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Keeping your hips over your knees, slide your hands forward as far as you can with straight arms.Come to your hands and knees, taking a yoga pad under your knees if they are sensitive.Why this pose: We’re going to do a lot of abdominal compression, but some expansion is also a good idea. Sanskrit Meaning: Uttana (Intense) Shisho (Puppy)īenefits: Stretches the abdominal muscles, back, and shoulders. The Best Poses for Digestion Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) Forward folds, which create gentle compression, can also help, particularly when combined with poses that lengthen the torso. Twists are particularly good at bringing your organs into different positions, which can encourage them to get on with their jobs. When you need to move things along, try practising yoga postures that target your abdomen, where your digestive organs live. Relaxation techniques like stretching and deep breathing reassure your body that everything is ok. When your nervous system receives signals that you are safe, it tells your body to get back to the business of digesting food. The opposite of ‘fight or flight’ is ‘rest and digest’. You’re probably aware of the ‘fight or flight' reaction triggered by stress hormones. In addition to diet, a lot of digestive problems are caused by stress, which means doing yoga regularly can really help. All of these are related to what you eat, so if you have chronic issues, you’re also going to want to look at your diet and talk to health care specialists. Let’s admit it: ‘digestion’ is a euphemism for a broad range of issues related to excreting waste, including constipation, flatulence, cramping, and bloating. Any practice that helps you relax can make a big difference, especially if you include poses that mobilize your abdomen.
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If you have occasional difficulties with your digestion, try yoga. A pain in your gut can be a real pain in the butt.
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