Five yoga poses for better digestion

Shameem Akthar, yogacharya, trained with

the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Kerala,
shows a few poses will cure your digestion
problems.
Shashankasana (Hare pose)
Benefits:
Gatyakmakmeruwakrasana (Dynamic spinal twist)
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Last updated on: December 14, 2012 12:38 IST
In yoga, for digestive problems most asanas are
helpful. You may however have to avoid them
when there is an inflammatory condition like
ulcer or any perforated condition of the digestive
tract.
In fact, to have a gentle yoga practice when you
have a digestive problem will soothe the
stomach. Even where poses are suggested that
apply pressure on the abdomen, care must be
taken not to press down into them, but to hold the
poses lightly.
Including soothing practices like
(cooling breath) and the alternate nostril
breathing ( ) are also helpful.
The most soothing practice, in yoga, for healing
digestive disasters, including inflammatory
conditions, however is the passive practice of meditation. A ten -minute meditation, lying supine in the corpse pose
( ) or the prone as in the crocodile ( ) will be the best therapy.
In yoga, apart from actual incidents of food poisoning most other ailments are tracked to psychosomatic causes or life -style
mismanagement. Having a regular meal schedule, giving sufficient gap between eating and exercising/or sleeping, waking
up early, eating dinner early, are some simple tips to maintain a healthy gut.
Last updated on: December 14, 2012 12:38 IST
Sit on your heels, with the big toes touching
each other. Raise your hands up, inhaling.
Exhaling lower them as shown. Place forehead
on the ground and stay in this pose for a minute
or so.
Raise hands to return to the base position,
inhaling. You may hold this pose after the first
few attempts for longer. If you need, you may
place a cushion at the forehead to ease the
breath, especially if you are not very flexible.
The gentle pressure on the stomach
soothes the digestive tract. Controls diabetes and
acidity. Promotes digestion by redirecting blood
from legs to the stomach and torso. Soothes the
mind, the remove the psychosomatic triggers for
stomach problems.
pranayama
seethali
anulom vilom
shavasana makarasana
Shameem Akthar, yogacharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, takes you through five poses that will
help in controlling digestive ailments.
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Last updated on: December 14, 2012 12:38 IST
Sit with your legs spread out as shown. Keep
spine erect and legs as straight as possible
(without bending at the knees). Inhale. Exhaling,
twist to the right, reaching for the toes of the right
foot with your left hand. If you cannot reach for
the toes, touch the leg where you can.
Look behind at the right hand. Ensure both hands
are shoulderlevel. Inhale, return to the center,
exhaling twist to the left reaching for the left leg
with your right hand and looking behind at the left
hand. Inhale, return to the center. This is one
round.
Do up to five to ten rounds.
Creates a soothing squeezing effect at
the abdomen. Tones the abdomen.
Last updated on: December 14, 2012 12:38 IST
Sit with both legs straight out in front. Hold
hands in front, at the chest, as if holding oars.
Inhale. Exhaling, lean forward with the hands
moving in front, as if rowing ahead. Inhale, return
to starting position. This is one round.
Do up to five to ten rounds.
Same as .
Last updated on: December 14, 2012 12:38 IST
Sit with legs out in front. Interlock fingers as if holding a stick. Inhale. Exhaling move torso ahead, simultaneously
moving the interlocked hands in a circular clockwise movement over the legs.
To complete the circle you may to move back as far behind as possible. Do five rounds in a clockwise manner. Repeat the
movement in an anti -clockwise manner five times.
Same as .
Last updated on: December 14, 2012 12:38 IST
Benefits:
Naukasanchalanasana (Boat-rowing pose)
Benefits:
Chakkichalanasana (Grinding the mill pose)
Benefits:
Eka pada supta pawanmuktasana (One legged lying energy release pose)
Gatyakmakmeruwakrasana
Gatyakmakmeruwakrasana
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Lie back. Fold right leg at the knee. Inhale.
Exhaling, hug it with both hands to the chest.
Raise head up to touch nose or chin to the knee.
Hold for a few moments, breathing. Release,
inhale, and exhaling lower leg and head back to
the ground. Do for the other leg. You may do this
thrice.
Same as . Benefits: Gatyakmakmeruwakrasana
Page 3 of 3 Five yoga poses for better digestion - Rediff.com
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