Yoga and AF

Hello everyone. I've done some internet searches, as well as watching Dr. Gupta's videos on yoga and AF and have decided that I'd like to create a yoga practice to see how that might help.

There was a YouTube StopAfib.org video interview with a doctor who specifically studied the effect of yoga on AF and he mentioned that there would be a DVD coming out with poses. I will see if I can track it down, but thought I'd reach out here, too.

I'm wondering if anyone has come up with resources (DVDs, books, YouTube videos, teachers, specific yoga poses, etc.) that they have used or are using for dealing with AF.

I found some poses that help with digestion that I tried after feeling full after dinner last night. I was pleased with how relaxed and great I felt before going to bed...and then woke up at 3 am in AF. At least it was a mild episode and 100 Flec PIP+Arnica knocked it out and let me sleep.

I'd especially like to track down poses that are good for dealing with AF. I'm guessing that some poses may not be so good for us.

Thanks!

[jeanjeannie50]

Interesting request Nella, I'll also be keen to see what responses you get.

Jean

[Gertsen]

Sounds interesting please keep us informed

Britta

[NooNoo14]

My AF is often triggered by bending (vagal nerve irritation?) so, despite the well known benefits of yoga, I wouldn't choose to do it.

Ps cleaning the bath and toilet are also a trigger (bending). I'm sure my other half thinks it's an excuse 😁 But honestly it isn't 😁.

[Happywalker in reply to NooNoo14]

Hi NooNoo. Do you subconsciously hold your breath when you bend over to do cleaning jobs? I find I do that and that sets off a series of irregular beats. If I remember to keep breathing deeply my heart behaves itself.

[NooNoo14 in reply to Happywalker]

It isn't just irregular heartbeats unfortunately, just cleaning the loo will bring on full blown AF within 30 -60 minutes which can last about 2 - 3 hours but if I carry on and do more cleaning, the AF will last longer. I know that my AF can be triggered by vagal nerve irritation which is very restricting.

Netty

[Happywalker in reply to NooNoo14]

How awful. That is so debilitating. It must make your life so difficult.

[NooNoo14 in reply to Happywalker]

It does and unfortunately due to currently having treatment for another comorbidity, I am now unable to have an ablation but at least it gets me out of the housework and the gardening 😀.

[Jpan6]

I don't know how soon after eating that you did your yoga but you'd probably need to leave it for about 2 hrs, maybe more if it was a v large meal.

I've had an ablation, plus heart surgery and have ectopic beats. I did yoga before the ablation and didn't notice a correlation with doing yoga and arrhythmia. I did have low blood pressure and still do sometimes. Prior to surgery I sometimes felt light headed in inverted poses. When doing yoga now I sometimes feel some ectopic beats but often when doing poses like the plank. In that case I think I'm inadvertently holding my breath. Jon Kabat Zinn does mindfulness CDs with one on slow yoga poses. You may already know that he is v well known for his work with heart patients. I'd be interested if you find any info/DVDs etc relating to yoga and heart issues.

[Kaioatey]

Hi Nella...I personally believe that yoga is the only way to deal with AF. I have a mild case of it and have explored all of the other options., none of which deal with the cause, only the symptoms. Yoga has made me grateful to have AF, as it has opened my capacity for love and joy. This will make no sense to many people reading, I get that.

Yoga is an ancient spiritual/philosophical wisdom tradition from India, it is not simply “bending binds and stretching muscles”. It will involve looking inward to see who you really are, and will make you question your very identity. There are traditionally eight branches of yoga, the poses of hatha yoga is one branch. Other branches are equally, if not more powerful agents of healing. The word yoga means union and will ultimately lead you to the realization that “you are not separate from the universe,” and your identity as a separate body is a misconception. If you are “not the body” you can’t really have AF. This leads to an incredible reduction is stress and worry.

You ask for recommendation of reachers and what poses might be good or bad. The worst pose is the mental pose of “I am this body, I am this mind”. Once you are locked into this posture, you are at the mercy of external forces. Yoga will show you how to harness your inner force (hatha) to realize that you are one with life, and as such, have no real cause for fear or suffering of any kind. You can be the total master of your experience, and will be able to control your thought, your emotions, and your body to a large degree.

I recommend you check out Sadhguru on YouTube, one of his talks at Harvard, Yale, Or the Oxford Union perhaps. Or his book “Inner Engineering” contains much of his teachings. Then it is up to get to really explore Yoga, and all of its.beautiful offerings. Best wishes to you, and all of you who have read this far :).

Kai

[WendyWu20 in reply to Kaioatey]

So true...

[hock217]

Oh my. I'm taking a Yoga class for people over 50 geared toward improving balance and strength. Today was my first session. Later I was at Physical Therapy. I feel positive 're proactive lifestyle. These concerns expressed related to dental anesthesia and yoga which I viewed as positive are now a cause of concern? Any research?

[hock217]

I feel better now. Today I had my first "Yoga in the Castle for over 50 population before eating a healthy lunch and then Physical Therapy. Reading a negative spin on Yoga seemed like a fly in the soup. I choose to feel good about coming this far and regaining strength and balance.

[Hidden]

I've been doing the poses in this article, except the last one, and have found them very helpful. Opening the chest and back are particularly helpful.

everydayhealth.com/heart-he...

I've done just a little research and have discovered something called Cardiac Yoga, but I suspect that it's geared more to other heart conditions. I sent an email to the institute that publishes a book called Cardiac Yoga to ask if it focuses on AFib in any way. I haven't heard back yet.

cardiacyoga.com/purchase-bo...

There are some other videos about yoga for AF patients and what I've gleaned and makes sense to me is to avoid certain poses, such as inversions and generally lowering the head below the hips since these kinds of poses might actually trigger AF and stress the heart more.

That's all I know so far. I'm keeping it simple.

[hock217]

I just joined a yoga class for 50+ population. Based on one class, it appears to address balance more than most. Have you tried to google your concerns or ask a yoga teacher?

[James_43]

There seem to be numerous articles on the web with studies strongly supporting the idea that yoga has a very positive effect on reducing AF. Here is a great clip, where he clearly describes how and why:

youtu.be/WHHB7Y5Uvjo(Not working as expected?)