Healing high blood pressure with Yoga

What is Blood Pressure?? Every living animal on thetwists and stretched postures, the functioning of
planet has blood pressure; there is no exception to thisendocrine glands, digestive organs, heart and other
rule. The blood flows through the body with certainorgans improves. To achieve this even simple
pressure, but if the pressure is higher than the normalYogasanas are helpful, one can easily practice these
range then it is a disease, which is called High Bloodyogasanas and get the best for himself.
Pressure or sometimes the blood pressure dropsPranayama is control of breath, breathing & blood
below the normal range, then it is called Low Bloodcirculation system, heart have close relation between
Pressure.them.
For the blood to reach all parts of the body, it hasAlso these are dependant on mental activities. If
certain pressure. This pressure is created because ofmental strain increases the breathing rate is affected.
contraction of heart. Sometimes for various reasonsIn Pranayama the breathing is controlled and the rate is
these blood pressure increases, for example fearfulreduced, which reduces the strain on heart and also
situation, anger, anxiety, excessive thinking, mentalthe rate. This increases the stability of mind and mental
tensions or even for physical exertion. During theseactivities are also controlled.
situations the heart comes under extra workload. ButEven simple breathing exercises like Deep Breathing,
when the situation changes and comes to normal, soQuiet Breathing help reduce the mental stresses and
also the blood pressure. This temporary change instrains.
Blood Pressure is not disease but when this BloodAlso the Pranic force in the body is balanced with the
pressure remains high always, it becomes a disease.regular practice of Pranayama, which restores the
Measuring BP The BP is not same everywhere; it isphysical and mental balance. Some Pranayama
maximum close to heart from where the blood comestechniques affect the functioning of nervous system,
out and lowest where blood comes in to the heart. Sowhich again help restore the balance.
always the BP is measured on the hands. There are 2Pranayama reduces the need of oxygen, so also the
types of pressures, systolic and diastolic. Systolicproduction of carbon dioxide.
Pressure is higher and indicates the contraction ofSo the respiration rate reduces. In various Pranayama
heart and diastolic is when heart expands. The BP intechniques Ujjayi Pranayama balances the Pranic flow
healthy person is 120 mm / 80 mm, that is systolicof energy in the body. Ujjayi also affects carotid sinus,
120mm and diastolic is 80mm. If the BP is greater orwhich help reduce BP.
less by 15 mm to 20 mm than the normal range, it isNadishodhan Pranayama controls the Pranic flow. But
considered as disease.people suffering from BP should not practice
There are various reasons for this high BP. SometimesKumbhaka (retention of breath) but only inhalation and
because of improper functioning of kidneys, heartexhalation.
related problems or diabetes BP can go high, so ifMeditation Meditation is study of concentration.
these diseases are treated then BP also comes toOne should try to keep mind focused on one point or
normal. But in 80 % of the cases there is no apparentobject, this concentration of mind has very effects on
reason, then it is called "Essential Hypertension".body and mind. Lot of research is going on around the
The reason for this High BP is cannot be found onworld about the meditation and its effects. Some of
physical plane but can be traced to mental activities.the observed facts are listed below.
High mental strain results in high BP. Modern medical1. Balance is achieved in the functioning of nervous
science treats the BP but not the underlying reasonsystem.
that is mental strain.2. Complete body is relaxed, which gives enough rest
When you take medicines, the BP comes to normalto the muscles and various organs.
for sometime but when the effect of the medicines is3. Concentration, grasping power, memory increases
over, the BP again rises. So the best remedy is toand so also the will power.
remove all underlying reasons for mental stress and4. One can handle stressful situations in efficient ways.
strain. Yoga certainly helps achieve the stress free5. Balance is achieved in the functioning of Body Mind
mind. There is no solution except removing all thecomplex.
strains on mind and control the mental activities.6. Brain functioning is improved.
Yogasanas (Yoga Positions and Postures),The basic meditations help achieve these results, it
Pranayama, Meditation, Yoga Nidra definitely helpincludes Omkar Meditation, Omkar chanting, Prana
achieve the mental peace.Meditation.
Yogasana - (Yoga Positions or Postures) Yoga GuruEspecially for High BP patients, Omkar chanting for 15
Patanjali has defined Yoga as 'Steady andminutes everyday shows miraculous results.
comfortable state of Body and Mind means Asana'. ||Yoga Nidra Yoga Nidra is psychic sleep, this process is
Sthirsukham Asanam || During any exercise the straindesigned by Paramhansa Swami Satyananda
on muscles increases, the requirement for blood andSaraswati of Bihar School of Yoga. This process
oxygen increases but in Yogasanas the requirementhelps remove physical, emotional and mental strains
goes down as there are no strains and every musclevery easily and effectively. It also helps focus the mind
is relaxed, the requirement for blood and oxygen goesand removes negative elements. This Yoga Nidra is
down. This also reduces the strain on mind, the mindeasy to practice and given results in short time. Even 1
also becomes stable and focused. Also because ofhour daily practice helps.