A new study has questioned this way of thinking and shows that adding yoga to your exercise routine supports cardiovascular health and wellbeing.

The research, published in the Canadian Journal Of Cardiology, found that 12 minutes of yoga alongside 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, five times a week, improved resting blood pressure and heart rate. While the research was only performed in 60 people, all with a previous diagnosis of high blood pressure or metabolic syndrome, there were some very interesting takeaways.

In particular, when the researchers compared yoga to stretching, they found the practice further reduced systolic blood pressure (by 10mmHg with yoga v 4mmHg with stretching). Yoga also reduced the participants’$2 10-year cardiovascular risk.

Physical benefits of yoga: a new study shows yoga is better than stretching for cardio fitness