Yoga is a gift for human beings - Part 2

EFFECT OF STANDING POSES

Standing poses strengthen the cardiac reserve. These poses when done probably give the effect of having run a 2 mile race.

 The lung capacity is increased by standing poses. As the venous return is higher through these poses, varicose veins do not occur, and the pump efficiency of the heart is higher. Endurance is built-up.

EFFECT OF FORWARD BENDS

Forward bends soothe the nerves and improve the function of the sympathetic system. The cardiac nerves are stimulated and rested. As the tone of the sympathetic system falls down, blood pressure falls and therefore it is beneficial to patients with high blood pressure.

Forward ​bends bring down the heart rate​, pulse​,​ blood pressure. Since the body is parallel to the floor, gravity does not affect the heart and blood flows to both extremities without strain. The sympathetic nervous system is given a tremendous boost of energy so that when these poses are completed, one feels full of energy and fresh. 

​EFFECTS OF BACKBENDS​

Back​-​bending poses have a tremendous effect on the force of contraction of the heart. The quality of contraction of a muscle fibre is directly proportional to the initial length of the muscle. 

As all backbends lengthen the cardiac muscle and the septum, the quality of contraction of the heart improves and the quality of blood pumped out is increased. As the muscle is stretched the blood flow is enhanced. therefore for any cardiac problem, backbends (with props) are a must. If the heart is dilated, backbends shrink it, and conversely if the heart is contracted, backbends open the chamber.

By Dr. Krishna Raman