Chest pain and tightness is a common issue faced by many people. It is best to regularly do certain yoga poses to relieve chest pain.
Chest pain may not necessarily point toward a heart problem. If you are a working professional, sitting hunched on a chair for long hours can also trigger chest tightness. Anxiety and tension may also add to this problem.
The key here is to breathe in, relax, and do yoga asanas before it becomes a bigger problem. But, which yoga poses should you do to reduce chest pain?
For your convenience, we have curated a list of the 7 best yoga poses for chest pain. These will help open up the chest muscles by gently stretching them. But first, find out the main causes of chest pain. Scroll down to learn more!
In This Article
What Causes Chest Pain?
Chest pain is caused due to various reasons. You can feel it anywhere from your neck to your upper abdomen. Chest tightness often occurs due to poor posture but could also be a sign of something more serious like a panic or a heart attack.
If you feel an ache in your chest area, it might not necessarily be a cardiovascular disease. Or it could be. When your heart muscles do not get enough oxygen, it gives rise to a severe form of chest pain called angina.
Other heart-related chest pains are a heart attack, pericarditisi XSwelling of the sac-like structure around the heart, leading to infection and potential surgery. , myocarditisi XInflammation of the heart muscle caused by viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections. , cardiomyopathyi XA condition that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood and deliver it to the rest of the body, often leading to heart failure. and aortic dissectioni XThe tear in the inner layer of the main artery that causes pain similar to a heart attack and can be fatal. .
Chest pain occurs due to gastrointestinal problems too. If you have swallowing problems, gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, then you will feel pain in the chest.
Even if you have pneumonia, asthma or blood clots, it leads to chest ache. Chest pain also occurs when you suffer from a fracture that causes pressure on the nerves. Damaged ribs and sore muscles from extreme exertion are also main factors causing chest ache.
Yoga For The Chest
You must get a physician to evaluate any sudden chest pain you feel and get checked for heart problems. If that’s not the case, then you can soothe your chest muscles with yoga.
Yoga helps in reducing chest tightness by opening, expanding and stretching the chest. It counters the effects of poor posture, overuse, and strain of muscles, by fixing the cause of the problem.
Yoga improves your range of motion, stretches your pectoral muscles, improves your flexibility which all aid in eradicating your chest pain.
Sometimes, even stress, anxiety and tension can cause chest pain, and you know well that yoga is the best solution for it.
Yoga-Based Rehabilitation After Heart Attack
Yoga is an effective solution for rehabilitation after an acute heart attack and other heart issues. It can help improve self-rated health and return to your regular activities after cardiovascular issues like a stroke or a heart attack. According to a study, it was found that self-rated health at 12 weeks was 77 points in the yoga-based rehabilitation group and 75.7 points in the enhanced standard care group. Check out the graph below to know more.
Self-rated Health Of Patients Following Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
Source: Yoga-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial.
Practice the chest pain relieving poses mentioned below to understand what I am talking about.
7 Best Poses In Yoga For Chest Pain Relief
- Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
- Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
- Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
- Bitilasana (Cow Pose)
- Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
- Chakrasana (Wheel Pose)
- Natarajasana ( Dance Pose)
1. Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
About The Pose- Matsyasana or the Fish Pose is named after the Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is a beginner level Hatha yoga asana. Practice it in the morning on an empty stomach for best results and hold the pose for at least 30 to 60 seconds to feel the pose’s effect.
Benefits For The Chest- Matsyasana stretches your rib muscles. It also stretches the front and back of your neck and improves your posture. It is therapeutic for rounded-shoulders and relieves irritation.
Related: How To Do The Ardha Matsyendrasana And What Are Its Benefits
2. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
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About The Pose- Bhujangasana or the Cobra Pose is an asana that resembles the raised hood of a cobra. It is a backbend. The pose is a beginner level Ashtanga yoga asana. Practice it in the morning on an empty stomach and hold the pose for 15 to 30 seconds.
