Yoga Therapy for Atherosclerosis

A river is a stream of water that flows through a passage in the surface of the ground. It flows continuously until it ends into an ocean, a lake or a bigger river.  If the flow is however interrupted, deviated or blocked, the flow either becomes slow or gets broken into parts. A similar condition, atherosclerosis, could happen in the human circulatory system. Atherosclerosis can result in life-threatening conditions such as heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.


Yoga Therapy 

Yoga therapy for atherosclerosis improves the blood flow to the organs by neuromuscular action. 

Practice of pranayama stimulates and changes the lumen size of the arterioles, which helps to regulate the circulation.

Asana and pranayama by their segmental spinal nerve actions can voluntarily alter regional blood flow and the blood pressure. The arteriolar resistance is extremely important to the regulation of blood flow in the body as a whole and also in different regions of the body.

Specifically, standing and seated poses stimulate the neuromuscular action. Twisting and backward bending poses massage the internal organs.  Restorative pose and pranayama induce pneumatic function in the body, improving the respiratory and circulatory pressure in the body. 

Here are few recommended asanas and pranayama for a simple practice. It is advisable to practise these under the guidance of a yoga teacher, particularly if you had medical treatment such as an open heart surgery or a history of stroke before.


To maintain a healthy lifestyle, maintain a healthy diet that is low in saturated salt and cholesterol. Practise asana and pranayama regularly for 30 to 60 minutes a day. Keep a healthy weight by regular exercises, which are useful particularly if one is either overweight or obese.

Yoga therapy for atherosclerosis makes the respiration more stable and heals any respiratory and cardiac disorders. Through the practice, blood receives larger amount of oxygen; the nerves become calm and purified.  As a result, body and mind become healthier, which make one stronger and serene.