Summer is over, back to school chaos is in full swing and the holiday season is looming not so far in the future. So with all this extra stress, giving yoga some extra thought couldn’t come at a better time!

Yoga, for those unfamiliar with the Namaste movement, is a practice of physical and mental activities including breathing techniques, physical poses, and meditation.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure or not, taking a little time to decompress can provide long-term health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Yoga and meditation not only can strengthen your body and help you relax, but also may lower your systolic blood pressure by 5 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or more.”

A recent study by the University of Pennsylvania showed that doing yoga two to three times a week was also associated with a drop in blood pressure readings.

“This study confirms many people’s feelings that exercise may be useful in the control of hypertension,” said Dr. Howard Weintraub, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, who is not connected to the study.

Not sure where to start?  Here are some beginner poses that might help you:

*Always consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.