Strike a Pose: Yoga for Varicose Veins

Strike a Pose: Yoga for Varicose Veins in Boca Raton

Yoga can be an all-around great workout for your body, but a few specific yoga poses are particularly valuable when it comes to treating and preventing varicose veins. By elevating and stretching your legs, these poses can promote proper blood flow through your lower extremities while also providing all the benefits of a typical yoga workout.

As with any new activity, you should speak with Dr. Schoenhaus before trying yoga to ensure that it will be a healthy activity for you. Once you have your doctor’s clearance your best bet is to take a class—an experienced instructor will be able to teach you the basics of yoga and make it easier for you to tackle yoga moves like these at home.

Ready to try a few varicose-vein-fighting yoga poses? Give these a shot:

Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose)

This pose requires a strap, towel, or strip of cloth.

  1. Lie on your back and raise your right leg up into the air.
  2. Place your strap around the center of your foot and flex, pushing into the strap with a moderate amount of pressure. Bend and straighten your leg several times, flexing against the resistance of the strap.
  3. Repeat the process with your other leg.

Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose)

To do this pose, you’ll need a sturdy wall and a firm, but comfortable support—one or two thickly-folded blankets can work, as can a narrow cushion or rolled-up yoga mat.

  1. Place your supportive cushion five to six inches from the wall and sit on the right end of it, your right side to the wall.
  2. Smoothly pivot your body and bring your legs up onto the wall while resting your back and head gently against the floor. Your legs should be held firmly enough to stay vertical, your torso slightly arched. Keep your elbows bent with your hands to either side of your head, relax your arms, and keep your palms facing upward.
  3. Stay in this pose for five to 15 minutes and, when you’re done, slide sideways off the support.

Salamba Sirsasana (Supported Headstand)

This pose is slightly more advanced, so it will be best to have the supervision of an instructor or more experienced yogi when attempting it for the first time. You will also need a wall for support and a folded blanket or pad.

  1. Set your pad down near the wall and kneel on the floor. Intertwine your fingers with your forearms on the pad and your elbows shoulder width apart.
  2. Place the crown of your head on the pad and bring your palms to rest against the back of your head, fingers still interlocked. Lift your knees from the floor and gradually walk your feet towards your elbows. Lift both feet from the floor and straighten your body against the wall, centering the arches of your feet over your pelvis. Keep your weight evenly balanced on your forearms.
  3. Try to hold the pose for 10 seconds, or hold it for a few seconds and repeat two to three times.

These poses can help you prevent varicose veins in Boca Raton, but they are not the only ones. Have you tried yoga to treat or prevent varicose veins? Share your experiences and favorite poses in the comments below!

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. He has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot and ankle conditions like bunions, fat pad atrophy, and sports medicine. Dr. Jason holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. He's one of only 10 board-certified Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeons in Palm Beach County. Dr. Gold has been featured in highly authoritative publications like HuffPost, PureWow, and Yahoo!

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus , DPM - Podiatrist in Boca Raton, FL

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus DPM, RPhs, FACFAS

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, DPM, RPhs, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. She has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot, ankle, and leg vein conditions like spider and varicose veins and sclerotherapy. Dr. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, and she earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Schoenhaus has performed FDA-approved research and has been published in the National Library of Medicine and PubMed. Dr. Jodi has been featured in highly authoritative publications like Cosmopolitan, Lifehacker, Parade, New York Post, and Yahoo!, among others.