Yoga for Digestion

The last thing I want to do when I’m having digestive issues is yoga.  I would much rather throw myself on the ground and moan “why did I eat so much chips and salsa?”  But moving through some easy poses with the breath can make you feel much better in a short period of time.  Yoga aids digestion in a few different ways.  Certain postures bring blood flow to the abdominal area to promote digestion while others apply gentle pressure to the digestive organs to move everything through.  Deep belly breathing further promotes the healing power of this sequence.

Belly breathing

• Start lying down with the knees bent and the feet hips width apart.
• Place both hands on the lower belly with the shoulders and elbows relaxed on the earth.
• Deepen the breath through the nose.
• Inhale feel the belly rise beneath the hands.
• Exhale feel the belly fall toward the spine.
• As you move into the following poses, maintain calm and deep breathing.

Knee to chest pose

• Pull the right knee into the chest.
• Stretch the left leg straight on the earth.
• Inhale lengthen through the left heel and expand the belly.
• Exhale hug the right knee closer and gently draw the navel to the spine.
• Repeat 8-10 breaths and switch sides.

Reclined spinal twist

• Pull the right knee into the chest.
• Draw the knee across your body with the left hand.
• Align the right hip over the left while pressing the shoulder blades into the earth.
• Inhale as you reach out through the right arm and expand the belly and ribs
• Exhale as you twist deeper and gently draw the navel to the spine.
• Take 8-10 breaths and switch sides.

Bridge Pose

• Bend the knees and place the feet hips width apart beneath the knees.
• Lift the hips as high as you comfortable can off the earth.
• Interlace the hands beneath you and tuck the shoulders toward one another.
• Press the feet, shoulder blades and back of the head gently against the earth.
• Keeping the hips lifted high and the thighs hips width apart.
• Take 8-10 breaths and lower the spine down on an exhale.

Downward Dog

• Come to all fours, aligning the hands below the shoulders and the knees below the hips.
• Curl the toes under while pressing the palms firmly into the earth.
• Lift the knees, straighten the legs and press the heels into the ground.
• Press into the palms and l up through the hips to lengthen the spine.
• Gently press the chest towards the thighs as you draw the front ribs in.
• Inhale expand the belly, exhale draw the belly to the spine.
• Feel the body energize and the belly draw in and out with every breath.