Regular yoga practice can control the complications of diabetes

Regular Yoga practice can control the complications of diabetes and can even cure the disease. Many doctors all over the world recommend yoga for treatment of diabetes. But diabetics need to be careful about the kind of Yoga practice that they do. It would be advisable for diabetics to ask their doctors about the precautions that they need to take.

A successful diabetes treatment will aim at eliminating the real cause of the disease and will help in achieving overall health of the patient. Yoga being a holistic treatment method for the treatment of any disease can cure diabetes and not just control the symptoms. Conventional medicine does not cure the disease but only controls its symptoms.

Some yoga poses for diabetes treatment

Child-pose

It is a relaxing yoga which can normalise your blood circulation after physical exertion in other Yoga poses. It involves the following steps:Tuck your feet inside and meet the thumbs of both the legs, while sitting. Keep your knees away about the width of your hips. Raise your arms and bend forward till your head touches the ground. Stay there for 5-10 seconds. Gradually bring yourself to the sitting position. You should repeat these steps 5 to 6 times. 

Paschimotanasana

It is a useful aasan for diabetes, migraine and high acidity. You can stimulate your internal organs such as pancreas, liver and kidneys. Sit and keep your legs straight and close. Without bending the knee, take your hands up with an inhale. Bend forward and try to touch your toes. Exhale while you perform this step.Stay in the bend forward position as long as possible. Repeat these steps 2 or 3 times. Try to practice being bent forward for 30 seconds up to a minute. 

Diabetic sadhana

The following yoga poses help in diabetic conditions. Beneficial yoga postures for diabetic conditions include Mandukasana, Locust pose, Leg Lift, Kurmasana, Ardhama- tsyendrasana and Chest-Knee pose. Alternate nostril breathing is also helpful. 

Manduk asana

Sit in vajrasana and close the fist of both the hands allowing the knuckles to press one another. Place both the knuckles in the navel area, exhale and bend forward. Look straight ahead. Stay in this position for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Repeat 3 times. 

Kurma asana

Sit in vajrasana and place the elbows on both sides of navel. Exhale, bend forward touching the chin with the closed fist and look straight ahead. Stay in the position for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Repeat it for 3 to 4 times. 

Tadaasana

It is also known as ‘mountain-pose’.

Method

• Stand upright with your feet joined together.
• Heels and toes are touching one another.
• Arms must face downwards with the palms facing the thighs.
• Stand totally erect with your shoulders drawn back.
• Eyes looking straight ahead. 

Advantages

• It makes the back strong and straight.
• It also helps in bringing attentiveness to the mind.

Hashankasana

(It is also known as the pose of the hare)

Method

• Be seated in vajrasaria and shut your eyes.
• Make hold of your right wrist with the left hand at the back.
• Breathe in, and then while breathing out, gradually curve the trunk in a forward direction so that the forehead relaxes on the floor.
• Be seated in the final position for a considerable period of time while inhaling generally.
• Now, go back to the vajrasaria while breathing in. 

Advantages

• This asana helps in toning the pelvic muscles.
• It also aids in relaxation of the sciatic nerves and normalizes the functioning of the adrenal glands.
• It is a great asana for getting relief from constipation, sciatica and anger.
• It is advantageous for women who have an undersized pelvis and is very effective for eradicating sexual disorders in general. 

Majariasana

(It is also known as the cat stretch pose)

Method

• Be seated in vajrasana.
• Lift your buttocks and place yourself on the knees.
• At the same time, place both hands evenly on the floor in front of the body.
• Breathe in while lowering your spine and lifting your head up.
• Blow out air by lowering the head and by bending the spine.
• Yet again, lower the spine and lift up your head.
• Make sure that you’re keeping your arms in a straight line, without bending them.
• Perform 10 full rounds in total. 

Advantages

• This asana provides flexibility to your neck, shoulders and spine.
• It tenderly tones the female reproductive system and is exceptional for expecting women for up to 3 months.
• Women undergoing from menstrual indiscretions and leucorrhea will find respite from this asana.
• It can also be performed at the time of menstruation in order to get relief from cramps. 
• The advantages of this asana are extremely beneficial, if the tummy is constricted during exhalation.

Gomukhasana

(It is also known as the cow face pose)

Method

• Position yourself in a sitting posture.
• Now by folding your left leg, place your heels besides your right buttock.
• Now, comfortably fold your right leg over your left leg in a way that the right heel is touching the ground, beside the left thigh.
• Both your knees must be placed one over the other.
• Your left hand must be placed behind the back and the right arm should be placed over your right shoulder.
• Now carefully try to join both your fingers behind your back.
• By holding your head back, close your eyes.
• Now, repeat this whole asana in a reverse manner. 

Advantages

• This asana helps diabetics to deal with their backache and stiff shoulders.
• This asana is also advantageous in sciatica and aids in stimulating kidney. 

Shavasana

(It is also known as “the dead bodies pose”.)

Method

• Lie comfortably on your back with your arms on the side. Make sure your arms are in a straight line with your body and you palms are facing the ceiling.
• Now put your feet apart in a comfortable position and close your eyes.
• Now give some time to yourself in order to calm your body. Make sure you are not moving unnecessarily.
• Let your breathing be usual.
• Be conscious of your inhalation and exhalation. Calculate the amount of respirations: one in and one out and so on.
• Follow the counts for few minutes. If your brain begins to shift focus, take it back to the counting. This will aid in relaxing your mind and body.
• It is advised to continue this asana for a considerable period of time, the more, the better. However, initiate by doing this asana for at least one to two minutes. 

Advantages

• It aids in lightening up your entire body.
• This asana can also be performed to relax your body muscles soon after strenuous yoga exercises such as surya namaskar. 

Advantages of yoga as treatment for diabetics

• Yoga is an extremely useful method for dealing with diabetes. It can outdo conventional diabetes treatment which, as a result makes diet control and weight reduction much easy.
•  It aids in reducing stress-hormones to a considerable level and enhances the functioning of pancreas.
•  It also helps in standardizing your immune system.
•  Particularly, in NIDDM type of diabetes, yoga helps in doing away with your need to take drugs or insulin.
• And, in IDDM type of diabetes, yoga may help in trimming down on your need of insulin and drug and will further stabilize it. 

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