Varicose veins are a common problem. The telltale swelling of the veins, usually in the legs, affects women about twice as often as men. The problem can result from pregnancy, menopause, weight gain, or genetic predisposition.
There are many remedies and treatments available for varicose veins. Some people use support hose and others opt for medial and surgical solutions. In addition, there are some natural ways to reduce the swelling and improve blood circulation. Making changes like minimizing salt intake, elevating your feet and losing weight can help. Exercise is another benefit, including yoga.
Exercise helps varicose veins by encouraging blood circulation and helping to keep weight under control. When you are overweight or sedentary, varicose veins are more likely to happen. Light aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, and yoga are beneficial for varicose veins.
There are certain poses in yoga that are beneficial for moving the blood out of the legs and reducing the pressure on the veins. Whether you are new to yoga or an advanced practitioner, there are yoga asanas that are beneficial for varicose veins.
Shoulderstand and headstand are effective for reducing the discomfort of varicose veins. Of course, these asanas are for more advanced practitioners. Legs up the wall pose is a good pose that offers similar benefits for people who are new to the practice of yoga.
Relaxation and taking the pressure off the legs is the main goal when using yoga poses to reduce swelling in the veins. Savasana, or corpse pose, is the asana that is done at the end of most yoga classes for final relaxation. This asana helps by relaxing the body and aligning the entire body with the heart.
In addition to specific yoga poses, a vinyasa flow type of class helps to encourage circulation and provides gentle aerobic activity to prevent and reduce swelling of the veins. This can help to reduce discomfort with regular practice.