AusLeisure

Evidence of the benefits of yoga to the wellness of participants has been revealed by a new study which shows it can also help those with heart disease.

The report, published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, details how yoga is just as effective as more strenuous activities such as aerobic training and cycling at cutting risks of heart disease.

It highlights that due to yoga's low impact profile is seen as being more accessible to those with heart conditions.

The European Society of Cardiology report reviewed 37 trials involving 2,768 people and measured the benefits of yoga compared with exercise and no physical activity.

It found that when compared to no exercise, yoga reduced Body Mass Index (BMI), lowered blood pressure and reduced cholesterol and that on average, those tested were 2.75 kilograms lighter than those who did no exercise.

The Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel explains “the regular practice of yoga may produce many health benefits, including increased fitness and normalisation of blood pressure.

“Yoga is a renowned antidote to stress. Over time, yoga practitioners report lower levels of stress, and increased feelings of happiness and wellbeing. This is because concentrating on the postures and the breath acts as a form of meditation.”

Yoga is an ancient Indian philosophy that dates back more than 5,000 years. It was designed as a path to spiritual enlightenment, but in modern times, the physical aspects of Hatha yoga have found huge popularity as a gentle form of exercise and stress management. There are many different varieties of yoga, but each one essentially relies on structured poses (asanas) practiced with breath awareness.

The classical practice of yoga encourages effort, intelligence, accuracy, thoroughness, commitment and dedication. The word yoga means ‘to join or yoke together’. It brings your body and mind together, and is built on three main elements – exercise, breathing and meditation.

Yoga exercises are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, increasing its body’s efficiency and total health. 

Click here for more information on Yoga has the same potential as exercise to reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology.

Click here to visit the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel.

Image courtesy of the Centennial Health Club/Centennial Parklands.

13th November 2014 - ONE HOT YOGA AND PILATES TO LAUNCH NEW MELBOURNE STUDIO AND HOT MAT PILATES

16th July 2012 - AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF YOGA

16th June 2019 - YOGA ON THE RISE 

20th June 2008 - YOGA MATS AND ECOLOGY

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.