Diabetes: Top three yoga poses that are helpful for diabetics

Yoga can do more than just relax your body and mind, especially if you are living with diabetes. Certain yoga poses may help lower blood pressure while also improving blood circulation, leading to yoga being recommended by certain medical and lifestyle publications for diabetes management. Regular practice of these poses may even help reduce your risk for other complications, like heart disease. Here are the three best yoga poses that medical publications say are beneficial for people suffering from diabetes.

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Legs up the wall pose

This pose allows restorative inversion for relaxation. It helps lower stress levels, which may in turn help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also helps to boost energy, increase circulation, and relieve headaches.

How to do this

• Fold up a towel or blanket to sit on.
• Sit in a position where your right side is against a wall.
• As you move to lay flat on your back, swing your legs up along the wall.
• Your body should form a 90-degree angle against the wall.
• Keep sitting as close to the wall as possible.
• Relax your chin, throat, and neck.
• With your palms facing up, stretch your arms out to the side.
• Remain in this position for 5 to 15 minutes.
• Release by slowly sliding your legs down to the side.

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Reclining bound angle pose

This is a restorative pose. It can also help you calm your nerves. Reclining bound angle pose can also help reduce your stress levels, which further helps in lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

How to do this

• Bring the soles of your feet together, while seated. Remember, your knees should be out to the sides
• You can place a bolster under your knees for support.
• Slowly lean back until your back is flat on the floor.
• Relax the area around your hips.
• With your palms facing up, rest your hands alongside your body.
• You can also press down on your thighs to gently deepen the stretch in your hips and legs.
• Stay in this position for 10 minutes.
• Use your hands to lift and press your knees together to release. Slowly sit all the way up.

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Seated forward bend

This is a therapeutic forward bend pose. It helps in lowering blood pressure and promoting weight loss. In addition to this, this pose can even help relieve anxiety, headaches, and fatigue.

How to do this

• Sit on the edge of a folded blanket and extend your legs as far as possible.
• You may place a prop under your knees for support.
• Imagine that you’re pressing the soles of your feet against a wall so that your toes are drawing back toward your shins.
• Root into your seat and try to lengthen your spine.
• Bend forward, with the hinge at your hips.
• Stopping when you reach a comfortable position, walk your hands down to your feet.
• Your torso should fold into your legs.
• Tuck your chin into your chest.
• Remain in this position for up to 3 minutes.

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