HEALTH Being a hero is good for your heart

True to your heart


Lee Kennedy

Yoga can heal parts of our bodies that have been injured, traumatised or simply ignored and neglected.
Conventional medical treatment can accelerate the healing process but may not tackle the source of the problem. In yoga science, it is believed that the cure for disease can lie within ourselves.
Virasana (hero pose) helps ‘extend’ the spine and enhances the functioning of the heart, helping to improve blood circulation to all parts of the body.
The circulatory system is composed of arteries, veins, and capillaries, all carrying blood to and from the heart to the entire body, supplying oxygen and nutrients, and carrying away waste products.
Common disorders of the circulatory system include varicose veins and ‘cold extremities’ – cold feet and hands.
The coldness that can be felt in the extremities is caused by a slowdown in circulation, when blood collects in the torso and fails to travel all the way to your hands and feet.
It can give rise to ailments of the chest and of the intestinal and abdominal organs, and is often the result of a sluggish thyroid, stress or nervousness.
Varicose veins are veins that lie just beneath the skin of the legs that become elongated and dilated, leading to aching legs, fatigue and muscle cramp.
This condition often occurs during pregnancy and menstruation.
It can also strike people who have to stay on their feet for long periods.

Virasana hero pose
Virasana is useful for reducing inflammation in the blood vessels of the legs caused by standing for long periods. It also alleviates pain or inflammation in the knees and tones knee cartilage. The pose strengthens the arches of the feet and relieves pain in the calves ankles and heels. However, avoid practicing this pose if you have headache or migraine.
You will need two cushions and two folded blankets to help make this pose easier, especially for those with stiffness in hip, knee or ankle joints.

• Place two cushions parallel to each other on the floor
• Kneel on the cushions, keeping your knees together
• Place one rolled blanket on your shins and the other folded blanket under your buttocks
• Sit with your back upright
• Keep your chest stretched out
• Imagine you are squeezing your kidneys and drawing them into the body
• Place your palms on your knees
• Look straight ahead
• Stay in the pose for 40-60 seconds

This article is not a recommendation for your own practice but serves as interesting reading  for anyone thinking of going to a yoga class. As with any form of physical exercise, please consult your family doctor beforehand.

Lee Kennedy qualified with The BKS Iyengar Yoga Association UK, the YTTC and Ana Forrest of Forrest Yoga. She specialises in pregnancy-related yoga and also studied with Janet Balaskas, founder of the Active Birth Foundation, UK. Visit Yogadara.com or call 0863906343 for more information.