03/09/2026
LET’S TALK SEPT - Heart and circulatory system.
The human circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system, is a vast network of organs and blood vessels responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones and cellular waste throughout the body. Driven by the pumping action of the heart, this system ensures that every cell receives the necessary resources to survive - however it also needs a bit of help from the rest of your body to keep everything moving.
Your body is designed to move. You don’t need a gruelling workout to make a difference—just breaking up your sitting time, doing a few calf raises while making tea, or stretching out on the floor helps your circulation.
• Dance is amazing because the constant, rhythmic movement of your legs acts as an immediate pump, opening up tiny blood vessels and rushing oxygen to your skin and extremities.
• Weight lifting creates a powerful “flush” effect. When you tense a muscle, it temporarily squeezes the blood vessels; when you relax, fresh blood rushes back into the tissue, which naturally helps your arteries stay flexible and wide.
• Yoga uses gravity to its advantage. Anytime you do a pose where your feet or hips are elevated, you’re letting gravity do the hard work of draining pooled blood out of your lower legs. Plus, the deep breathing and meditation allows you to control the fight and flight response relaxes your nervous system, which dilates your blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
• Staying hydrated is a vital component because it helps your heart pump blood smoothly and reduces the overall strain on your cardiovascular system.
So whichever way you look at it, any form of exercise you take assists and enables your heart to do the job it was designed for, ensuring that all those incredibly complex body systems like blood pressure, bone and muscle strength and glucose regulation remain balanced, thus reducing the need for interventions as we age. Keep going!!
