Yoga and Diabetes: How To Cure Diabetes With The Help Of Yoga
The link between Yoga and diabetes is discussed a lot in recent times. Many studies and researches state that yoga is beneficial for diabetes. Practicing Yoga regularly helps to lower blood sugar levels along with maintaining a healthy weight. There are many postures and breathing exercises in yoga, which would fuel the pancreas to produce enough insulin to adjust the sugar in the body. These asanas also help to secrete adequate quantities of insulin. Yoga is helpful for diabetic patients in multiple ways. The following postures are beneficial for managing and preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Make sure to learn it under proper guidance before practicing any asana and to know properly the importance of yoga and diabetes.
Pranayama Or Breathing Exercise
Pranayama is a practice of controlling the breath. This breathing exercise helps to improve blood circulation and instantly calms the mind and body.
- For performing pranayama, sit comfortably on a yoga mat or a carpet on the floor.
- Fold your legs or sit with a cross-legged position as per your convenience.
- Keep your back straight, and place your hands on your knees with the palms facing upwards and close your eyes.
- Breathe in deep and hold your breath for few seconds.
- Breathe out slowly.
- Repeat this process 5-10 times daily for relaxing your mind.
Vrikshasana or Tree Pose
Practicing Vrikshasan helps in curing diabetes by stimulating the hormonal secretion of the pancreas. When we talk about Yoga and Diabetes, this asana must come in your yoga session. It involves the stretching of the whole body including arms, back, and leg.
- Stand erect and keep your feet close to each other.
- Your knees, legs, and hand should be placed straight.
- Then bend your right foot and place it on your left thigh making a right angle.
- Be comfortable and maintain your balance.
- Fold your palms and bring them to the center of your chest and keep the stature pointing upwards.
- Gradually shift your hands overhead.
- Lift your arms over your head.
- Relax and stay in the position for about 10 seconds.
- Slowly bring your hands in the center portion of the torso same as before, bring your right leg to the ground and come back in the initial position.
- Repeat the same method with the other leg.
Dhanurasana or Bow Pose
Bow pose helps in diabetes by improving the functioning of pancreas and intestines. When we talk about yoga and diabetes, this is a great pose that should be included in your yoga lesson. Thus, it regulates blood sugar levels. Practicing this pose daily helps to ensure proper functioning of liver and pancreas.
- Lie down on your abdomen with your feet hip-width apart and your arms by the side of your body.
- Bend your knees and hold your ankles.
- While inhaling, lift your torso off the ground and pull your legs up and back.
- Stay in the pose and concentrate on your breath.Continue to take long deep breaths as you relax in this pose.
- Stay for 15-20 seconds as you exhale, smoothly bring your legs and torso back to the ground. Free the ankles and relax.
Halasana or Plough Pose
This asana triggers the pancreas, spleen and enhances the immune system by relaxing all the internal organs including the pancreas. It assists in the proper functioning of kidney, liver and strengthens the abdominal muscles. It also relaxes the mind.
- Lie down on your back. Place your arms on your side and palms downwards.
- While breathing in, utilize your abdominal muscles to raise your feet off the floor, lifting your legs vertically at a right angle.
- Keep breathing normally and hold your hips and back with your hands, raise them off the ground.
- Sweep your legs in an 180-degree angle over your head till your toes touch the floor.
Continue this pose for a few seconds and relax. - After few seconds of resting in this pose, you may lightly bring your legs down while breathing out.
Ardha Matsyendrasana or Half Twist Pose
This asana works on your kidneys, pancreas, small intestines, gall bladder, and liver, helping to encourage digestion and flush out toxins. It relaxes the pancreas and thus helps in diabetes. This pose also promotes the elasticity of spine and its nerves.
- Sit on a yoga mat or carpet with the legs stretched out straight in front of you, keeping the feet closer and the spine straight.
- Bend the left leg and place the heel of the left foot beside the right hip.
- Take the right leg over the left knee.
- Position your left hand on the right knee and the right hand at the back.
- Twist the waist, shoulders, and neck in this order to the right and look over the right shoulder. Keep the spine straight.
- Hold and continue with mild long breaths in and out.
- While exhaling, release the right hand first, release the waist, then chest, finally the neck and sit up relaxed yet straight.
- Repeat the same method on the other side.
Yoga and Diabetes: How Yoga Helps Cure Diabetes
Preventing mental stress is one of the basic steps in diabetes management. Stress will dramatically raise our blood sugar levels and thereby increase the risk for diabetes. The breathing techniques and yoga pose help incomplete relaxation of the body. Yoga assists to cure diabetes by regulating stress hormones. Increased stress hormones can also elevate blood pressure, which is a big risk factor for diabetes.
Why Yoga Is Good For Diabetic Patients
Yoga is good for diabetic patients in many ways.
- Yoga poses that provides relaxation and helps in stretching the pancreas, which can trigger the production of insulin-producing beta cells.
- Yoga increases glucose uptake by muscular cells, which in turn, helps to lower blood sugar levels, improve circulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- It is well known that yoga helps in weight loss. Maintaining a healthy weight is vital in diabetes treatment.
- Yoga has an added advantage of improving concentration and creating a positive attitude to coping with the condition.
- Thus sticking to a regular routine of yoga is good for diabetes.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, which can be managed with a few lifestyle changes. Regular exercise and diet help in controlling blood sugar levels. Yoga is an ancient Indian practice which coordinates the mind and body to help relaxation. Yoga is known to have a significant effect on treating diabetes. Also, quarterly diabetes checkup will give you an accurate assessment of your health.
