### How Yoga Can Help Manage Diabetes Yoga poses like Seated Forward Bend and Bow Pose may help you manage diabetes when performed as part of a regular yoga practice. Yoga may also have benefits to your general health and heart health. Yoga can do more than just relax your body and mind — especially if you’re living with diabetes. Practicing yoga may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels while also improving circulation, leading many experts to recommend it for diabetes management. Regular practice may help reduce your risk of other complications of diabetes, such as heart disease. #### Benefits of Yoga for Diabetes - **Lower Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Levels**: Yoga can help lower stress levels, which in turn may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. - **Improved Circulation**: Certain poses can help improve circulation, which is beneficial for overall health. - **Reduced Risk of Complications**: Regular yoga practice may help reduce the risk of complications like heart disease. #### Poses to Try - **Seated Forward Bend**: This pose can help lower blood pressure and promote weight loss. - **Bow Pose**: This stimulating backbend requires a lot of muscular strength and may help lower blood pressure, boost circulation, and promote weight loss. - **Supported Shoulderstand**: This inversion may help stimulate the thyroid gland, increase circulation, and reduce stress. - **Plow Pose**: This pose can help relieve backache, headache, and insomnia. - **Twisting Poses**: These poses may stimulate the abdominal organs, which may help lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity. - **Resting Poses**: These poses encourage relaxation, which may have a beneficial effect on blood sugar and general health. #### Getting Started If you’re new to yoga, talk with a healthcare professional before adding this exercise to your routine. They can walk you through any potential risks and offer guidance on how to establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle. They may recommend practicing yoga under the guidance of a certified instructor to avoid injury. If you prefer to practice at home, you can use books, articles, and guided online classes to develop your practice. Begin with a short practice of 10 minutes per day, and work your way up from there. You can also take classes at a studio. Be sure to discuss your condition and intentions with your teacher so that they can develop a practice suited to your needs.