Yoga isn’t just a physical activity that improves your body’s flexibility and mobility, it can also boost your immune system, reduce stress, and help balance your hormones. It can also improve your digestion. Through Yoga Teacher Training in Bali, you can learn yoga and get complete information about yoga.
5 Yoga asanas for Better Digestion:
1. Downward-Facing Dog / Adho Mukha Svanasana for better digestion
When it comes to healing your digestive system, all the asanas below are great. But the downward-facing dog pose is one of those rare yoga poses that does not put much strain on your neck and shoulders. So it is a great way to wake up your inner organs.
How to do downward facing dog
- Lie on your stomach on the yoga mat, then while inhaling, raise the body with the help of your legs and hands and make a table-like shape.
- While exhaling, slowly raise the hips upwards. Keep your elbows and knees rigid. Make sure that the body comes in the shape of an inverted ‘V’.
- During the practice of this asana, the shoulders and hands should remain in a straight line, while the feet will remain in line with the hips. Keep in mind that your ankles will remain on the outside.
- Now press the hands down towards the ground and try to stretch the neck, keep your ears touching the inner part of your hands, and try to focus your gaze on the navel.
- Stay in this position for a few seconds and then rest the knees on the ground and come back again in a table-like position.
2. Seated Forward Fold / Paschimottanasana for better digestion
By doing Paschimottanasana like other yogasanas, various disorders of the body are removed and the health of the person improves. This is such an asana, the practice of which stretches the muscles of the whole body, due to which is beneficial in removing the symptoms of many diseases. Digestion improves by doing Paschimottanasana and the problem of frequent constipation and sour belching due to non-digestion of food goes away.
How to do Paschimottanasana:
- Sit on the ground by spreading both legs very straight. There should be no distance between the two legs and keep the legs straight as much as possible, along with this keep the neck, head, and spine straight.
- After this place both your palms on both knees.
- Now slowly bend your head and trunk forward and without bending your knees try to touch the toes with the fingers of the hands.
- After this take a deep breath and exhale slowly, try to touch your head and forehead with both knees.
- Bend the arms and try to touch the ground with the elbow.
- Exhale completely and remain in this posture for some time.
- Come back to the first posture after a few seconds.
- Now breathe normally and repeat this asana 3 to 4 times.
3. Seated Twist / Marichyasana III for better digestion
Body twists are good for your digestive system, as they increase your blood circulation and create oxygen and nutrients for you. Think of your spine as a cloth filled with water that needs to be squeezed, thus releasing toxins and all negativity from your body.
How to do Marichyasana III:
- First of all, spread the mat and sit on it by spreading both legs straight in front.
- Keep the neck and waist straight and keep both hands on the side.
- Now bend one leg from the knee.
- The knee of your leg should touch your chest, and keep the other leg straight.
- Now tilt your upper body in the direction of the leg which is kept straight.
- Now fold your hands backward and hold the knee of the leg.
- Now take a deep breath, then hold your breath and stay in this position for 20-60 seconds.
- Then exhale and come back to a normal position.
- Do this action alternately with both legs.
- Practice this asana at least 5 times.
4. Bow Pose / Dhanurasana for better digestion
Dhanurasana is the most powerful way to improve your digestion. It also stretches the front side body and compresses the back, making room for your organs and helping them perform their functions better.
How to do Dhanurasana:
- Lie on your stomach on the yoga mat, keep the feet together and place the hands near the feet.
- Slowly bend the knees and hold the ankles with the hands.
- Breathe in and lift the chest and thighs off the ground. Pull legs with hands.
- Look ahead and keep a smile on your face.
- Try to focus your attention on the movement of the breath, with the body stretched like a bow while the hands act as the strings of the bow.
- Do it only till you can easily do the asana. Keep breathing long and deep.
- After about 15-20 seconds, come back to normal while exhaling.
5. Bridge Pose / Setu Bandha Sarvangasana for better digestion
The bridge pose is one of the most versatile asanas in the yoga sequence, as it helps increase energy and metabolism. It stretches your back and abdominals at the same time you’re using your arms and legs to push and create lift.
How to do Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
- Lie on your back on the yoga mat. Keep the speed of your breath regular.
- After this, keep the hands on the side and slowly bend your legs from the knees and bring them near the hips.
- Raise the hips above the floor as much as possible, the hands will remain on the ground.
- Hold your breath for some time.
- After this, while exhaling, come back to the ground, straighten the legs, and relax.
- Start again after resting for 10-15 seconds.
Due to our busy lifestyles, we often neglect our digestion and mental health. However, taking out some time every day to do some simple yoga poses like this can do a lot of good for your health.