WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.

"This study confirms many people's feelings that exercise may be useful in the control of hypertension," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. Weintraub was not connected to the new study.

Based on the new findings, "yoga would be a useful adjunct in the lowering of blood pressure in certain populations," he said.

In the study, researchers led by Dr. Debbie Cohen of the University of Pennsylvania tracked 58 women and men, aged 38 to 62, for six months.

Although the study couldn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, doing yoga two to three times a week was associated with an average drop in blood pressure readings from 133/80 to 130/77, the researchers said.

In comparison, the average decrease in blood pressure was smaller (134/83 to 132/82) among people who ate a special diet but did not do yoga.

In a bit of a surprise, doing yoga in tandem with a special diet did not outperform doing yoga alone -- blood pressure numbers fell only slightly (135/83 to 134/81) among people who ate a special diet and also did yoga, the researchers said.

The small decline in blood pressure among people who ate a special diet and did yoga may be because doing both required a greater amount of time, making it more difficult for participants to stick with their regimens, the authors said.

Weintraub said the study shows that "yoga can have a favorable effect" on hypertension. Although the amount of change was small, he said, "some large population studies have suggested that changes of this magnitude could have very significant long-term benefits."

The study did have some limitations, including its relatively short length and the fact that most participants were young and had milder forms of high blood pressure, Weintraub said.

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Yoga may help ease high blood pressure

by Lizzie Fuhr 1

For 9-to-5ers, taking a yoga class after work can result in eating a late dinner. If you're eating closer to bedtime, then cut back on heavy meat and dairy to help ease digestion, and prep meals in advance to make the process of cooking a quick one. With some advice from a few Ayurveda and nutrition experts, here are five ideas for quick and healthy suppers to make after yoga.

Homemade Soup

A homemade soup is often as easy as throwing ingredients together into a pot. Cook broth in advance to always have the makings of a soup ready to go, but if you're crunched for time, then use a low-sodium, store-bought version. This recipe for ginger-carrot soup is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese, which aids in digestion, plus it offers hydration after a sweaty yoga session!

Veggie-Packed Wraps

Replacing a meat-heavy sandwich with a lighter veggie wrap can be easier on the digestive system to help prevent you from feeling weighed down after yoga. These vegan spiral wraps from Happy Healthy Life offer vibrant color, creamy hummus, and serious veggie power.

Chickpea Quiche

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Yoga Class Getting You Home Late? 5 Ideas For Quick, Healthy Dinners

Yoga may be blissful, but it isn't cheap! Depending on where you live, classes can run you an average of $15 to $20 a pop. Dropping $50 or more for yoga classes each week isn't an option for everyone, but we can all benefit from a regular practice. The Internet is bursting with free full-length classes or shortened yoga routines. If you're willing to pay a little, then you'll be able to view a greater variety of videos. Here are some sites to check out.

Keep reading for more websites that offer inexpensive yoga classes.

That's a great tip Trish!

This isn't a website, but many, many Lululemon stores offer free weekly yoga. There is one close to me that does Sunday morning yoga and another one that does Friday night yoga, completely free! I really can't complain about free Vinyasa.

I take my full length online and live at emglivefitness. ONly $5.00, free class when I registered and they have a card for $25.00 for 10 Love it. Kristin McGee used to do live, but now only recorded live. I never pay the big bucks anymore

That's a great tip Trish!

I've found my local library to be the best source for free yoga. I just rotate through what they have, something new all the time so I never get bored.

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Websites That Offer Free (or Dirt-Cheap) Yoga Classes

Summary: While the original Yoga 11 ran Windows RT and was powered by an ARM chip, the new version offers Intel's Ivy Bridge processors and runs either Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro.

Lenovo dubbed its convertible Ultrabook family the "Yoga" no doubt because it has the flexibility to serve as either a tablet with its display laid flat or as a traditional laptop. But the 11-inch version released several months ago, which was powered by an ARM processor and running Windows RT, apparently wound up giving users less than the best of both worlds, leading my ZDNet colleague Matt Baxter-Reynolds to conclude that if you buy it, "you're wasting your money."

