Yoga eases blood pressure

YOGIC breathing exercises can be as effective as some drugs at reducing blood pressure, according to research conducted as part of a school science project.

Ashok Pandey, 16, presented his findings this week at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich, attended by 30,000 doctors.

The Canadian high school pupil’s trial of 60 people found doing 15 minutes of yoga five times a week for three months cut blood pressure by an average of 10 per cent – a similar effect seen for diuretics, a widely used class of blood pressure drug.

He attributed the benefit largely to yoga’s deep breathing practices.

Ashok is now working on a 500-person trial with Laval University in Quebec.