1. YOGA FOR HEART CAMPAIGN
Promote Yoga as
a Heart Healthy
Practice
Fundraise for Heart
Disease and Stroke
Research
Raise Awareness
That Stress is a Risk
Factor
CONCLUSIONS
Stress is inevitable. However, if not managed
properly, prolonged exposure to stress can increase
blood pressure and blood sugar levels, raising one’s
risk of heart disease and stroke. The HSF recognizes
stress as a risk factor and presents coping
mechanisms, such as yoga, to help manage stress
effectively.
The Yoga for Heart Campaign was designed to
promote yoga practice to address the risk factors of
acute and chronic stress on heart disease and stroke.
The campaign was successful in promoting yoga as a
heart healthy practice and raising awareness that
stress is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke
through the coping with stress presentations.
Additionally, the campaign has raised $120 for heart
disease and stroke research thus far.
REFERENCES
1. (2015). In Heart & Stroke Foundation. Retrieved February 11, 2015, from
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.
3483991/k.34A8/Statistics.htm
2. Definition of stress (2015). In Medicine Net. Retrieved February 24,
2015, from
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp? articlekey=20104
3. Health benefits of yoga explained (2015). In Yoga Health Foundation.
Retrieved February 12, 2015, from
http://www.yogahealthfoundation.org
health_benefits_of_yoga_explained
4. Yoga and Heart Health (2013, March 22). In American Heart Association.
Retrieved February 25, 2015, from https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
GettingHealthy/PhysicalActivity/Yoga-and-Heart-
Health_UCM_434966_Article.jsp
5. Chakraborty, R. (2014, May 3). Top 10 health benefits of doing yoga. List
Dose. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://listdose.com/top-10-health-
benefits-of-doing-yoga/
TARGET POPULATION
The Yoga for Heart Campaign is designed to
target all of the London community. Since students
report a high degree of life stress, events have been
organized at Fanshawe College and Western
University to provide an opportunity to learn about
stress management and coping, as well as practice
relaxation yoga. Third party events held at
Downtown London Yoga and SAVY International
Inc. target the wider community.
CAMPAIGN COMPONENTS
The Yoga for Heart Campaign commenced in
February, 2015 in London, Ontario, to address the
risk factors of stress on heart disease and stroke.
The campaign has been held at yoga studios in
London, as well as events planned at both
Fanshawe College and Western University. The
campaign is continuing throughout March as one
of the studios wishes to continue to collaborate
with the Foundation, as well as the event scheduled
at Western University.
Fanshawe College
Event Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2015
• Coping with Stress Presentation
• 45 Minute Yoga Practice
• All donation amounts accepted
Downtown London Yoga
Event: Thursday, February 5, 2015
• 1 Hour Yoga Session
• Minimum $10 donation
Western University
Event: TBD in March
• Coping with Stress Presentation
• 30 minute Relaxation Yoga
• Minimum $2 donation
SAVY International Inc. Yoga
Event dates: Every Tuesday + Thursday
throughout February 2015
• $96 + HST cost for program, 50/50 split with
Heart and Stroke Foundation
• Mindfulness, Breathing and Healing yoga
Additionally, Dr. Jitender Sahdev of SAVY
International Inc. Yoga and Sarah Turkstra were
interviewed by Rogers TV on Friday, January 30th
regarding the heart health yoga classes and the
Yoga for Heart campaign.
ABSTRACT
The Yoga for Heart Campaign is a yoga initiative led by practicum student Sarah Turkstra at the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The focus is to
address the risk factors of chronic and acute stress on heart disease and stroke. The objectives of the campaign are to promote yoga as a heart healthy
practice, raise awareness that stress is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and fundraise for heart disease and stroke research. The campaign
includes coping with stress presentations and yoga classes at different locations throughout London to target all community members. The campaign
has been successful at raising awareness that stress is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and that yoga can help to reduce stress.
BACKGROUND
Every 7 minutes, heart disease and stroke take
the life of someone in Canada. The Heart and Stroke
Foundation (HSF) recognizes preventable risk factors
of heart disease such as smoking, poor nutrition,
blood pressure, sedentary lifestyles, as well as acute
and chronic stress1.
February is Heart Month, so as a practicum
student at the HSF of London, Sarah Turkstra
organized the Yoga for Heart Campaign to address
the statistic that 1 in 4 Canadians report a high degree
of life stress. The Yoga for Heart Campaign aims to
target both acute and chronic stress by promoting
yoga as a heart healthy practice.
OBJECTIVES
There are 3 main objectives to this campaign:
1) Promote yoga as a Heart Healthy practice
2) Raise awareness that stress is a risk factor for heart
disease and stroke
3) Fundraise for heart disease and stroke research
DISCUSSION
STRESS, HEART DISEASE & YOGA
In medical terms, stress can be defined as a
physical, emotional or mental stimuli that causes bodily
tension2.
When the body experiences stress, catecholamine
hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine
stimulate the ‘fight or flight’ response. These hormones
work to prepare the body for a violent stimulus which
results in: increased heart and breathing rate, paling or
flushing, ingestion and constriction of blood vessels2 . If
bodily responses to stress are prolonged, the body
secretes more hormones that can increase blood
pressure and blood sugar levels3. Additionally,
prolonged exposure to stress may weaken the immune
system, leaving the body vulnerable to infectious
diseases4.
According to the HSF, the relationship between stress
and heart disease remains unclear. However, it is recognized
that suffering from long term chronic stress can lead to the
development of heart disease1.
Counselling psychologist and founder of Cardiac Yoga,
Dr. M. Cunningham, states that yoga has proven benefits of
decreasing stress and risk of heart disease and stroke through:
decreasing blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels,
increasing respiratory function and heart rate and improving
circulation4.
Sarah Turkstra, B.HSc Candidate. In collaboration with Jamie-Lynn Huitema, Senior Area Manager, Heart and Stroke Foundation London.
Western University, School of Health Studies. Supported by Dr. Deborah Fitzsimmons
Figure 1.1: Biochemical Benefits of Yoga Practice5