Benefits For The Chest- Bhujangasana stretches the muscles of your chest and shoulders. It increases your flexibility and improves your mood. The pose improves blood and oxygen circulation.
3. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
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About The Pose- Dhanurasana or the Bow Asana is a pose that resembles a stringed bow ready to shoot. It is a beginner level Vinyasa yoga asana. Practice it in the morning on an empty stomach for best results and hold the pose for 15 to 30 seconds during practice.
Stylecraze Says You can use yoga straps if you can’t reach the ankles or find it uncomfortable to hold them.
Benefits For The Chest- Dhanurasana massages your heart and cures asthma. It is perfect for relieving stress and fatigue. The pose opens up your chest, neck, and shoulders.
4. Bitilasana (Cow Pose)
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About The Pose- Bitilasana or the Cow Pose is an asana that resembles the stance of a cow. The Sanskrit word ‘Bitila’ means cow. Bitilasana is a beginner level Vinyasa yoga asana. Practice it in the morning or evening on an empty stomach and hold the pose for 10 to 15 seconds.
Benefits For The Chest- Bitilasana improves your posture and balance. It strengthens your neck and stretches your back. The pose calms your mind and relieves stress. It also increases the blood circulation in the body.
5. Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
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About The Pose- Ustrasana or the Camel Pose is a backbend that resembles the stance of a camel. The Sanskrit word ‘Ustra’ means camel. It is a beginner level Vinyasa yoga asana. Practice it in the morning on an empty stomach and hold the pose for 30 to 60 seconds.
Benefits For The Chest- Ustrasana stretches and strengthens your shoulders and back. It opens up your chest and improves respiration. The pose tones your neck and stretches your throat.
6. Chakrasana (Wheel Pose)
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About The Pose- Chakrasana or the Wheel Pose is an asana that looks like a wheel. It is also an important step in acrobatics. Chakrasana is a beginner level Ashtanga yoga asana. Practice it in the morning on an empty stomach and hold the pose for 1 to 5 minutes.
Stylecraze Says Chakrasana requires heat and energy coursing through the body. So, you should not do it as soon as you get up from bed, especially during winter.
Benefits For The Chest- The pose is good for your heart and cures asthma. It stretches your lungs and stimulates the thyroid. It cures depression and relieves stress and tension in the body.
Related: Chakrasana: Benefits, How To Do, And Precautions
7. Natarajasana ( Dance Pose)
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About The Pose- Natarajasana or the King Dancer Pose is an asana that resembles the dancing pose of Lord Shiva. It is an intermediate level Vinyasa yoga asana. Practice it in the morning or evening on an empty stomach and hold the pose for 15 to 30 seconds during practice.
Benefits For The Chest- Natarajasana stretches your neck muscles and strengthens your chest. It improves the flexibility of your body and also improves your body’s balance.
Now that you know all about the Yoga poses relieving chest tightness, let’s answer some common queries on yoga and chest pain.
Related: How To Do The Natarajasana And What Are Its Benefits
Infographic: Top Yoga Asanas To Soothe Chest Pain
Chest pain may be an underlying sign of an improper posture problem. Fear not, you can correct your stance with the right mix of exercise and lifestyle changes. Yoga is an excellent form of exercise that will help you target your upper body muscles effectively.
Check out the infographic below to learn more about the best yoga poses you can perform to soothe your chest pain.
Chest pain and tightness can be due to bad posture, anxiety, stress, or digestive issues. Most often than not, breathing deep and easy, and following the simple yoga asanas mentioned above, can help relax your chest muscles, easing the pain and discomfort. Bhujangasana, Ustrasana, Natrajasana, and Matsyasana are a few of the popular yoga asanas effective for chest pain relief. Following the right posture, time, and amount of stretch is important while doing these yoga asanas. Unless it is a medical emergency related to your cardiovascular health, these asanas can help you get rid of chest pain and tightness with regular practice over time.
