How Does Yoga Help in Lowering Cholesterol?

Your doctor must have advised you to avoid harmful food if you have high cholesterol. This means that you must be extra cautious when it comes to eating red meat, fried foods, and desserts. Yoga, exercise, and movement can also be beneficial because in comparison to not exercising, a 2014 study indicated that yoga significantly improved HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol. Online yoga classes Australia can be extremely fruitful when it comes to lowering cholesterol and we will discuss this in more detail in this article.

The science and researches

The relationship between yoga and cholesterol levels has only been the subject of a few research. However, the existing research finds a connection. One study examined 100 people with type 2 diabetes in India. In addition to taking oral hypoglycemic medications, people who practiced yoga for three months also had lower levels of triglycerides, LDL (low density lipoproteins), and total cholesterol. Additionally, their HDL (high density lipoproteins) improved.

Another 2019 study examined how yoga affected the lipid profiles of 24 women. For 26 weeks, study participants who practiced yoga three times a week experienced a decrease in their LDL and total cholesterol levels, but not their HDL levels.

Yoga moves to try for lowering cholesterol levels

1. Seated forward bend

• Sit with your legs straight out in front of you to begin. You can use a folded towel or blanket to sit up.
• Take a deep breath and extend your back.
• Breathe out and begin bending over your legs gradually. Instead of moving from the waist, try to move from the hips. Your head should be up straight and your back should be flat. If you have any discomfort in your back, stop stretching.
• As you keep reaching toward your ankles or feet, take a breath and only extend as far as it feels comfortable for you.
• Depending on how comfortable you are, hold the pose for one to three minutes.

2. Child’s pose

• Sit back onto your feet and begin on your knees.
• Place your upper body between your thighs and spread your knees as wide as your hips.
• Keep your arms palms up and rest them next to your torso. Alternately, put your arms out in front of you, palms facing the mat.
• Breathe in and out at ease.
• Hold for thirty seconds to three minutes 

3. Seated spinal twist

• Start by sitting up straight, with your right leg crossing over your left, heel of your right foot on the floor, and your left leg bent on the floor with the heel by your right hip.
• Raise your left hand to the ceiling while elongating your spine.
• With your left elbow outside your right knee, begin to rotate to the right.
• To increase the length, inhale, and to intensify the bend, exhale.
• After 30 to 60 seconds of holding, move on to the opposite side.

4. Legs up the wall

• Your yoga mat should be moved toward the wall. To position yourself correctly, sit sideways with your shoulder against the wall.
• Stretch your legs up the wall while lying on your back on your mat. As necessary, move closer.
• For one to two minutes, or however long you find comfortable, remain in this inverted position. Inhale and exhale.
• When you’re ready to descend, raise your knees to your chest and slowly walk your legs down the wall.
• Swing back and forth a couple of times, then let go.

The above mentioned yoga poses are very well taught in yoga classes in Sydney from where you can learn the basics and practice at your home comfortably.