Fortunately for Lenovo, it was already working on a full Windows 8 version of the Yoga 11, which it revealed at CES in January. Now, the company has finally made the Yoga 11S available to order on its website and BestBuy.com, with it being available in Best Buy brick-and-mortar locations starting on June 23.

Unlike the Yoga 11, the 11S makes use of Intel's Ivy Bridge processor lineup, ranging from theCore i3-3229Y on the base $799.99 configuration all the way up to the Core i7-3689Y for the top-of-the-line $1,349.99 version.Built-in RAM ranges from 4GB to 8GB, and it comes with either a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive for storage. All configs use Intel's integrated HD 4000 graphics and share the same 1,366x768 11.6-inch LED-backlit screen.

Also unlike the original Yoga 11, the 11S runs the full version of Windows 8 or, in the case of the $1,349.99 model, Windows 8 Pro. (Making it more like the Yoga 13.) Windows RT has elicited very strong and mixed opinions (just check the comments for any RT-related post here on ZDNet), with Baxter-Reynolds glumly arguing that "Windows RT is a pointless curiosity with zero market potential."

With the Yoga 11S, Lenovo is giving those who feel like Baxter-Reynolds an alternative to Windows RT, at a price point not much more than the original Yoga 11. Are you more interested in the Yoga 11 now that there's an option for running a full version of Windows 8? Let us know in the Talkback section below.

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Lenovo adds Yoga 11S convertible Ultrabook laptop to Windows 8 lineup

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Lenovo (0992.HK) (LNVGY):

Lenovo (0992.HK) (LNVGY) announced that customers can place orders for the IdeaPad Yoga 11S beginning today on http://www.lenovo.com or pre-order on http://www.bestbuy.com. The acclaimed 360 flip and fold Yoga 11S premiered in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show, following its popular predecessor, the IdeaPad Yoga 13.

Svelte and Powerful Mini-Ultrabook Convertible

Sized well for mobility in a thin, 11.6-inch design, the Yoga 11S Ultrabook convertible comes with choices of a powerful third generation Core i3, i5 or i7 Intel processor giving consumers the ability to create high-performance content and presentations and seamless graphics that make it a great entertainment device.

Yoga in Four Modes

Yoga converts into four special modes to fit the changing ways people are using technology. It offers a new way to experience mobile computing, letting people define which mode works best for them in their environments, from the park and the coffee shop to in transit, at home or at the office.

For example, users can watch movies like never before by putting Yoga in tent mode while enjoying the convertibles rich Dolby Home Theatre audio. They can convert Yoga into stand mode for a different environment; good for things like swiping through family photos using the high definition IPS screens 10-finger multitouch support. Yoga even supports hand gestures so consumers can just wave their hand in front of the webcam to instantly advance photos, videos and other content.

In tablet mode, Yoga makes exploring Windows 8 apps fun and up close with its 11-inch touchscreen. And in laptop mode, Yoga offers a great typing experience with its comfortable and responsive keyboard. Additionally, the Yoga 11S has a soft-touch exterior and comes in attractive Silver Grey and Clementine Orange colors.

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Lenovo Launches Yoga 11S Convertible

Hey yoga bunnies! Are you tired of doing the downward-facing dog in the same old gym? Well worry not, we've got just the thing to rejuvenate that inner yogi.

Armed with a yoga matt and our trusty Oyster card, HuffPost UK Lifestyle scoured the four corners of the world London Underground to bring you a selection of classes with a twist.

Scroll through our shortlist for everything from Bikram (that will have you sweating for 90 minutes at 40C) to Secret Yoga Club (a fusion of exercise, live music and tasty vegetarian food).

