Yoga: A flexible way to enhance heart health

We tend to think of exercise as movement that either raises your heart rate (aerobic exercise) or builds muscles (strength training). But two other factors — flexibility and balance — are also important for a well-rounded fitness program, especially for older adults. A yoga practice has the potential to target all four factors at the same time. What's more, a recent study suggests that yoga has modest yet positive effects on several factors linked to cardiovascular health (see "How yoga may help your heart").

"The reason behind these benefits isn't entirely clear, but we believe that multiple, simultaneous mechanisms are probably at play," says Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director of the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine. Yoga is more than simply stretching and moving into poses — it weaves together three interconnected threads: physical postures, controlled breathing, and meditation. Together, they help cultivate the relaxation response, which trains your body to be less reactive during times of stress.

How yoga helps

The relaxation response not only slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure, it may also tamp down inflammation and promote favorable changes in blood vessel function that protect the heart. As a mind-body practice, yoga encourages people to slow down and be more mindful about heart-healthy behaviors, such as eating well and getting enough sleep, says Dr. Mehta. Those habits — along with positive emotions that some forms of yoga aim to inspire, such as compassion and gratitude — may also help foster cardiovascular health.

Finding your fit

Think you can't do yoga because you aren't flexible? "By practicing yoga, you become more flexible — that's another reason to do it," says clinical social worker and yoga teacher Laura Malloy, director of yoga programs at the Benson-Henry Institute. If you're new to yoga, seek out a beginner or "gentle" class, especially if you're over 65 or have any medical conditions. Several forms are well suited to beginners, such as Hatha yoga, which features gentle, smooth movements that are integrated with your breathing. Iyengar is similar but places more emphasis on body alignment and balance and uses props such as straps, blankets, and blocks. Yin yoga, which is done mostly sitting or lying down, encourages people to go deeper into poses by holding them longer.

Another option is chair yoga, practiced sitting in a chair or standing using a chair for support. It's good for older people or anyone who feels less steady or has trouble getting up from the floor, says Malloy. Though gentle, chair yoga still provides results. "After I teach a 20-minute chair yoga class, I've heard people say "Wow, that made such a difference in how I feel!'" says Malloy. (You can try one of her 30-minute instructional videos here: health.harvard.edu/cy.

You can find classes at dedicated yoga studios as well as at health clubs, community or senior centers, or even hospitals. Costs range from about $15 to $20 per class. Yoga of the Heart, a form of yoga designed for specifically for people with heart disease, is taught by instructors trained and certified by Nischala Joy Devi, who developed the yoga portion of the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, an evidence-based, integrated lifestyle program for heart patients. Click the "teacher directory" tab at health.harvard.edu/hy to search for trained instructors near you.

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