If you are struggling with diabetes, then this article is for you. The practice of yoga is more than just relaxing your mind and body, especially if you’re living with diabetes.
It does not mean that it can cure any health ailments completely. But practising yoga asanas may help you regulate your blood sugar levels which also improves circulation.
Regular practice of yoga helps you to reduce the risks for other complications that come with diabetes such as heart disease. Without further ado, let’s get into our yoga poses to manage diabetes.
1. Ardha Matsyendrasana or Half Lord of The Fishes Pose.
Ardha Matsyendrasana massages your internal organs and is a treat for your livers and pancreas. This helps to keep your energy levels high and diabetes in check. It stretches the belly muscles and tones the abdominal organs, which contributes to positive effects among diabetics. It is ideal to perform this asana with breathing exercises to help manage diabetes. This will reduce your reliance on medications.
2. Chakrasana, or the Wheel Pose
If you’ve been practising yoga for a while and are looking to advance your practice, adding Chakrasana, or the Wheel Pose, to your practice is a great idea. Chakrasana stretches the pancreas which stimulates the release of insulin for balancing your blood sugar levels. Additionally, it helps in stretching and relaxing the spine. Also, it improves the health of the kidney and liver. This is the perfect asana if you are at high risk of diabetes complications.
If Chakrasana is not in your practice and is too difficult for you, you can try Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana, which is the bridge pose.
3. Paschimottanasana or Seated forward fold
If you’re looking for a not-so-very intense posture, but still looking to reap the benefits. If you’re struggling with diabetes, Paschimottanasana or seated forward fold, is a great asana for you. It’s extremely therapeutic. And in the final posture, you feel a sense of calm. By practising this asana, you will strengthen the renal system and the pancreas. Blood sugar levels are kept in check this way. You can practise this either as a static pose or as a dynamic pose repeating it about four to five times.
If you are struggling with diabetes, including Surya Namaskar and the above asanas in your practice are definitely recommended. If you are just beginning your yoga journey and struggling with diabetes, we suggest you practise under a professional who can monitor the reaction of the asanas on your body. Make sure to have a light snack to avoid hypoglycemia. Avoid practising yoga on an empty stomach which is usually recommended to non-diabetic practitioners.
