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Valentine s day is just around the corner and love seems to be in the air. While this day is more about mushy romance, love is not just an emotion that keeps you happy, it can actually make your heart stronger. Science also backs this. But, what else takes care of your heart apart from love? Yes, you guessed it right. Yoga. Here, we tell you all about the heart-love-yoga connection.
LOVE AND HEART HEALTH: THE LINK
There are reams of studies that associate love with improved heart health. Here are a few of them.
By reducing stress: A study conducted at the University of North Carolina has revealed that if you hug your partner quite often, oxytocin level in your body goes higher. Notably, this hormone, known as the love or bonding hormone, reduces stress levels.
By lowering your blood pressure: According to a research published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, people who spend a considerable amount of time with their romantic partners experience lower blood pressure compared to those who hang out with strangers. The drop in blood pressure levels may be associated with perceived emotional support from your loved ones, experts guess.
By lowering your cholesterol: According to a study published in Human Communication Research, articulating your thoughts related to love and your partner on paper can significantly drop your cholesterol levels.
By making you positive about life: Being in love makes you happy. This wonderful feeling keeps you enthusiastic, joyful, excited, content and positive. And, a study published in the European Heart Journal has revealed that having a positive outlook in life can protect you against cardiovascular disease. Moreover, it can reduce your anxiety.
YOGA AND HEART HEALTH: THE CONNECTION
A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology indicates that yoga may help lower heart disease risk as much as conventional exercise, such as brisk walking. Here we tell you about some effective yoga poses that will keep your heart in a good condition and protect you from various life-threatening cardiovascular ailments.
Paripurna Navasana
[caption id="attachment_647634" align="alignnone" width="655"] Paripurna navasana helps your body flush out toxins accumulated inside your body. Shutterstock[/caption]
Also known as boat pose, paripurna navasana strengthens your lower body muscles, spine, and hip flexors. It improves balance, digestion and stimulates your kidneys, thyroid, and prostate gland. Acting as a stress reliever, this yoga asana helps your body flush out toxics accumulated inside.
How to do it:
Trikonasana or UtthitaTrikonasana
[caption id="attachment_647635" align="alignnone" width="655"] Trikonasana stimulates your kidney function. Shutterstock[/caption]
Trikonasana improves the function of blood through the entire body. Also known as extended triangle pose, it reduces blood pressure, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, this yoga asana strengthens the back, hips, thighs, arms, and legs. Trikonasana stimulates your kidney function and helps remove fats from thighs and waist.
How to do it:
Pincha Mayurasana
[caption id="attachment_647636" align="alignnone" width="655"] Pincha mayurasana strengthens your neck, shoulders, and chest. Getty Images[/caption]
Also known as feathered peacock pose, it improves your sense of balance and helps relieve stress and mild depression. Giving your neck, shoulders, chest, and belly a good stretch, it strengthens them. It is advised not to try advanced pose variation. Most you can do is gradually avoid taking help of the props and move away from the wall.
How to do it:
Virasana
[caption id="attachment_647637" align="alignnone" width="655"] Virasana reduces swelling of the legs during pregnancy and is beneficial in gas problems. Shutterstock[/caption]
Also known as hero pose, virasana improves blood circulation, digestion, posture, and cures symptoms of menopause. It strengthens foot arches, relaxes the legs and is therapeutic in asthma and high blood pressure. Moreover, this asana reduces swelling of the legs during pregnancy and is beneficial in gas problems.
How to do it:
Anjaneyasana
[caption id="attachment_647638" align="alignnone" width="655"] Anjaneyasana improves abdominal functions, and provides relief from excruciating sciatic pain. Shutterstock[/caption]
It is known as a heart opener yoga posture that improves breathing and increases blood circulation. In this pose, when the chest comes forward, the heart muscles open and the lungs expand. Moreover, this pose helps to make the lower body flexible, improves abdominal functions, and provides relief from excruciating sciatic pain all along the leg.
How to do it: