA) has published information on the Kirtan Kriya singing exercise, after 10 years of research at UCLA by results show:
- Kirtan Kriya stimulates all the senses and the areas of the brain associated with these senses
- The use of the tongue stimulates the 84 acupuncture meridian points on the roof of the mouth, which sends a signal to the brain.
- The nerve endings in the fingertips, lips and tongue activate the motor and sensory areas of the brain.
- The practice can have powerful and positive effects on brain function, is uplifting and dynamic and can be practiced by everybody.
Price: Members $5 Non-members $10
Location: Bassendean Seniors & Community Centre
Day/time: Thursday 9am – 10am
Enquiries: (08) 9377 8000
“Yoga is a journey of the self, through the self, to the self”
Start Your Yoga Practice Today!
Contact me for a free information pack and discussion on how we can assist your residents/clients.