Gomnamo Yoga Goms

Blood Pressure (BP) and Intraocular (eye) Pressure (IOP)

 

Hey, any idea what your blood and eye pressures look like and how they develop when doing Yoga inversions?

Studies from various sources show that BP and IOP values rise with certain Yoga asanas, especially inversions. This might be a potential risk for Yoga practitioners when intensely performing asanas of this kind. On the other hand, breathing and meditation techniques can lower BP and IOP when performed regularly.
As these are not well-known facts in the Yoga community and mostly not covered in Yoga teacher trainings, I got motivated to invest in some research on this, by reading books, searching the Internet and by measuring BP and IOP with a small number of students.

Find details HERE.


Outcome In Brief

  • BP and IOP rises are a fact when performing inversion poses

    • BP in down dog may rise by 30-40 mmHg in systolic pressure, more for people with hypertension

    • IOP in down dog or Trapeze inversions is factor of 2, IOP on headstand, handstand is factor of 3!

  • Make practitioners aware of this fact, get them their BP measured, ask for their eye health

  • Encourage students to regularly see an ophthalmologist by the age of 40+, especially when they are coming to intense flows or Trapeze Yoga

  • Offer asana variations, alternatives depending on age and medical history of the students

  • Encourage students to regularly measure their blood pressure in general - you may equip your Yoga studio with a blood pressure meter

  • Instruct only a few or less impact inversions to people with high BP and/or overweight

  • In classes with students of a certain age, i.e. over 50, offer few inversions only for not too long in pose

  • Don’t instruct headstand, handstand, forearm stand etc. if you don’t know your students well

  • Offer more pranayama and meditation exercises in general as they lower BP and IOP

  • Encourage students to establish a personal, if possible daily pranayama, meditation practice

  • Let students know about the positive effects of NO (nitric oxide), encourage to switch to nostril breathing in general, not just while doing Yoga

  • Instruct benefits of humming while exhaling

  • Eventually consult students on their lifestyles (constant stress, diet, sleep, etc. etc.) and advise