Regular yoga practice keep hypertension away

According to one report about 20 per cent of adults worldwide suffer from hypertension, but most are unaware of it.

Hypertension is not a disease, but a sign of underlying problems due to imbalance in physical, emotional and mental levels resulting in imbalance of the nervous system, says Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy Director Dr B T Chidananda Murthy.

"The moment stress is there on the body, physical or mental,the result is oxygen demand increases and so does the work of the heart. If this happens over a period the heart becomes permanently strained and eventually stops properly functioning leading to serious and even lethal complications," he explains.

"Yoga improves physical, mental and spiritual health. It makes physiological reflexes, reactions and responses more alert, sensitive and subtle," says Dr Murthy.

Yoga helps in overcoming psychological stress and its ill effects on body. Yoga includes practice of Asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), Yoga Nidra (meditation) and Yogic Kriyas.