Diabetes yoga poses
Hi this is Nisha. My question is what to do for sugar. My mother is 40 years old she has high blood sugar. What kind of food she should take to reduce sugar levels and which Yoga poses she should follow?
There are a number of yoga poses that your mother could practice that would help in reducing the level of sugar in the blood. To control diabetes, yoga poses like Sukhasana (Easy pose), Surya Namaskara (Sun salutation), Vrikshasan (Tree pose) and Matsyasana (Fish pose), if practiced regularly will be helpful. The Sun salutation ensures the increase of blood supply to different parts of the body. It also improves the supply of insulin while the pancreas are stimulated. In the Sun salutation there are yoga sequences present which are a combination of different asanas and poses. Per minute at least four rounds should be practiced for it to be most effective. To effectively control diabetes these yoga poses must be practiced on a daily basis. For improvement of the action of insulin, yoga poses help by reducing stress which enhances the secretion of glucagons. With the reduction of glucagons the supply of insulin is improved.
In controlling diabetes, other yoga positions like the Easy pose, Anuloma Viloma and Relaxation pose will be effective. The easy pose helps in keeping the spine straight, slowing down the metabolic rate, and relaxing the mind. Anuloma Viloma also goes by the name Alternate nostril breathing technique. To practice this technique you should breathe in through one nostril, hold the breath and then breathe out through the other nostril. To be in a proper relaxed state you must include the mental, physical and spiritual aspects. Practicing the Relaxation yoga pose creates a refreshed feeling after completing the pranayama and asanas. To ensure the control of diabetes, a yoga routine should include the relaxation pose. Make it a point to incorporate as many of these poses as possible in your diabetes yoga sequences.
In spite of all the benefits of yoga you must not use it as the only form of therapy. In addition to treating diabetes with yoga poses, you must also make sure the right medications are taken and a proper diet, which is essential for diabetic treatment, is followed. A proper diet provides respite from the complications and symptoms. Foods that contain fibers like vegetables, beans, peas, fruits, cereals and whole grain breads help in reducing the level of glucose in the blood. Yogurts or curds helps in cleaning the pancreas from the waste ensuring a good production of insulin. Oats help in stabilizing the blood sugar level and are an effective antioxidant. Broccoli is an excellent source of chromium which helps in regulating the blood sugar and insulin. Beans are very good for diabetics as they have a high fiber content.
It is important to understand the role that a good diet plays in reducing diabetes. To improve the control of diabetes, a yoga routine which is regularly practiced should be incorporated into the treatment. With the various yoga poses available, people of all ages can get involved in the practice and your mother can choose the positions that suit her best.
Submitted by A on September 5, 2010 at 06:23
One of the most effective forms of yoga for the control of blood sugar and treatment of diabetes is Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar. The Sun Salutation is an excellent form of exercise for patients suffering from diabetes. Surya Namaskar helps in increasing the supply of blood to the various parts of the body and also improves the administration of insulin while stimulating the pancreas. There are a number of pose as and asanas combined in the sun salutation and to its movements that offers the complete benefits of all the asanas. Each Surya Namaskar must be practiced at 4 rounds per minute to get the maximum benefit out of it.
In addition to Surya Namaskar, there are a number of asanas that are beneficial in controlling diabetes. However yoga must be practiced only as a secondary or alternative form of therapy in addition to the primary medications taken to control the disorder, in consultation with a medical practitioner. Some important asanas healthful in increasing the efficiency and functioning of the pancreas as well as the endocrine system are the half spinal twist also known as Ardhamatsyendrasana, the Vajrasana Yoga Mudra, the wind release pose, Sarvangasana, Halasana, and the fish pose. All these asana is unknown to have a personal effect on the functioning of the pancreas and also in the administration of insulin. However to get desired result, one must maintain the required pose for longer duration. It is best to consult yoga instructor or qualified practitioner to teach in the asanas and guide the individual through the movements.
The most important feature of these asanas is the stability offered and comfort experienced while performing the pose. According to research certain types of Pranayama are extremely helpful in dealing with diabetes. In order to prepare for Pranayama one must practice the Nadi Shodhan Pranayama also known as breathing through alternate nostrils. This form of Pranayama is known to have a calming effect on the nervous system and also helps introducing the levels of stress thus compounding the effects of the primary medication in the treatment of diabetes.
A daily practice of meditation is extremely vital in managing stress and relieving tension. Through the mode of meditation a balance is struck between sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. It is possible that meditation may be difficult to achieve during the early days of practicing it. However with thorough discipline and daily performance, one will be able to achieve the true sense of meditation with the help of chanting and concentration on breathing patterns.
Submitted by C D on July 25, 2008 at 05:00
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