Trusting our “gut feeling” to guide us intuitively suggests that there’s a significant connection between our gut and our inner thoughts. Maintaining a healthy gut not only supports our physical well-being but also enhances our cognitive abilities, contributing to overall wellness. One effective way to improve gut health is through yoga. Yoga offers numerous benefits such as promoting digestion and reducing stress, which in turn supports optimal gut function.
Here are some yoga poses that can be incorporated into your daily routine to support gut health:
Apanasana
Apanasana involves lying on the back and gently bringing one or both knees towards the chest. This leads to a compression in the abdomen which helps in massaging the organs that target our gut area. The gentle compression supports digestion and helps in the absorption of nutrients more efficiently. Practising Apanasana regularly can contribute to improved digestive health and overall well-being.
Paschimottanasana
Paschimottanasana is highly beneficial for gut health. This yoga pose requires an individual to sit on the floor with legs extended, then gently fold forward to reach towards the feet. This position creates a gentle compression stimulating abdominal organs, improving digestion and promoting regular bowel movements. Regular practice of this yoga pose can turn out to be valuable for maintaining a healthy gut.
Balasana
Balasana involves the upper body leaning forward with the knees bent and the forehead resting on the ground. This position creates a compression stimulating the abdominal organs to promote healthy digestion. This yoga pose also helps in relieving stress-related digestive issues like bloating and discomfort.
Dhanurasana
In Dhanurasana, the legs and chest are lifted off the ground while holding onto the ankles, resembling a bow shape. This posture stretches the entire front body which helps in increasing the blood flow to the abdominal area. The increased blood circulation relieves constipation and promotes regular bowel movements. Furthermore, this compression aids in detoxification, contributing to a healthier gut.
Supta Baddha Konasana
Supta Baddha Konasana requires lying on the back of the ground with the soles of the feet touching together and the knees opened out to the sides, creating a diamond shape. This position opens the hips gently and stretches the inner thighs, while also providing a gentle compression to the abdominal area. This gentle compression helps in improving digestion.
