# 11 - Common Sense Yoga

Preventive healthcare is typically guided by common sense. For example, stretches that involve bending and unbending of the knees help alleviate arthritis; stretches that open up chest muscles help enhance lung function to prevent asthma; forward folds that compress lower abdomen help ease constipation; forward folds that massage upper abdominal area enhance liver/ pancreatic function to help combat diabetes; stabilizing blood flow to the brain with calming stretches helps prevent hypertension; pelvic strengtheners assist in combating piles or hemorrhoids; stretches that strengthen the lower back help combat lumbago; forward stretches that involve release of gluteal (buttock) muscles assist in easing sciatic pain.