5 Exercises To Reactivate Blood Circulation

Regular practice of some simple exercises can help to reactivate blood circulation to avoid pain, inflammatory problems or varicose veins. The best part is that no gym tools or the like are needed.

Practicing some healthy habits can help reactivate blood circulation to alleviate some ailments and prevent diseases. Physical exercise, for example, helps to facilitate the venous return of the legs and, therefore, prevents or alleviates discomfort such as inflammation and heaviness.

Its regular practice starts the blood flow throughout the body and, in turn, strengthens the arteries and veins to prevent their deterioration. In addition, it is one of the allies to reduce the presence of cholesterol and toxins, both linked to the appearance of circulatory diseases.

The best thing about encouraging yourself to exercise is that you don’t have to go to a gym or specialized training center to reap its benefits. There are a number of activities that can be done from home,  without the need for professional machines or tools.

Are you interested in knowing them? If so, we may want to review why it is important to reactivate blood circulation and several simple exercises that can be added to the routine.

What is the importance of good blood circulation?

All the organs of the body depend on the good circulation of the blood to work in optimal conditions. Therefore, when there is some type of difficulty or obstruction, serious symptoms and diseases can be triggered that reduce the quality of life.

Good circulation allows oxygen, nutrients and energy to be transported to all parts of the body. Therefore, it is key that all vital functions can be fulfilled. 

So why do circulatory problems occur? There are several reasons:

• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Suffering from chronic stress.
• Overweight and obesity.
• Have high cholesterol problems.
• Consume alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
• Wearing clothing that is too tight.
• Suffering from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes.
• Eat foods rich in saturated fat and trans fat.

The 5 best exercises to reactivate blood circulation

The movements of the body during exercise are excellent stimulants of blood flow. Therefore, if there are reasons to want to reactivate blood circulation, it is best to start doing some activities as part of your daily habits.

1. Leg raises

Leg raising is a simple activity that helps strengthen muscles while improving circulation in the lower area. It is recommended as an ally to avoid varicose veins, since it also reduces inflammation caused by tension.

What should you do?

• Lie down on the floor or bed, raise your legs to the ceiling and try to extend them as far as possible.
• Hold the pose for a few seconds, bend your knees, and stretch again.
• Do between 15 and 20 repetitions.

2. Bicycle lying down

While regular exercise on a bike is a great way to jump-start your circulation, bike emulation also has interesting benefits. Its practice strengthens the abdominal wall while improving blood return to the heart.

What should you do?

• Lie on your back, with your hands on your head or neck and your legs straight.
• Raise your legs a little and start simulating pedaling a bike for a minute.
• Contract your abdomen so your legs don’t fall easily to the ground.
• Do 2 or 3 reps, one minute each.

3. Heel raise

As its name implies, this exercise consists of raising the heel, in such a way that the feet are on tiptoe. It is a movement that allows you to reactivate blood circulation and, incidentally, strengthen the calves.

What should you do?

• Stand tall, with your hands at your sides holding small weights.
• Lift your heels off the ground so that the pressure is on the balls of your feet.
• Hold for 3-5 seconds and return to the starting position.
• Do between 15 and 20 repetitions.

4. Steps

There are several reasons why steps are recommended for circulatory health. First of all, it is a cardiovascular activity that helps you lose weight, which reduces pressure on the veins. On the other hand, it facilitates venous return and reduces leg swelling.

What should you do?

• Find a bench or step-like item to get your feet up.
• When you have it ready, put one foot on the surface and, with your arms at your sides, transfer your weight and straighten your front leg.
• Switch legs alternately and repeat the movements 15 times.

5. Leg spread

This activity can be done on the floor or on a more comfortable surface such as a bed or a yoga mat. Due to the movement involved, circulation returns from the lower part of the body to the heart, reducing the appearance of varicose veins.

What should you do?

• Lie down on your chosen surface, facing the ceiling.
• Raise your legs straight and spread them to the sides without dropping them to the ground.

• Put them back together and repeat these movements 15 to 20 times.

Yoga offers many other options

Are you feeling heaviness in your limbs? Do you notice some swollen and bruised veins? Then you should practice these exercises. In fact, you can do it before suffering a circulatory problem. They are very beneficial and will not take up too much time.

Keep in mind that many yoga exercises can be combined with these that we have discussed here. Therefore, if you are looking for inspiration to vary your routine, just look at the different standing yoga positions available. There’s a lot!