By Faye Martins During yoga teacher training, there is so much
talk about asanas being contraindicated because of high blood
pressure that it leaves some interns in a state of confusion.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects
millions of people. When you suffer from high blood pressure,
your heart has to work harder than normal just to pump blood
throughout the body to stay alive. This can lead to other heart
complications, like hardening of the arteries or heart failure.
High blood pressure can be a hereditary condition, but eating a
poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, stress and old age can
also cause it. Some people turn to medication to help correct
this condition. Medications can be costly and not without
additional side effects. People who are looking for a more
natural way to treat and prevent high blood pressure often turn
to yoga training. When stress is the cause of hypertension, yoga
can help. Yoga is typically practiced in a quiet, calm
environment that allows people to take a