Yoga and Blood Pressure

Yoga asanas can be effective in different ways. In the
case of blood pressure they can combat the causes,
as well as the effects of high blood pressure and
stabilize blood pressure thus reducing high blood
pressure and regulating low pressure. Asanas calm
the mind and regularize and balance the autonomous
nervous system, the center that controls stress. The
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system,
which are involved in stress reaction also get stabilized
in the practice of asanas resulting in regulation of
blood pressure.

The effects of hypertension on various systems such
as the cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems
and on various organs especially the heart, lungs,
liver and kidneys can be lessened and eventually
neutralized by the practice of certain asanas and
pranayama.

The asanas, which regulate blood pressure, belong to
the forward bends, supine, sitting, and inversions group.
However forward bends are the fundamental asanas to
be practiced by persons suffering from high blood
pressure, whereas Viparita Dandasana is the most
beneficial asana for low blood pressure.

Forward bends should be practiced with  bolsters,
blankets and an elasto-crepe bandage wrapped around
the forehead and eyes. In forward bends the frontal
brain is pacified and blood flow to the brain is
regularized. Stress gets released from the sense
organs, eyes, nose, throat and tongue. Nervine
stress, chronic headaches and eye pain is also
reduced.

The sympathetic nervous system gets rested and this
has a positive effect on the other systems. Blood
pressure becomes stable when the sense organs,
the brain and the sympathetic nervous system are  
relaxed. The horizontal position of the spine in these
asanas allows the heart to slow down, as there is no
stress to pump the blood against gravity to the brain.
The heart rate and the cardiac output simultaneously
slows down and blood pressure is controlled.

Although Uttanasana and Adhomukha Svanasana are 
categorized as standing asanas, they are actually
forward bending standing poses and as such have a
similar effect on the nervous system. When these two
poses are practiced with the head resting on props,
the blood flows more  freely into the aortic arch
and the carotid sinuses. This extra perfusion into
these volume sensitive structures inhibits the
vasomotor center and blood pressure becomes
stabilized.

Supine poses such as Supta Baddhakonasana and
Supta Padangusthasana 2 allow the abdominal region
to spread and relax. This relaxation is not only
beneficial to the entire organic body, but is also
soothing on the nerves. Those suffering from high
blood pressure practice sitting asanas such as 
Baddhakonasana, Virasana and Upavista Konasana.
Often hypertensives have difficulty in their breathing
and these poses owing to their erect position, soften
the diaphragm and remove tension from the ribs and
the intercostal muscles. This helps the person to
breathe easily.

Inversions such as Halasana, Setubandha
Sarvangasana and Viparita Karani rests and
rejuvenates the nerves and reduce the sympathetic
tone immediately. Regular practice of these asanas
keeps the blood pressure  under control. In
Setubandha Sarvangasana the diaphragm and lungs
are under control. The diaphragm and lungs are lifted
and this helps to stabilize the blood pressure. Viparita
Dandasana rests the Medulla oblongata, the center
that control blood pressure. However this pose is for
those suffering from low blood pressure and should
not be practiced by hypertensives, as it will increase
ocular pressure.

Svanasana and pranayama helps to control the
automatic nervous system and the sympathetic tone
gets reduced. As the mind and senses of perception
are withdrawn, the blood pressure regularizes.