Yoga and the Heart
Boost heart health with yoga!
Discover how yoga can strengthen cardiovascular function, reduce stress, and bring balance to your nervous system for a healthier heart. This course explores yoga’s impact on both healthy and at-risk cardiovascular systems, with specialized practices for those with heart disease.
Learn how to safely support students with heart problems in your yoga classes. In this course, you’ll explore the effects of yoga on both healthy and diseased cardiovascular systems and learn adapted yoga exercises for individuals with heart conditions.
As a yoga teacher, understanding the connection between yoga and cardiovascular health can transform your approach to class design and student care.
In this certificate course for yoga teachers, you’ll learn how yoga strengthens the cardiovascular system by enhancing heart function and blood vessel elasticity, and how to create classes that reduce stress and support the autonomic nervous system – a critical component of cardiovascular health.
You’ll explore the specific needs of students with cardiovascular disease, studying adaptations for postures and practices that nurture heart resilience without overstimulation.
By the end of this course, you’ll have the tools to confidently guide all students, including those with heart conditions, towards a healthier heart and a balanced nervous system, fostering wellness on and off the mat.
Completion of the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Course.
Graduates of other teacher trainings: please contact tyrol@sivananda.net regarding eligibility.
Yoga is healthy for the heart. It trains the cardiovascular function, strengthens the heart and keeps the blood vessels elastic and healthy.
One of the main strengths of yoga is the sustainable reduction of stress and the restoration of the balance of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system), the basis for a healthy cardiovascular system. Yoga is also effective and beneficial for people with cardiovascular disease.
In this course we will look at the effects of yoga practice on the healthy and diseased cardiovascular system and practise the adapted asana class for people with heart disease.
The following certificate course is offered at the Sivananda Yoga Retreat House, Austria.
On completion of the training course, you will receive a certificate of participation.
The course is 4 days (3 nights) in duration.
A full day begins with the first meditation session at 6 am, and ends after the second meditation at 9:30 pm. See the daily schedule below for details.
| Location | Nights | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sivananda Yoga Retreat House, Tyrol, Austria | 3 | from €337 |
The course instructors are senior teachers of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.
Chandrika (Cordula Interthal) is an obstetrician-gynecologist, Ayurveda practitioner and Sivananda yoga teacher. She co-authored the book Practical Ayurveda from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.
| 6 am | Satsang (group meditation, kirtan and mantra chanting, short lecture) |
| 8 am | Asana and pranayama class |
| 10 am | Vegetarian brunch |
| 10:45 am | One-hour karma yoga (selfless service) |
| Between 12 pm and 3 pm | Lecture or workshop |
| 4 pm | Yoga class or workshop |
| 6 pm | Vegetarian dinner |
| 6:45 pm | One-hour karma yoga (if not done in the morning) |
| 8 pm | Satsang (group meditation, kirtan and mantra chanting, short lecture) |
This daily schedule is subject to change.
A meditation cushion for the morning and evening meditation sessions is recommended. A meditation shawl is also advantageous.
To practice the yoga poses you will need a non-slip yoga mat or wool mat. You will need a blanket to cover yourself at the end of the yoga class during the so-called final relaxation.
Pillows, shawls, blankets, mats and much more can be purchased in our online shop or in our boutique after arrival.
For your stay you should bring comfortable clothing, slippers, walking shoes, rain gear, torch (flashlight), bathing suit and towels. Eyeglass wearers should bring a hard case for safe storage during the yoga classes.
Sivananda Yoga Retreat House, Tyrol, Austria
Accommodation and meals are in the non-smoking eco-hotel Hotel Pointner serving wholefood organic vegetarian cuisine.
All guest rooms have wooden floors and furniture, health mattresses, shower, toilet, hairdryer, telephone and radio. Most rooms have a balcony.
