It is always important to prioritize our heart health and in February we raise awareness of heart disease and how to prevent it. Also check out our series that highlights specific cardiovascular diseases and how yoga can be a useful preventative measure in our February 2022 series linked below.
Heart Disease
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a term used to encompass coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death, making it crucial to know how to prevent this. According to The World Health Organization, some of the most prevalent risk factors for heart disease are unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol. Preventative measures can be integrated into one’s daily life to address these risk factors and help lead a life with a healthy heart.
Yoga
Yoga is a mind-body exercise that has shown to benefit many aspects of cardiovascular health. It involves moving with your breath through different poses which can relax the mind, and improve physical strength, balance, and flexibility. This practice can help lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and heart rate, which all helps keep a healthier heart.
Ayurveda and Yoga
From the Ayurvedic perspective, there is the concept of looking at the heart as the “emotional heart.” The heart is considered the seat of sensation, consciousness, and emotions. If we reduce emotional stress, it can help alleviate the heart and bring joy and peace to it, which would help foster heart health. Reducing stress can be done through yoga practice and focusing on aspects of shavasana, yoga nidra and meditation in the practice that helps balance the nervous system and create the environment for spontaneous awareness that supports the healing process.
For more information on Ayurveda and Heart Health check out our February Heart Health Series
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