Yoga For Digestion — Understanding The Asanas That Help

According to Ayurveda, malfunctioning of the digestive system is the root cause of all the bodily issues. A good digestive system can keep you healthy, energetic, and happy. If you have digestive disorders, no matter how healthy your food choice is, you cannot reap the benefit without proper metabolism as the nutrients in the food will not be assimilated. When you do Yoga for digestion, you will be able to mitigate this issue to lead a healthy life.

Yoga for Digestive System

As discussed, the digestive health depends on metabolism which happens only when the fire or the Agni in the digestive system is properly ignited. Proper assimilation of food happens only when your digestive system will be working well. Yoga for digestion will help improve the performance of the digestive system. The assimilation of the food will follow which will enable proper absorption of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Ayurveda says that Agni is the source for the overall health of the body and mind. You can very well say that Agni is the key to robust health. Since igniting the digestive fire is crucial, an exercise that facilitates this should become a part of your lifestyle. There are plenty of Yoga poses for digestion that will help you achieve good digestive health.

The remarkable impact of Yoga for digestion is proven from ancient times. The glory of yoga is not unheard of. This form of exercise, to a large extent, focuses on breathing and has specific asanas for various issues. Likewise, there are specific Yoga poses for digestive disorders like bloating, constipation, etc.

Yoga asanas have a better impact when performed early in the morning. But there are specific after dinner Yoga asanas that help improve digestion. Yoga for digestion after meals helps in proper digestion of the food and keeps the stomach light and feeling better. The food we eat goes down the stomach wherein digestive enzymes are secreted for the breakdown of the food. 

Yoga for Digestion After Meals during the Day

Yoga poses that involve stretching, strength, and flexibility are tiresome and such exercises can inhibit the digestive process. It is a big ‘No’ to perform these asanas after dinner. However, the after dinner Yoga asanas help in stretching the stomach muscles to boost the digestion process. Some of the Yoga for digestive system asanas are given below:

1. Paschimottanasana (Sitting and Bending Forward Pose)

This is an ideal pose, which is a part of the Yoga for digestion after meal. This Yoga exercise aids in relieving you of gas and constipation by helping in the digestion of the food. It also helps in reducing abdominal fat.

Steps to perform the asana:

1. Get on to the sitting posture. Stretch your legs forward.
2. Keep your hands beside the legs.
3. Inhale and stretch your arms in front of your chest. The arms should be stretched in a straight line.
4. Extend your back to keep your spine straight and bend from the hips forward and try to touch your toes and keep your chin on your thighs. 
5. Be in the position for 60 seconds and return to the original position.

2. Pavanamuktasana (Wind Relieving Pose)

This is one of the best Yoga poses for bloating due to gas. It is a great asana for relieving you from most stomach ailments. This is one of the Yoga asanas that help in removing gas from your system and strengthening the abdominal muscles.

Steps to perform the asana:

1. Lie down on the floor with your hands by your side.
2. Take a deep breath. Bend your knees and bring it near your chest.
3. Put your arms around the knees and hug them together to bring them near the chest.
4. Make an effort to touch your nose to the knees.
5. Hold the position for 30 seconds. You can then come back to the lying down position.

3. Trikonasana (Triangular Pose)

This asana enhances appetite, boosts digestion, and is a great remedy for constipation. Not only does it help in improving digestion but is also beneficial for other abdominal organs.

Steps to perform the asana:

1. Stand straight with your legs wide apart and hands to your side.
2. Turn your right foot to the right and bend towards the right side.
3. Place your right hand near your right foot palms facing down.
4. Stretch your left arm and extend it towards the ceiling.
5. Hold the position for a few seconds and get back to the original position.
6. Now repeat the same on the left side to complete one set.

4. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Seated Twist Pose)

This is stomach problems Yoga asana that is a certain way to improve digestion. It also massages the abdominal muscles and maintains the health of the liver and pancreas.

Steps to perform the asana:

1. Sit on the floor with your spine straight and legs stretched forward.
2. Bend your knees and bring your left foot near the pelvic region.
3. Put your right leg over the left knee. The right foot should be close to your left knee.
4. Twist your body and bring your left arm over your right knee.
5. Now, keep your right arm behind your back.
6. Give your body a proper twist (twist as much as you can and do not overdo).
7. Hold the position for 1 minute and come back to the initial position.
8. Repeat on the other side.

Yoga for Digestion After Dinner

These asanas can be done after any meal, preferably dinner. 

1. Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose)

This Yoga step stretches the abdominal muscles and the spine which boosts the digestion process. 

Steps to perform the asana:

1. Sit with your legs stretched forward and your spine straight.
2. Fold your left leg and place the left ankle close to the right hip.
3. Now slowly bend your right leg and cross it over the left leg.
4. Bring the left hand behind without raising it and keep the palm up.
5. Now raise the right hand and bend down to clasp the left palm.
6. Hold the position as long as possible and take deep breaths. 
7. To start with, hold the position for 30 seconds – you can go up to 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Repeat the same on the other side.

2. Vajrasana (Sitting Down Pose)

Any Yoga position or asana that stretches the spine and the upper body while it relaxes your breathing is the most recommended after-dinner pose, as it promotes digestion and good sleep. 

Steps to perform the asana:

1. Use a mat to do this asana.
2. Kneel down and bring your knees and ankles together. Your feet should be in line with your legs and the sole of the feet facing upwards with the big toes touching each other.
3. Sit on the hip to shift the weight off the knee.
4. Your thighs should rest on the knees and the buttocks should rest on the heel.
5. Place your hands on the thighs with your palms facing down.
6. Adjust the position till you feel comfortable.
7. Breathe in and out as you pull yourself up using your head. As you pull yourself up, you press your tailbone towards the floor.
8. Keep your chin parallel to the floor and your head straight.
9. Relax your arms and hold the position as long as you can.

Conclusion

A healthy digestive system is key to the optimum functioning of the organs of your body. Keep this in mind and put in efforts to keep digestive disorders at bay. All that you need to do is just include the above-mentioned yoga for digestion asanas in your daily routine and see the result. If not much, you can at least practise the most recommended after dinner yoga pose i.e., Vajrasana daily to enhance digestive health. 

If you feel that the Yoga poses in this article will be of any help to you, please don’t hesitate to give your review, as your feedback is important to us.