Yoga is a path of purification of Mind and Body. It is the path of ultimate union with the self. This path of purification also promotes overall well-being. It’s holistic approach addresses both the body and mind, aiming to enhance flexibility, strength, and mental clarity. Studies have shown that regular yoga practice can help reduce stress, improve balance, increase relaxation, and even contribute to better cardiovascular health by potentially lowering the risk factors associated with heart disease. According to a study by investigators from the Netherlands and the USA, yoga might wield comparable benefits to traditional physical activities, like cycling or brisk walking, in reducing cardiovascular risks. The study outlines significant improvements in critical risk factors such as BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels among yoga practitioners.
Researchers undertook a systematic review of 37 randomized controlled trials, which included 2768 subjects.
Study Findings:
- Yoga offers comparable risk reduction benefits to traditional aerobic exercises when it comes to cardiovascular health.
- Yoga led to improvements in various primary outcome risk factors such as reduced BMI, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol levels.
- Significant changes were noted in secondary endpoints, including reduced body weight, total cholesterol, and heart rate.
- However, no improvements were found in diabetes-related parameters.
Professor Myriam Hunink from Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and senior author of the study said, “Although the evidence of yoga’s beneficial effect in cardiovascular health is growing, a physiological explanation for this effect remains unclear.” Also unclear, are the dose-response relationship and the relative costs and benefits of yoga when compared to exercise or medication. However, these results indicate that yoga is potentially very useful and in my view worth pursuing as a risk improvement practice,” she added.
The research advises:
- Yoga is a potentially useful practice for cardiovascular health improvement
- Its low cost, accessibility, and acceptability among diverse populations, including those with physical limitations, make it a promising preventive strategy