Yoga has been around for thousands of years. Since its creation by the Dravidians of India, yoga has been a central facet of society. However, we’ve just recently begun studying the impact of yoga from a psychological and physiological perspective. One area that researchers have investigated is how yoga can benefit those with diabetes. So, what are some of the benefits of yoga for people with diabetes? Learn more about it below.
Stress Relief
Stress can have terrible effects on the human body over time. There are several key things to know about diabetes, and one of them is that type 2 diabetes can cause compound stress, which negatively impacts your blood glucose levels. In addition, when you are stressed, your body can enter fight-or-flight mode, and your body will redirect all your blood toward your limbs and muscles. Blood sugar levels can increase to dangerous levels when you have diabetes.
Yoga lowers stress and leaves you feeling embodied and present, especially since it focuses on deep breathing during each set of movements. This, in turn, will lower blood sugar, making stress relief a key benefit of yoga for people with diabetes.
Lowered Blood Pressure
Yoga also lowers blood pressure and improves blood circulation. Since certain postures restrict blood flow, yoga can stimulate the body’s flow after the posture relaxes. Since diabetes is associated with high blood pressure, yoga will help by lowering it.
Improved Digestion
Diabetes can affect your nervous system, including the vagus nerve in the stomach. Some people with diabetes have gastroparesis, which causes slow digestion. Postures like boat pose, cobra pose, and various twists loosen up the digestive tract, which can relieve the symptoms of gastroparesis. Overall, yoga is a phenomenal way to offset the negative effects of diabetes. You should try it! You’ll get many benefits from it.
