Q.Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Radha's grandmother, aged 62, has recently been diagnosed with hypertension, with her blood pressure readings consistently around 150/95 mmHg. She also complains of stiffness and pain in her knee joints. Radha, a Class 12 Physical Education student, offers to help her grandmother start a gentle yoga routine after consulting her doctor.

Radha's grandmother is 62 years old with blood pressure around 150/95 mmHg, so this is a hypertension case study; each part is answered from the chapter's own yoga-for-hypertension content.

(i) Hypertension is generally diagnosed when blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher (systolic ≥140 and/or diastolic ≥90). At 150/95 mmHg, her reading is clearly in this range.

(ii) Two syllabus asanas suitable for controlling hypertension are Tadasana (Mountain Pose) and Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose) — both are on the chapter's own hypertension asana list.

(iii) She should avoid inverted poses (where the head goes below the heart, since these can spike blood pressure suddenly) and forceful or rapid breathing practices such as Kapalbhati and Bhastrika (which stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and raise heart rate/BP). …

(i) Diagnostic threshold

Hypertension is generally diagnosed when blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg systolic and/or 90 mmHg diastolic or higher (normal adult BP is quoted as under 120/80 mmHg). The diagnosis is not based on a single reading but on sustained elevation. Radha's grandmother's readings of 150/95 mmHg clearly fall into the hypertensive range on both counts.

(ii) Two asanas suitable for controlling hypertension

The chapter's own hypertension asana list includes Vajrasana, Bhujangasana, Pavanamuktasana, Tadasana, Ardha-Chakrasana and Savasana. Two suitable choices are:

• Tadasana (Mountain Pose) — a gentle standing pose (feet together, arms raised and interlocked, rising onto the toes) that strengthens the legs and expands the spine without straining the cardiovascular system; contraindicated in severe migraine or giddiness, or for those with weak legs who struggle to stand for long.
• Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose) — a calm kneeling pose (legs folded under the hips, back straight, normal breathing) that aids digestion and pelvic circulation without any strain; contraindicated in piles, injured knee/ankle ligaments, or hernia/intestinal ulcers.

(iii) Poses and practices to avoid

Radha's grandmother should avoid:

• Inverted poses (where the head drops below the heart) — these increase blood flow to the head and can dangerously spike blood pressure.
• Forceful or rapid breathing practices, such as Kapalbhati and Bhastrika — these stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, raising heart rate and blood pressure.