Heart Disease

Published on February 3, 2009

According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, causing about 1.5 million heart attacks each year. Recent research has shown yoga and meditation to reduce blood pressure, lower the pulse rate, improve the elasticity of the arteries, regulate heart rhythm, and increase the heart’s stroke volume. All of these factors can help prevent and control heart disease.

Yoga Postures
Use our Pose Sequence for Heart and Chest as a general practice, and adding or emphasizing from our complete list of Postures for Heart Disease.

Pranayama
Use Dirga and Nadi Sodhana Pranayamas to slow the heart rate, regulate the heart rhythm, oxygenate the blood, and induce a feeling of calm and well-being.

Meditation
Meditation reduces stress, calms the mind, and studies have shown that a daily meditation practice can reduce the amount of fatty deposits in the arteries, as well as lower blood pressure. Use one of the following by itself and/or at the beginning and end of your yoga practice: Yoga Meditation or Heart Chakra Meditation.

Articles
Yoga for Heart Health
Yoga and Meditation 3 Times a Week Improves Heart Disease Risk
Heart to Heart

Books and Videos
Yoga: the Path to Holistic Health
Yoga as Medicine
Yoga Therapy
Yoga for Wellness

Web Resources
Heart Disease Health Center
Heart Disease Prevention

Yoga is not a substitute for conventional western medication; please consult your medical professional before starting a yoga practice.

Share with

Friends

Our Latest

Yoga Articles
  • Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

    10 Tips for Harnessing the Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

  • Best Time to Meditate

    Finding the Best Time to Meditate: Tips and Advice on When to Sit

  • Purusharthas

    Purusharthas: The Four Goals of Life

  • Trimurti

    Trimurti: The Hindu Trinity of Brahma Vishnu Shiva

  • Brahman

    Brahman: Definition, Meaning, and Philosophy

  • Yoga Nidra

    Yoga Nidra: Meaning, Benefits, Videos and Tips

  • Living Like a Yogi

    17 Rules for Living Like a Yogi

  • heart opening yoga poses

    The Best 16 Heart Opening Yoga Poses

Remove Ads with a

Premium Membership

Viewing ads supports YogaBasics, which allows us to continue bringing you quality yoga content. Sign up for a premium membership to remove all ads and enjoy uninterrupted access to the best yoga resources on the web.

Explore More

Yoga TipsAdviceArticlesPracticesBasicsTechniques

  • meditation before bed benefits 2

    11 Benefits of Meditation Before Bed

  • Staying In Love With Yoga

    9 Wonderful Ways To Stay In Love With Yoga

  • Brahma Muhurta

    Brahma Muhurta: Definition, Benefits and Tips

  • TKV Desikachar

    Remembering TKV Desikachar 1938-2016

  • nada yoga meditation

    Nada Yoga: Union Through Sound

  • Meditation for Inner Strength and Grit

    7 Ways Meditation Cultivates Inner Strength and Grit

  • Tips to Sit Cross-Legged

    Tips to Be Comfortable Sitting in a Cross-Legged Position

  • yoga meditation ego

    4 Ways Yoga Can Defeat Your Ego

  • Vinyasa Yoga Injury

    How to Avoid Common Vinyasa Yoga Injuries

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Timothy Burgin Avatar
About the author
Timothy Burgin is a Kripalu & Pranakriya trained yoga instructor living and teaching in Asheville, NC. Timothy has studied and taught many styles of yoga and has completed a 500-hour Advanced Pranakriya Yoga training. Timothy has been serving as the Executive Director of YogaBasics.com since 2000. He has authored two yoga books and has written over 500 articles on the practice and philosophy of yoga. Timothy is also the creator of Japa Mala Beads and has been designing and importing mala beads since 2004.
Yoga Basics