Diabetes and Yoga

There are lots of national days and weeks. Some fun and some more serious, aimed at highlighting serious issues, such as the recent National Diabetes Week. Whilst nothing can be done to prevent type 1 diabetes, type 2 can in some cases be delayed or prevented by making different lifestyle choices, such as eating healthier and exercising.

Many people are turning to Yoga to help as it can reduce blood sugar levels and help with weight loss – being over-weight being known to increase the risk of becoming diabetic. Yoga is also much easier to get into than say running. And while it has many great benefits for those that suffering with, or at risk from diabetes, it has a whole heap of benefits that can help with other conditions. Five other great benefits of taking up yoga are:

• Increased flexibility. Being more flexible eases those muscles that can cause pain. Not only do tight back muscles cause back pain, so do tight hip and hamstring muscles. Being more flexible also increases range of motion and helps protect against injuries.
• Improved posture. This not only helps with back pain but has lots of other benefits such helping us breathe better (as our lungs have more room to expand) and increasing circulation.
• Increased muscle strength. This helps increase energy through the improvement of your basal metabolic rate. It also helps to keep bones stronger and healthy decreasing the risk of fractures and developing osteoporosis
• Reduced stress, anxiety and depression. Yoga reduces blood-pressure which helps with the feelings of stress and in fact many people say they experience enhanced feelings of well-being
• Lowers cortisol levels. High levels of cortisol can lead to depression, osteoporosis, blood pressure, diabetes and even weight gain

More and more people are catching on to the benefits of Yoga – often assumed by many just to be about flexibility. We hope that you can see that Yoga is more than just ‘funny-looking’ positions, that it is an accessible way to get and stay healthy. Who doesn’t want that?

As we say at the end of our Yoga classes, Namaste.