Benefits of practicing yoga after major abdominal surgery

The yoga after any surgery is not advisable unless it is done with great care.  It is the doctor who is the best caregiver to the patient at this condition.  He has the authority to recommend exercise to the patient.  The doctor generally recommends yoga routine after six weeks of abdominal surgery.  If it is done immediately after the surgery, it generally causes physical strain to our delicate body.  Even six weeks after surgery, if the patient feels that it is causing strain, then he can immediately stop it.  The meditation can be practiced easily.  But those involving physical exercises must be avoided.  You must practice those yoga poses that are safe to your fragile body.

Yoga trains our mind to be calm in stressful situations.  It gives us flexibility in our muscles.  The surgery  is a process where the surgeon cuts across the body to access the internal organs for removing the abnormal tissue or organs.

After the surgery of the abdomen, until the incised area is healed, we cannot perform yoga.  Under the instruction of the doctor, the patient performs a few poses and breathing exercises.  Naturally the extreme poses are avoided thereby causing damage to the abdomen.

The patient can perform Ashtanga and Vinyasa poses, which will improve the circulation of blood.  So, there are very low risk of the blood getting clotted.  The swelling seen after surgery and our blood circulation is improved if we practice breathing exercises (pranayama) regularly.  The patient is recommended yoga straps.  This prevents his abdominal muscles from excess pressure during the Vinyasa poses.

The benefits of  practicing yoga after the abdominal surgery are as follows:

1.      The muscles become strong doing yoga after the abdominal surgery.  If exercise is not done, it causes hernia.  If exercise is avoided, then the patient is unable to stand or balance himself properly. 

2.      The laughter yoga helps after the abdominal surgery.

3.      The deep breathing techniques are helpful to the patient after surgery.

4.      The stretching exercises help the muscles of our body to become flexible after surgery as we lie on the bed for a long time.

5.      The yoga poses after the surgery makes you feel stronger. 

6.      The yoga practice helps the recovery from a scarred abdomen after the surgery at a much faster rate than the other forms of exercise.

7.      After the abdominal surgery, the breathing exercise help provide flexibility to the abdominal muscles.

8.      Yoga can help our mind to become relaxed at stressful situations and reduce our anxieties post surgery.  So yoga practice after surgery is a great way to change our mental state back to normal.

9.      The strengthening and stretching exercises makes the wrist, neck and ankles to function easily.

10.  Walking regularly after the recommendation of the doctor can help improve the circulation.  The vein thrombosis and gas formations can be prevented by just simply starting to walk.

11.  The pursed breathing helps in strengthening the muscles of our diaphragm. 

12.  The light running and jogging helps us strengthen the injured area of the surgery.

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