Exercise is an important part of heart surgery recovery, and yoga is a great source of low-impact activity that can also reduce stress and help control heart rhythms. Follow all post-surgery instructions carefully, and stop exercising if you get dizzy, cramped, fatigued or short of breath. Monitor your heart rate and tell your doctor if adverse effects during exercise persist.
Surgical Recovery
Follow your doctor's directions for recovering from heart surgery. You may not be able to return to exercise or other normal activities right away. Depending on the type of surgery you had, recovery may take four to six weeks. Post-surgical symptoms such as nausea, leg swelling, insomnia and accompanying fatigue and constipation are normal, but they may prevent you from fully participating in physical activity. When you feel ready, talk with your doctor about establishing an exercise routine that includes yoga.
Yoga Benefits
Yoga is a gentle, low-impact activity that can promote physical fitness without putting too much strain on your heart, muscles and joints. A 2011 study by University of Kansas researchers found that yoga can help regulate heart rhythms in people with atrial fibrillation. Yoga can also reduce stress, which is vital to heart health. Although yoga cannot replace medical treatment for heart problems, it can effectively complement them.
What to Look For
Some yoga classes are more like cardiovascular fitness classes than relaxed, meditative-style yoga. Avoid these classes and seek out "gentle yoga," "restorative yoga" and other slow-paced classes that emphasize meditation, chanting, breathing exercises, simple poses and stretches. If you are not sure which class to take, talk to the studio owner for advice. Always tell the instructor about your heart and any other physical conditions before beginning a class.
Poses to Avoid
People with heart problems do need to avoid a few poses, according to "Yoga Journal." These poses include inversions such as handstand, supported headstand, feathered peacock and wheel, warrior I and its variation, high lunge, and boat and hero poses. If your yoga class includes any of these poses, ask your instructor for alternate instructions or just rest in child's pose.
Member Comments