Yoga for Blood Circulation

Downward-Facing Dog

Downward-Facing Dog is great for circulation because it puts your hips above your heart and your heart above your head, which means gravity helps facilitate blood flow to your head. It also strengthens your legs, improving circulation in them.

Muscles worked: hamstrings, latissimus dorsi, deltoids, glutes, serratus anterior, and quadriceps

1. Start on all fours, with your shoulders above your
   wrists, your hips above your knees, and toes tucked under.
2. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, press firmly
   into your hands as you lift your hips into the air, straightening your
   arms and legs.
3. For some, this may be a good stance immediately. For
   others, you may want to walk your feet back just a touch so it feels
   comfortable.
4. Breathe normally but deeply as you press into each
   finger and press your heels toward the floor. Your heels may not be on the
   ground here, depending on your stance, but you want them working in that
   direction, keeping your legs active.
5. Let your neck relax, but do not let it hang.
6. Stay here for three long, deep breaths. (You can repeat
   this a few times, though it would be best to do the entire series a few
   times, starting each time with this pose.)

Warrior II

Warrior II is wonderful for improving muscle tone in your legs. Your muscles will be compressing and releasing the veins in your legs, thus increasing effective circulation.

Muscles worked: quadriceps, piriformis, hip ligaments, scalenes, and pectoralis minor

1. From Downward-Facing Dog, look between your hands and
   step your right foot as close as you can get it to between your hands. If
   it does not easily go between them, you can help move it forward with a
   hand.
2. Before lifting your hands off the floor, turn your left
   foot so that the outside of it runs parallel to the back edge of the mat.
   Your front foot should be lined up with the toes facing forward. If you were
   to run a line from the back of your right heel to the back of the mat, it
   should hit the middle of your back foot. (Note: If you feel unstable in
   this stance, step your right foot a bit to the right, but keep the feet
   perpendicularly aligned with each other.)
3. Inhale deeply, and as you exhale, cartwheel your hands
   as you stand. This will mean pressing firmly into your feet and beginning
   with your left hand coming in front of your body, below your face, then
   up, in front of, and finally behind your head, your right hand following
   until you are creating a “T” with your arms.
4. As you hold this pose, check your alignment: Your right
   knee should be at a 90-degree angle, with your knee over your ankle,
   pressing into the outside edge of your back foot. Your left leg should be
   straight, your chest open to the left side of the mat, and your arms at
   shoulder height. Gaze out over your right hand.
5. Once you’ve settle into the pose and feel comfortable
   in your alignment, breathe in and out deeply and slowly at least 3 times.
6. After your third exhalation, breathe in once more, and
   when exhaling that breath, cartwheel your hands back to the ground, on
   each side of your right foot. Step back to Downward-Facing Dog. Then
   repeat with your left foot forward.

Triangle

Triangle is also a standing pose, so it’s another one that’s great for muscle tone and leg circulation. This pose involves opening up your chest and expanding the lungs as well, which improves circulation in your torso.

Muscles worked: sartorius, piriformis, gluteus medius, obliques, and triceps

1. Begin by repeating the steps to get into Warrior II.
2. Instead of settling into Warrior II, inhale as you straighten
   your front leg and keep your arms aligned over your legs, in that “T.”
3. As you exhale, tip your torso over your right leg from
   your hip, keeping your spine long and your arms in line with your
   shoulders, so the “T” will tip with you.
4. Rest your right hand on your foot, ankle, or shin. Your
   left arm should be reaching toward the sky. Your gaze can be looking at
   the front foot, out to the left, or up at your left hand (if you feel like
   you have the balance to do so).
5. Press into your feet and engage your leg muscles as you
   keep your chest open to the side, breathing deeply.
6. After at least three deep breaths, lift your torso from
   your hip using your core as you bend the front leg again. You can then
   switch to the other side as you did for Warrior II. (If you are repeating
   the sequence, go back to pose 1 and repeat the sequence two more times,
   using the next pose as a resting pose to close out the practice.)

Legs up the wall

Putting your legs up the wall is not just an inversion in the sense that it puts your legs above your heart, but it is also an inversion of how most of us sit all day long. This position can help your blood flow normally, relieving the pooling of blood or fluid in your extremities that may happen in old age.

Muscles worked: hamstrings and neck, as well as the front of the torso

1. For this pose, move your mat up against a wall where
   there is space at the base, where the wall meets the floor, and far enough
   up the wall that your legs can stretch up it without knocking anything
   over.
2. Sit parallel to the wall. Then, lie down with your feet
   on the ground, knees bent.
3. Pivot on your lower back/upper tailbone, lifting your
   feet and gently swinging your torso so it intersects the wall and hugs
   your sitting bones up against the base of the wall. Once you’re
   comfortable (you may have to wiggle a little), extend your legs up the
   wall. You can also place a cushion or folded blanket under your lower back
   if it feels better.
4. Rest your arms next to you, palms up. You can stay here
   as long as you like.

Take it to the next level

If you feel comfortable in inversions, and if you have good balance, core strength, and yoga props, you can do “legs in the air” pose, instead of up the wall. It will not be a resting pose in quite the same manner, but it’s great for circulation as well as the core.

1. Stay on your mat and get a yoga block so it’s within
   reach when you lie down.
2. Lie down on the mat, with your knees bent, and lift
   your hips, placing the block under your sacrum. Be sure it’s firmly on the
   floor and you’re firmly resting on it.
3. Keeping your hands alongside your body, palms pressing
   into the ground, lift your knees to your chest.
4. Inhale deeply. As you exhale, begin to extend your legs
   to the ceiling slowly and in a controlled manner.
5. Pressing your sacrum into the block for support, stay
   here for 10 full, deep breaths before exiting in the reverse order you
   entered. Bend knees into your chest and gently roll your pelvis down as
   you return your feet to the ground. Then press into your feet and lift
   your hips to remove the block.

The takeaway

While some circulation problems are caused by specific health conditions, many Americans deal with circulation issues and don’t know it. Why? Because we park it at our desks all day and don’t work our circulatory systems in the ways we should.

By exercising in ways that will compress and decompress the veins in our legs and access gravity in flushing stagnant blood and reversing blood flow, we can improve our circulation and stave off problems. Whether you have a diagnosed issue or not, the above yoga sequence can help your body work more effectively by improving your circulation.

Well Tested: Gentle Yoga