Cardiovascular Health
BENEFITS:
There are many different ways in which yoga can improve cardiovascular health. Many forms of yoga include breathing exercises, which have been linked to reducing resting heart rate and may reduce stress. Yoga has also been associated with improving cardiovascular endurance, improving blood pressure, and even lowering cholesterol.
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In one study, participants lowered their blood pressure by an average of 5 points and lowered their levels of LDL (harmful) cholesterol by 12 points (Hartley et al, 2014). Both of which are important factors for preventing heart disease.
In another study, researchers concluded that yoga can positively affect cardiovascular rhythms. It also showed that baroreflex sensitivity increased, which is a mechanism that assists the body in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels (Bernardi et al, 2001).
