Life Credit Union

A 2014 STUDY DISCOVERED THAT THE 8.7 PERCENT OF U.S. ADULTS WHO PRACTICE YOGA ARE REAPING MORE BENEFITS THAN MERELY STRESS RELIEF. YOGA'S POPULARITY IS on the rise, and there's a pretty good chance most of us have either tried it ourselves or know someone who has. While it is a useful type of fl exibility exercise, yoga also has cardiovascular benefi ts, both as a preventive measure and as a method of improving your well-being after suffering a cardiac event. A study published at the end of 2014 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that the practice of yoga has similar positive effects on cardiovascular health as aerobic exercise such as walking or cycling. Participants in the study found that adding yoga to their routines lowered blood pressure, resting heart rate, low-density "bad" cholesterol and even body mass index. Yoga practice also lowered the stress response, which is responsible for the production of cortisol, a hormone that contributes to the development of coronary artery disease. A SUPPLEMENT, NOT A REPLACEMENT Experts recommend using yoga in addition to your recommended aerobic exercise and not in place of it. While it has similar positive effects on the heart as aerobic exercise, per the 2014 study, there is not yet enough data to support yoga taking the place of moderate aerobic exercise in terms of improving or safeguarding your heart health. Workday Wellness If work has you too busy to attend a yoga class, try these simple poses at your desk to relieve the effects of sitting all day. B END I N G O V E R B A C K W AR D CHAIR TWIST: Sit in your chair with your feet shoulder-width apart, and cross your left foot over your right knee. With your right hand on your left knee, place your left hand on the chair back and twist your torso to the left. Hold the stretch for 10 to 20 seconds, or 30 if you need a deeper stretch. Repeat on the other side. SIDE STRETCH: With your chair sideways and parallel to your desk, sit with your feet together and raise both hands above your head. Lean sideways, placing your lower arm on the desk. You should feel this stretch along your side. FORWARD FOLD: With your chair far enough from your desk to avoid hitting your head, place your feet shoulder-width apart and lean forward, reaching to the floor. Roll up your spine slowly to return to a seated position. Hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds.

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