None of us like feeling gross, let alone bloated with rumbling digestion. Luckily, the style of yoga and wellness I created I.Am.You Yoga can help with that!
Benefits of Yoga:
The cool thing about yoga is that it works your tangible body – the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and organs – and the intangible body – the mind, emotions, hormones and energies that make you on any given moment of any day. The poses below help address the metabolic and digestive organs, as well as the vagus nerve, or the neurological connection between the mind and the gut.
Yoga Exercises to improve Digestion:
Try this short sequence to do on its own or add into your longer yoga practice to make you strong, lean and clean inside and out.
The first two yoga poses in the top row are a cleansing practice targeted at your intestines and stress. Sit or stand wherever comfortable. Bring your hands as fists to your middle/lower abdomen. Inhale fully. Exhale completely out of your mouth and fold forward, pressing your fists up into your abdomen, optionally massaging your gut. Repeat 1-3 times as necessary, aiming to release any physical and mental toxins you are holding.
The third pose is one of the most beneficial twists in the yoga library. Start in little squat balancing on your toes. You can put something under your heals if it feels better. Twist to the right, bringing the left forearm outside the right knee and lifting the right arm up. Hold here and breathe, optionally binding behind the back. Hold 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side.
The next pose (first of the new line) is for your core, but more importantly to show you how strong you already are. Hold it for 5 -10 breaths, optionally bending the knees and believe you can do it.
Seated spinal twist is basic, but essential. Twist out any remaining gunk you have in your mind or your body. Just make sure both sit bones are firm on the ground. Repeat each side, 5-10 breaths.
Finish with shoulder stand, one of the most powerful poses for your thyroid. Close your eyes when you get there and let your mind and body be still. Hold for one to two minutes, even longer if it feels good, and enjoy!
