Why yoga can help save your life

Sun salutations can tone your muscles, relieve stress, and lower your blood pressure. In a review of a dozen studies comparing the effects of meditation and yoga on hypertension (high blood pressure), Yale researchers pronounced yoga the winner. Both activities decreased the systolic measurement, a pressure reading taken when the heart contracts, but getting bendy significantly lowered the diastolic figure-obtained when the heart relaxes- too. Doing yoga regularly can be as effective as downing a prescription drug for the ailment. Whether you suffer from hypertension-a risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and kidney problems-or are getting bored with your regular workout routine, add yoga to your get-fit, live-longer arsenal.