How to Manage Varicose Veins with Yoga
Do your varicose veins make you feel self-conscious about wearing shorts in the summer? Are you tired of that achy, weighty feeling in your legs? Before seeking formal treatment, you may be interested in learning how to manage varicose veins at home. One method is the ancient practice of yoga. Here’s how this exercise can manage bulging, painful veins to help you achieve healthier legs.
5 Yoga Poses for Varicose Veins
Yoga is known for improving circulation and alleviating the swelling and pain caused by varicose veins. Here are five effective poses to try.
- Legs-up-the-wall pose is a leg elevation that uses gravity to boost circulation. Lie on your side with your rear end against the wall. Slowly walk your legs up and turn your body until your feet are aimed toward the ceiling. Let your arms spread out at shoulder level, breathe deeply, and hold for 5 to 15 minutes.
- Downward-facing dog reverses the blood flow in the body, relieving discomfort. Start on your hands and knees, tuck your toes, lift your hips, and press back onto your heels. Straighten your legs while keeping your head in line with your spine so your entire body makes an inverted V shape.
- Bridge pose encourages blood to flow from the legs back to the heart. Lie on your back, bend your knees, and keep your feet hip-distance apart on the floor. Lift your hips while pressing through your heels until your back arches. Then, interlock your fingers beneath your body while keeping your arms on the floor.
- Boat pose is a core-engaging yoga position that stimulates circulation. Sit on the floor, lean back slightly, and lift your legs to a 45-degree angle from the floor. Extend your arms parallel to the mat, grabbing behind your keens if needed for stability.
- Fish pose is a heart-opening pose that enhances circulation. Lie on your back, hands under your hips, and lift your chest. Press the crown of your head into the floor and support your upper body weight on your elbows, arching your back.
Yoga Poses to Avoid with Varicose Veins
While yoga can be beneficial for managing varicose veins, poses that put pressure on the lower limbs may worsen your symptoms. Avoid standing poses, inversions, and holding strenuous positions for too long.
Medical Treatment for Varicose Veins
Yoga for varicose veins won’t make your bulging, painful veins disappear. But these poses are an important part of a healthy lifestyle that promotes optimal results when combined with medical intervention.
Your legs deserve the best care, and the team at Arizona Vein and Laser Institute believes in making that possible. Our surgeons deliver high standards of compassionate care, aiming to return your leg veins to full health and restore your quality of life. State-of-the-art techniques like Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT), sclerotherapy, and phlebectomy ensure the best possible treatment for our patients. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at one of our six Phoenix-area locations.