Yoga Is As Beneficial For Heart Health As Exercise

Dutch and U.S. researchers say they have compiled “promising evidence” that the ancient mind-body practice of yoga helps manage risk factors associated with heart disease, and may be as beneficial as biking or brisk walking. The researchers analyzed the results of 37 clinical trials involving 2,768 patients, finding that yoga improved body mass index and systolic blood pressure, lowered low-density (bad) lipoprotein cholesterol, and and raised high-density (good) lipoprotein cholesterol. The results suggest there are “some possible physiological aerobic benefits occurring with yoga practice, and some stress-reducing, relaxation effect occurring with aerobic exercise", the authors concluded.