Yoga

[mcknightdeb]

Does anyone do yoga to try to combat anxieties of AFib and stroke fears I am just looking at positive steps I can take to change my mind Set

[BobD Volunteer]

I think any form of therapy which helps you to take control of your mind is useful. Far too many people allow their fears to take over their lives to the detriment of quality of life. These things are never easy but combined with education about the condition (knowledge is power to dispel fear) can work wonders. CBT, Mindfullness, Hypnotherapy and yoga all have a place.

[Hidden]

Hi; yoga can take several forms from the contemplative to sweat on the mat. I have AF, I've had a full stroke, I do medium level Pilates, I've just returned to the gym, I clear scrub with a volunteer group and, I have done active yoga bordering on Kundalini, to restful yoga nidra where you lie down and are guided through imagery. My wonderful Consultant Neurologist says that there isn't clinical evidence for yoga causing a stroke but she treated someone who had a stroke whilst doing yoga. Following my stroke she told me not to do inverted yoga poses except legs up the wall relaxing pose, not to brace my neck (e.g. in the Pilates 100), hold my breath (e.g. yogic breathing), do tricep dips or swing a kettlebell. For relaxation you could lie in shavasna (corpse pose) or sit with eyes closed breathing gently: I find listening on headphones to buddhist singing bowls, ambient music, or Deva Premal at the same time can be good. Post back here if you would like some suggestions for that type of track.

My ex-yoga teacher who has supported me after the stroke taught me: yoga positions are only a small part of yoga, we should treat good things and disappointments with similar emotion, we are here to learn and there are teachers all around us. That helped a lot after the stroke.

Namaste

John

[mcknightdeb in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Stratton-sully in reply to Hidden]

Thanks John-Boy, just what I needed to hear this morning as I've let my yoga go since my op for a new valve in October and got warned off the inverted postures.

Just need to get off this rampril which drops my bp too low this

morning 102/52 59.

Hospital put me on on them and I have stopped and proved that they are unecessary as I take bp every morning and have the diary to prove it but get 'they do other things, line the arteries etc.'

Could do with suggestions to get back into yoga and meditation

[Hidden in reply to Stratton-sully]

Your blood pressure is low. Apart from the risk of feeling off-balance getting up out of a chair, I thought that low blood pressure also adversely affected perfusion of the kidneys.

Before the stroke I finished the gym session with legs up the wall, shoulder stand, plough and sometimes knees to ears, folded pigeon, horse and so on. Now I start with legs up the wall and then straight to folded pigeon. I think my Neurologist was concerned about the possibility of plaque in the carotid artery in the neck, either narrowing the artery or plaque breaking free and causing a clot. Stressing your neck would not be a good choice in those circumstances.

I posted here recently that Patanjali never said that yoga should hurt. Listen to your body especially after your op. I find that legs up the wall quickly brings my heart rate down after a gym work out (gym frequently kicks off my AF). At home I can wind down without "monkey mind" with headphones on listening to "33 bowls (Tibetan Singing Bowls)" or Deva Premal singing the "Moola Mantra"; both could help your meditation. When I used to do a Body Balance class, the Tai Chi section would sometimes use Samantha James singing "Right Now" and that is an excellent track if you do a Shiva Rea type flow. You could also try meditation on the move. I used to walk through a wood and up onto a grassy plateau where I could hear skylarks and rooks and the breeze in the grass.

I hope that your body continues to heal itself and that you find contentment in your yoga practice.

Namaste

John

[Stratton-sully in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that comprehensive answer, it covers everything, I have just returned from the doctors surgery where I was 2 months early.

The receptionist is in a flap as patients have presented themselves today and the computer has them down for March 20

So I will need to clear my mind before going to cardiac rehab this afternoon.

Many thanks, Mike

[rosyG]

I think yoga must help as it will lower blood pressure?

[mcknightdeb]

THANKS ROSIE. ONLY PROBLEM IS I HAVE QUITE LOW PRESSURE SO MAYBE NOT A GOOD IDEA AFTER ALL

[Elaine1951]

I do yoga as often as possible. I agree that you should only do what feels right fir you so avoiding too many or long inverted poses etc.

[mcknightdeb in reply to Elaine1951]

Thank you Rosie

[weezergeezer]

I have been praticing yoga for 8-10 years, for me its hard work and I aways sweat

there are people of differing ages and abilites in the class, you do what your able to do, there are some postitions I will never be good at and others I am, overall its a great, I love yoga and recommed it to anyone no matter what your illness or level of fitness, you can find a niche and grow...

[mcknightdeb in reply to weezergeezer]

Thank you