Yoga Poses Offer Relief to Diabetes Sufferers

Abdominal squeezes help the pancreas to function properly.

Diabetes rates are climbing out of control, and one in four Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola. He warns: by following conventional medical advice, you could be putting yourself on the path toward life-threatening health problems—and even premature death.

Among other alternative treatments, yoga poses offer relief to diabetes sufferers. Here are tips from Elizabeth Edelman, CEO and co-founder of Diabetes Daily.

Yoga Poses Offer Relief to Diabetes Sufferers

“Yoga is more than just physical,” said Edelman. “By concentrating on your breath, you can reduce stress levels and calm your mind. Yoga can be an amazing and life-changing way to get your exercise, especially if you have diabetes,” she said.

A simple yoga practice incorporating specific poses provides positive diabetes management benefits for both types of diabetes. Abdominal squeezes, for example, help the pancreas to function properly, which is important for insulin production. Other physical benefits of yoga, according to Edelman, include increasing sensitivity to insulin, increasing the effectiveness of liver functions, strengthening core muscles, stimulating blood flow, which leads to better circulation, and the potential for weight loss.

“Yoga is a tool for helping people with diabetes live in the present moment and maintain a positive outlook,” said Edelman. “Too often with diabetes, emphasis is placed on the minutia. So much evaluation is focused on past behavior – what someone did ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ – or future consequences – fear over potential health complications if the patient is not responsible,” she explained. “Yoga shifts that focus back to doing the best we can today, living now and in the present.”

Emotional benefits of yoga for diabetes patients, says Edelman, include:
• Organizes thoughts and calms the mind
• Improves concentration
• Sharpens memory
• Relaxes the body
• Reduces stress

Go natural! Try yoga to help control your diabetes symptoms. Edelman recommends these yoga poses to offer relief to diabetes sufferers:

1. paschimottasana (seated forward bend)
2. uttanpadasana (raised foot pose)
3. cobra pose (bhujangasana)

Read her article for pose instructions, and their benefits for diabetes sufferers.

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