4 Yoga Poses For Digestion And Detox

4 Yoga Poses To Support Healthy Digestion And Detox

While eating healthy is a great way to enhance your well-being, taking a holistic view of cleansing your system means being aware of your body at a more subtle level. That’s where the practice of yoga comes in. The alternate stretching and tightening of your muscles in yoga not only helps stimulate your digestive system, but also helps your circulatory system work more efficiently. Yoga asanas help the lymphatic system collect and remove unwanted substances. This helps in improving your digestive health. And the mind-body nature of a yoga practice can help trigger calming responses in the brain.

These 4 asanas will help your digestive system. Try these yoga poses for digestion and detox the next time you feel a little groggy, or sluggish.

High Lunge Twist (Parivrtta Anjaneyasana)

1. Begin in high lunge with right foot forward.
2. Place your hands in a prayer position at the center of your chest. Take a deep inhale, using your thumbs to slightly lift your chest.
3. Use your exhale to engage your abdomen and twist your torso to the right.
4. Place your left elbow outside of your right thigh. Breathe for at least three deep breaths.
5. Repeat on the other side.

Benefits

• Strengthens the quadriceps and gluteus muscles
• Stimulates abdominal organs
• Improves digestion and elimination
• Stretches the psoas and hips
• Relieves sciatica pain
• Develops stamina and endurance in your thighs
• Improves your balance, concentration and core awareness

[Read: 4 Natural Ways Ayurveda Supports Healthy Digestion]

1. Legged Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Shvanasana)

1.  From Downward-Facing Dog extend one foot up to the sky while the opposite foot is rooted into the earth.
2. The hips are squared and the toes are active.
3. The forehead reaches for the earth as the shoulder blades move back (opening the heart area).
4. The gaze is towards the belly button.
5. Sat for 5-7 breaths, then lower your leg.
6. Repeat on other side.

Benefits

• Calms the brain
• Helps relieve stress and mild depression
• Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with the head supported
• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Improves digestion
• Relieves headaches, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue
• And it is therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, and sinusitis
• Strengthens the glutes, arms, and core

Plank Pose (Dandasana)

1. Start in push-up position with your hands under your shoulders, arms perpendicular to the floor.
2. Engage your abdominal wall and draw it slightly in.
3. Press the front of your thighs up toward the ceiling.
4. Lengthen the back of the neck and looks down at the floor (keeping throat and eyes soft)..
5. Breath for 5 breaths or more.

Benefits

• Strengthens the arms, wrists, and spine
• Tones the abdomen, strengthens the core
• Improves digestion

[Read: Importance Of Digestion For Boosting Immunity In Ayurveda]

Boat Pose (Naukasana)

1.  Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you.
2. Lift through the top of the sternum and lean back slightly (make sure your back doesn’t round).
3. Keep your arms straight out in front of you with arms parallel to the floor.
4. Exhale and bend your knees, then lift your feet off the floor.
5. Slowly straighten your knees, raising the tips of your toes slightly above the level of your eyes.
6. Stay in the pose for 10-20 seconds. Gradually increase the time of your stay to 1 minute.
7. Release the legs with an exhalation and sit upright on an inhalation.

Benefits

• Strengthens and tones the abdomen, hip flexors, and spine
• Stimulates the kidneys, thyroid and prostate glands, and intestines
• Helps relieve stress
• Improves digestion