I have high blood pressure, surely hot yoga will aggravate it? No! It will heal it!

Many people immediately write hot yoga off if they have high or low blood pressure, however, it is the first improvement you will feel and see! 

It has been documented that 2 weeks of regular Bikram hot yoga practice will have an incredible effect on your arteries and heart.  The gentle compression and extension movements you do in class will tone and strenghthen your entire circulatory sysytem, heart, arteries and veins.  Go ahead and set up near the door at first, if your blood pressure is extremely high, let us know, (we are here to help!)  We will likely tell you to do only one set of each posture as you get aclimatized to the heat and detoxify, this also goes for people with extremely low blood pressure.  With consistent practice, inevitably you will receive the healing you need, you may even lower medication over time with your doctor's guidance!  Can you believe it?  A way to heal your condition!!!

Here is the info direct from Bikram's Website...bikramyoga.com

Unstable high blood pressure responds so quickly to diligent Yoga practice that doctors sometimes doubt their instruments. (This quick response of the blood pressure is one of the most telling demonstrations of Yoga's ability to regulate and synchronize body systems.) If you are tested about a week after starting Yoga, you may see a slight rise in pressure. Don't be alarmed. By the second week, that pressure will be normal or close to normal and will stay there as long as you maintain your yoga regimen.

Consult your doctor, use common sense, and don't push hard in any of the poses the first three days. The poses in which high blood pressure patients must continue to exercise caution until their blood pressure checks out normally are these: the backward bending portion of Half Moon, the Standing Bow Pulling, Balancing Stick, Cobra, the third part of Locust, Full Locust and the Camel.

Depending on the severity of your condition, the above should be done for a count of no more than five at first, building to ten counts only after two weeks. If you are supple enough to do the Fixed Firm fully the first few days, limit that to five counts as well. Be absolutely sure to rest between each set. It is also essential for heart patients to breathe normally during the postures. As for the Bow Pose, (on the floor) a beginner with high blood pressure must never perform the pose without a qualified teacher present.

It is because these backward bending positions create pressure in the chest, and so on the heart, that high blood pressure patients must use caution. Do not eliminate them though--with the exception of Bow Pose. They are the very friends you need to control your ailment.