As a longtime practitioner of yoga, I'm excited about a new study (as reported by CTV) to take place at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The goal? To find out if a regular regimen of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a combination of yoga and meditation, will positively affect participants' blood pressure.

The idea, of course, is related to stress. It's well known that stress is a factor in the development of hypertension, and a regular yoga or meditation practice is a great way to deal with stress. I for one love a challenging yoga class at the end of the workday to shift my focus and relax. And believe me, I'm a much better person to be around afterward.

What about you? Have you had to deal with high blood pressure? Do you believe yoga and meditation could one day be prescribed as a treatment?

Related:
• Do yoga, get out of jail?
• 5 reasons to try yoga this year
• The benefits of hot yoga