A good digestive system is one of the key pillars of a healthy lifestyle. Physical ailments like constipation, stomach ache, ulcers, acnes, pimples and bloating can be kept at bay if one’s digestive system is in a good condition.
Digestion woes:
Lack of proper digestion can be caused by over-eating, irregular food timings, unhealthy food habits and a stressful lifestyle to name a few. When the digestive system goes for a toss, we usually resort to skipping meals or popping antacid tablets. Although effective, such methods are only temporarily useful.
Long-term remedy:
While it is difficult to bring a radical change in our day-to-day lifestyle, certain measures can be adopted to rejuvenate the digestive system and strengthen it. When it comes to getting the body back in its prime form, nothing works better than yoga. Apart from being a time-tested technique that has no side-effects, yoga is also well known for effectively restoring the body to optimum condition naturally without making any major lifestyle alterations.
Simply practicing these basic yoga postures can relax your abdominal organs and help improve the functioning of the digestive system:
Ustrasana (Camel pose)
The Camel pose opens and stretches the front part of the body, thus aiding in improved digestion. This yoga pose also improves the posture and helps overcome menstrual discomfort.
Pavanamuktasana (Wind relieving pose)
The Wind relieving pose massages and strengthens the abdominal organs. This yoga pose also helps in relieving the body of gas and aids in better digestion.
Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
The Bow pose stretches and strengthens the abdominal muscles. The body is also relieved of constipation and menstrual discomfort by practicing this yoga pose.
Naukasana (Boat pose)
The Boat pose strengthens the abdominal organs and improves digestion. It also releases any accumulated stress from the body and strengthens the back.
SetuBandhasana (Bridge pose)
The Bridge pose stimulates the abdominal muscles and aids in better digestion. This yoga pose also relieves the body of anxiety, stress and depression.
Padmasana (Lotus pose)
The Lotus pose is a simple sitting yoga posture that helps improve digestion. It also reduces any muscular tension and brings the blood pressure level under control.
Ayurveda – A health oriented approach:
When adopting yoga, it is also recommended to consider incorporating ayurveda in your lifestyle. Ayurveda helps decide on lifestyle habits so that the body’s natural constitution remains balanced. Ayurveda also provides us with the knowledge of how to prevent diseases and how to eliminate the root cause, if it does occur.
Yoga is an effective technique that helps not just the digestive system, but the entire body to get in shape. If you practice any other physical workout, yoga can be safely incorporated with that too. Like with any other physical activity, the effects of yoga take their time to manifest. A regular practice will help improve digestion, tone your body and also increase its flexibility.
So, invest half an hour everyday on the yoga mat by reposing in those yoga poses and restore your digestive system back to an optimum level.
For more details logon to www.artofliving.org/yoga
Important tips:
- Avoid drinking water half an hour before and after the meal
- Avoid eating heavy meals at night
- Do not lie down immediately after having your meal
- Practice yoga regularly
- Avoid eating junk food or oily food
- Consume fibrous food
