What Is Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is found among the fats (lipids) in our bloodstream and cells. Cholesterol isn’t really bad because the body uses it to form cell membranes. It is only excess cholesterol in your bloodstream can be unhealthy, and lead to cardiac diseases.
Yoga makes use of exercises and asanas (poses) to help relax and tone up the muscles and to massage the internal organs. The breathing techniques (pranayamas) help regulate the body’s energy levels while meditation helps calm down the mind. Finally, the relaxation postures help reduce and get rid of stress, tension and anxiety. All Yoga practices help improve the flow of blood and oxygen in the body which, in turn, helps in getting rid of toxins and other waste. But, for your Yoga practices to be really beneficial in lowering your unwanted cholesterol you will have to practice it on a regular basis.
Yoga Exercises for Cholesterol Management
Following is the list of helpful Yoga exercises and asanas (poses). These Yoga exercises and poses are beneficial in improving blood circulation and elimination of the cholesterol buildup in your body.
- Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
- Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
- Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Seated Twist)
- Shalabhasana (Locust Pose)
- Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose)
Meditation further helps reduce stress hormones that, in turn helps bring down cholesterol levels. This is why meditation is so much a part of Yoga. Over time Yoga helps get rid of unwanted cholesterol from the body and you will be amazed when, after a few months, you go in for a check up and find the cholesterol levels impressively low. So, to bring down the negative effects of stress and its byproducts, you must, necessarily practice a regular regime simple pranayamas (breathing techniques) together with deep meditative techniques for around an hour daily. This will give you a feeling of good health and a significant lowering in cholesterol levels.
Following is the list of helpful Pranayamas (Breathing Exercise):
- Kapalabhatti (Skull Cleansing)
- Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
- Brahmari (Bee Breath)
- Bhastrika (Bellows Breath)
Breathing exercises, meditation and poses together are the perfect combination for lowering cholesterol.
Only Yoga has the proven ability to balance the body, mind and emotions in such as way that helps get rid of many a chronic disease. Yoga has proven itself highly beneficial for Cholesterol management, largely by massaging the internal organs and by activating the glandular systems that are responsible for this condition.
