You have no idea how much every organ of our body is affected due to ordinary life and bad lifestyle. Our hearts are often negatively affected due to bad habits developed over time. From sitting at a desk all day to drinking alcohol and being stressed, the chance of developing heart disease increases.
So, if there’s one thing you can do to keep your heart healthy, it’s yoga, especially pranayama. Yes… Pranayama is not only very good for your respiratory system, but also very good for your heart health. If you only do half an hour of pranayama a day, your heart rate will change positively.
How Pranayama Can Benefit Your Heart Health
Practicing pranayama daily can help permanently lower blood pressure and heart rate, which means the heart is working at a slower rate. The best thing about pranayama is that it can be practiced anywhere, without any tools.
A heart attack usually occurs when the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked. This can cause a blood clot to block the artery, leading to a heart attack. This is why pranayama is necessary.
What are some pranayama practices that can prove beneficial for heart health?
Brahmin Pranayama
In this exercise, the sound of exhalation is similar to that of a bee. To do this, start by sitting in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes. Use your thumb to turn inward to close the ear.
Then place your index finger on your eyebrow and your other finger on your closed eye. Now apply light pressure to the nose from the sides.
Focus on the area between the eyebrows. Breathe through your nose while humming the word Om with your closed mouth.
Repeat this process for 5 minutes.
Nadi shodhana pranayama
This is one of the best forms of pranayama. It can improve breathing and heart health. According to research, it can reduce stress and anxiety. It brings balance to the three doshas of the human body.
Sit on the Vajra seat. Close your right nostril with your right thumb and inhale and exhale through your left nostril.
Now release the right nostril and close the left nostril with the pinky finger of the right hand.
Inhale and exhale through the right nostril. Repeat this set 10 times.
Anuloma Viloma Pranayama
Take a pranayama pose. First, close the right nostril and inhale through the left nostril for a count of 4. Close your left nostril.
Hold your breath for a count of 16, open your right nostril, and exhale for a count of 8.
Follow the same process as inhaling through the right nostril.
Repeat the whole process 5 times.
Kapalabhati Pranayama
It strengthens the immune system and activates the nervous system.
This pranayama detoxifies the entire body. First, sit comfortably.
Take a deep breath and feel your abdomen expand. As you exhale, pull your stomach toward your spine.
Do 20 reps and complete 1 set of exercises.
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