Physical Education · Ch 3 — Yoga as Preventive Measure for Lifestyle Disease
Dhanurasana
Dhanurasana
This asana is described in full in section 3.1.8 (Dhanurasana) above - its procedure, breathing awareness, benefits and contraindications are the same wherever it is practised. The CBSE Class 12 Physical Education syllabus lists Dhanurasana again here because it is one of the asanas recommended for this specific lifestyle disease; refer to section 3.1.8 for the complete method and the posture diagram.
Why Dhanurasana helps manage diabetes
In the final bow shape, the entire front of the torso, from the lower ribs to the pelvis, rests under tension with the abdominal organs drawn tight between the arched spine and the floor. This firm, sustained compression of the pancreas and liver, repeated with controlled breathing, is believed to stimulate these glands and improve their blood supply, which supports healthier insulin secretion and glucose metabolism over regular practice. The backward arch also counteracts the forward-stooped posture common in people who sit for long periods, a habit strongly linked with the sedentary lifestyle that contributes to diabetes.
Specific benefits for a person managing diabetes
- Directly compresses and stimulates the pancreas, supporting insulin-producing function.
- Improves digestion and appetite, helping regulate the irregular eating patterns that can destabilise blood sugar.
- Builds spinal and back strength, offsetting the muscle weakness that often develops alongside long-term diabetes.
- Combines well with Ardha Matsyendrasana and Paschimottanasana as part of a rounded diabetes-management sequence that works the abdomen from the front, back and sides.