Yoga is an unconventional Varicose Veins Treatment. However, it is a proven fact that exercise and movement may benefit blood flow and reduce varicose veins, preventing the formation of new ones.
Exercise for Varicose Veins
Exercise is an important component of a varicose vein treatment. A patient with varicose veins should consider taking up exercise, which improves blood flow and tones up muscles. Many patients that have varicose veins may be overweight or have a hormonal problem that causes the formation of swollen veins. Exercise can be an active means of losing weight or regulating the hormonal levels in the body.
For patients with varicose veins, not all types of exercise will be beneficial. Strenuous exercise can have negative effects on the varicose veins and may cause a lot of pain. A patient with varicose veins should avoid aerobics, jogging or types of exercise that drastically increase blood flow.
Moderate exercise is recommended for people with varicose veins. Types of exercise that can be practiced include:
- Brisk walking
- Walking
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Low impact aerobics
It is also important to wear suitable compression stockings during the entire time of the workout.
With aging, the body will get flabby and the veins will also become less elastic and weak. Exercise is highly important to maintain the health of veins.
Yoga
Yoga is a low impact exercise that uses various poses that stimulate the stretching of various muscle groups. Yoga is not only a type of workout, but it is also a form of meditation, which will allow the patient focus and relieve stress.
The stretching of the muscles can be extremely beneficial for the muscle tone and the blood flow as well.
It is important to practice yoga on a regular basis to improve the appearance of the varicose veins and to improve the condition of the veins, preventing the formation of new varicose veins. 2 to 3 months of workout are needed for results.
Yoga Postures for Varicose Veins
The best yoga postures for patients with varicose veins are those that stimulate the blood flow to the legs. Keeping the legs elevated can help a lot. When the legs are elevated above the head, the blood will get out of the legs and travel to the back and heart.
The following postures are recommended:
- Legs up the wall (Viparita Karani), which can be ideal for people that are not used to yoga, but may also be beneficial for more advanced yoga learners
- The shoulder stand or the Sarvangasana, which is an easy pose, suitable for beginners also; up to 5 minutes of this pose per day can have benefic effects on varicose veins
- A head stand is similar to the shoulder stand
- The corpse pose or Savasana will relax the body and keep the heart at the same level with the body
A patient with varicose veins should avoid staying in the lotus posture for more than 5 minutes, as this posture can constrict the blood flow to the legs.
