Bradycardia & Kapalabathi

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m.rijnders
Participant

January 11, 2013 at 4:56 pm

Post count: 2

#2466

Hi everyone,

I have a question that I haven’t been able to find the right information about online, so I’m hoping there are people here with knowledge on the subject!

I’ve been diagnosed with bradycardia, with a resting heart rate of around 50-55. I do yoga and work out every now and then, but I’m definitely not an athlete. The low heart rate causes mild fatigue, so I’ve been looking for natural ways to increase my resting heart rate. When I asked my yoga teacher, she recommended Kapalabathi breathing exercises.

I’ve been doing a bit of research online, and from what I read it seems that Kapalabathi increases your heart rate during and shortly after the exercises, but actually decreases your resting heart rate the rest of the day. Is that correct? If these exercises would ultimately lower my heart rate even more, that would be the averse effect, and might even be a bit dangerous. So what does Kapalabathi do to your resting heart rate?

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

January 12, 2013 at 9:34 am

Post count: 3048

#10222

Hi Mitch

With regard to your question about Kapalbhati, I really don’t think that there’s a special thing that a specific yoga pose does to one’s heart.

Have you been told that exercise will improve your bradycardia? Because therein lies your key.

I cannot know about your situation simply from the diagnosis, but I do know that I have only ever (personally) met one person for whom exercise (and I mean ANY) was absolutely contraindicated.

Is your bradycardia an electrical issue or one that results from a muscular issue or one that ensues from a more sedentary lifestyle? I can’t answer those questions! But the responses may determine the direction your lifestyle takes.

Perhaps electrolytes and other elements of nutrition have been considered to make sure your heart ‘fires’ correctly. Without holistic information, it’s really honestly hard to say.

Pranayama exercises such as ‘Pranayama’ and ‘Kapalbhati’ are controlled breathing exercises. Generally these (and exercise) will improve cardiac output and cardiac function.

Oh, finally I would like to say, that I wouldn’t just be doing Kapalbhati because it would help. I would be finding a yoga series (this one? another?) that would create holistic health for you. Nothing works in isolation in your entire body. Benefits to one ‘system’ usually benefit the entire organism.

I hope that helps in some way

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

m.rijnders
Participant

January 14, 2013 at 4:25 am

Post count: 2

#10227

Hi Gabrielle,

Thank you for your insightful answer.

I have a pretty active lifestyle, exercise and eat healthy, so the bradycardia are probably an electrical issue.

I’ve been doing yoga, even though I know it’s something that can lower your resting heart rate. That’s why I asked my teacher if there are any particular exercises that can increase ones resting heart rate, and she suggested Kapalabathi. However, I have found contradicting sources online, so now I’m trying to find out if Kapalabathi does in fact increase the resting heart, or decreases it as is common in yoga.

What do you think?

Mitch

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

March 30, 2013 at 9:12 am

Post count: 3048

#10395

Hi Mitch

All OK? I have come back to clarify the intent of my original response for you. I don’t think Kapalbhati alone is responsible for doing anything to your resting heart rate for more than the time you do the exercise and the moments beyond. It is the combined effects of doing all your yoga poses and the holistic effect it has on your body that will make changes to your whole system. This includes your resting heart rate. I do not believe that one can say that x pose is good for y condition (in the vast majority of cases) ESPECIALLY if the effect being queried is a systemic issue such as cardiovascular health!

I hope that makes sense for you.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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