Type 2 Diabetes Management

Type 2 Diabetes Management with Gentle Yoga

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Lu Young RN

When many think of yoga, they think of someone sitting on a mat in an impossible looking pose.  While that is one aspect of yoga, there is so much more to it.  Type 2 diabetes management with gentle yoga can have many positive effects on your health by learning specific breathing and relaxation techniques.

Yoga has been practiced around the world for thousands of years. Between 12 and 15 million Americans do it regularly and swear by its numerous benefits for their health and well-being.

Most yoga styles focus on physical poses, called “asanas.” They also include breathing techniques and forms of meditation. There are other versions that teach you to move your body in unfamiliar ways. These are meant to build greater flexibility, strength and balance.

Now, researchers are finding that there may be many more health benefits in connection with yoga than previously thought.

The yoga style her research was based on is a relatively “gentle” version among yoga practices. It was chosen because it is easy to get into. Some more vigorous styles involving complicated poses would not be appropriate for older adults and those with chronic health conditions, according to Dr. Hedge.

In fact, a lot of people shy away from taking up yoga because they consider themselves as too old, too stiff and too unfit to perform even the most basic poses. Yoga instructors generally disagree with such preconceptions. The consensus is that nobody is ever too old or too out of shape to improve flexibility.

There is also evidence that yoga helps to release antioxidant agents into the blood stream. In Dr. Hedge’s study, participants who practiced yoga suffered significantly less from what is called “oxidative stress,” a condition that is caused by molecules, also know as “free radicals,” that damage cells and contribute to a host of diseases. “Yoga may curb oxidative stress because it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system – the part of the nervous system that acts as a brake against the gas pedal of the sympathetic nervous system,” said Dr. Hedge.

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Diabetes causes notoriously poor circulation in the feet and legs.  Amputations are common.  Yoga can improve the circulation by improving transportation of both nutrients and oxygen to these tissues.

Type 2 diabetes management with gentle yoga improves circulation also by lower heart rate and balancing the metabolism.

Make an appointment with your doctor or GP before starting any type 2 diabetes management with gentle yoga regimen.  Ask if they can suggest a local class that you can join.