Yoga for diabetics

(February 25, 2009)

Which asanas should we do for diabetics?

There is a way to reverse diabetes, but there isn’t any one asana (pose) or set of poses for this. You will have to practice certain postures in particular, but this is only part of the therapy. There are quite a few more things you will have to do to resolve your problem. All of this is possible and we give below, for your benefit, a package of Yoga practices specially designed to help diabetics.

Certain Yoga practices, including asanas (poses), pranayamas (breathing exercises, kriyas (cleansing techniques), relaxation and meditation have a highly therapeutic effect upon the body, particularly, specific glands – such as the pancreas – and organs. Those practices, which affect such glands as the pancreas and its functions, are of the most benefit to pre-diabetics and diabetics. It is the right understanding and application of these poses that help, over a period of time, reverse diabetes.

Among the exercises and asanas (poses) are:

1. Single and Double Leg Raises
2. Shoulder Stretches
3. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
4. Ardha Chandrasana (Half-Moon pose)
5. Ardha Kurmasana (Half Tortoise Pose)
6. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half spinal twist)
7. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
8. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
9. Halasana (Plough pose)
10.Janu Sirshasana (Head-to-Knee with Stretching Pose)
11.Matsyasana (Fish pose)
12.Paschimottanasana (Standing Separate Leg Head-to-Knee Pose)
13.Pawanmuktasana (Wind relieving pose)
14.Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
15.Sashankasana (Rabbit Pose)
16.Shalabhasana (Locust Pose)
17.Shavasana (Dead Body Pose)
18.Stand Spread Leg
19.Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
20.Tadasana (Tree Pose)
21.Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
22.Tuladandasana (Balancing Stick Pose)
23.Ushtrasana (Camel Pose)
24.Vajrasana (Warrior pose)
25.Viparita Karani

These help stimulate the pancreas, as they exercise glands and other internal organs together with the musculo-skeletal system. Also, most of these asanas (poses) give a good stretch to the internal viscera, which otherwise receive hardly any stimulation. Stretching, contracting and twisting provides that much needed stimulation and rejuvenation to the which, if followed by relaxation, results in an increased volume of highly oxygenated blood to all your cells. This delivers the nourishment that rejuvenates atrophied cells.

Pranayamas (Breathing Exercises)

1. Kapalabhatti (Skull cleansing)
2. Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate nostril breathing)
3. Brahmari (Bee breath)
4. Bhastrika (Bellows breath)

Please note that all breathing exercises must be done only under the guidance of an expert Yoga instructor.

Meditation

Meditative practices are particularly helpful in managing stress (one of the biggest reasons for diabetes). A relaxed and concentrated frame of mind is very important for good health and this is precisely the aim of Yoga and meditation. Yoga and meditation are designed to have a calming effect on the nervous system and brings about a balance between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems.

Submitted by A on February 25, 2009 at 06:23