We'd love to know about the exciting yoga classes taking place near you. Tell us about them in the comments below or email uklifestyle@huffingtonpost.com

Set in different venues around London, Secret Yoga Club is a yoga class, intimate gig and delicious supper club all rolled into one. Not to mention it's seriously cool. Founder and yoga teacher Gabrielle Hales teaches yoga flow and Jivamukt to a class of no more than 18. At the end of the class during savasana (where yogis lay on their back in relaxation "dead body" pose) the class is treated to a private gig with an up-and-coming artist -- for us it was the dulcet tones of Luisa Gerstein from The Landshapes. The table is then set and the class are treated to a delicious vegetarian meal -- ours was prepared talented chef and ice-cream maker Nina Parker. "One of the reasons that people aren't keen on yoga or exercising in the evening is that they feel like they are missing out on socialising or doing something with friends," Gabby told HuffPost UK Lifestyle. "I thought if I could bring everything together -- the yoga, beautiful live music, food and friends -- then it would be the perfect evening!" She's certainly on to something. But shh! it's a secret. Our class was held in the eccentric Dalston Boys Club, which -- filled with mannequins and lit by candlelight -- made for the perfect ethereal setting. (See image) Find out more about Secret Yoga Club here

Bikram -- a 90-minute class held in 40C conditions, during which yogis complete 26 postures and two breathing exercises -- has many benefits: fitness, flexibility, stress-relief, weight loss and improved posture. The heat increases the flexibility in the muscles and joints, allowing you to hold difficult postures for longer and push your body to the extreme. When HuffPost UK Lifestyle's Brogan Driscoll tried the 30-day Bikram Yoga challenge, she noticed a profound improvement in her balance, strength and cardio fitness from one class to the next. READ MORE

Inspired by aerial circus art and Vinyasa Yoga, the silk hammock is hung from the ceiling and used to suspend participants into seemingly impossible yoga postures. The class begins with simple poses like downward dog, lunge and warrior, but uses the soft trapeze as a prop for an even deeper stretch. Then it progresses into more challenging postures like hanging diamonds, handstands and the inverted yogi, to create a weightless alignment that strengthens muscles and releases pressure from compressed joints. Try it at Virgin Active Health Clubs

Housed in a pop-up inflatable heated studio -- think bouncy castle, but without the inflatable floor -- Hotpod Yoga aims to bring heated yoga classes to the masses. Classes are taught using the Vinyasa (or flow) yoga method, which uses controlled breathing and a range of challenging moves to strengthen, tone, detox, calm the mind while promoting weight-loss (one session promises to burn 700 calories). READ MORE

Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits. FIND OUT MORE

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Five Yoga Classes You Should Try

The new laptop/tablet takes off from the original Yoga 11 by offering Windows 8 instead of RT, but it won't ship to buyers until late June.

Consumers awaiting the Lenovo Yoga 11S convertible can now order one through Lenovo or Best Buy, though they'll have to wait at least a month before it ships.

Available through Lenovo's Web site as of Thursday, the Yoga 11S is an 11.6-inch ultrabook that can close to transform itself into a touch-screen tablet or bend over backward into "tent mode" or "stand mode" to act strictly as a display. The new Yoga is outfitted with Windows 8, upping the original Yoga 11, which offers Windows RT. Buyers also have a choice of two colors -- clementine orange or silver gray.

Prices start at $799.99 for a Core i3 processor unit with 4GB of memory and a 128GB solid-state drive and run to $1,349.99 for a Core i7 model with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The multi-touch HD screen offers a resolution of 1,366x768 pixels. The Yoga 11S comes with a 720p HD camera and a 4-cell rechargeable battery.

Interested buyers can also preorder the new Yoga through Best Buy, which will start selling the convertible in its retail stores on June 23.

"Consumers around the world loved our first Yoga for its unique flip and fold and multi-mode design," Jay Parker, president of Lenovo North America, said in a statement. "We're continuing to develop the Yoga franchise with the new Yoga 11s, and due to Yoga's popularity already, we've created a pre-sale program so customers can get their hands on one before it even hits the shelves."

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Lenovo's Windows 8 Yoga 11S convertible now up for sale