Ignite Your Digestive Fire

In this week's challenge you must Ignite Your Digestive Fire by Practicing yoga asanas(postures) . ‘Bad digestion is the root of all evil,’ said Hippocrates. According to the American Nutrition Association, 70,000,000 people suffer from some form of digestive issues on a daily basis. Bloating, indigestion, flatulence, heaviness, and cramps bring a lot of discomfort and restlessness and never feel good, whether this discomfort is due to overeating, over-indulging, constipation, hyperacidity or irritable bowel syndrome. These can all be unpleasant, embarrassing, stressful and painful. In Ayurveda, a healthy digestive system is referred to as the basis of our well-being, and the root cause of most disease is inefficient digestion. The metabolic energy of digestion, called agni, helps in eliminating the body’s wastes and toxins. It breaks down the dense physical food matter into subtle energy the body needs, generates internal warmth, and produces a clear mind.

The following yoga practice incorporates poses, like twists, that help detoxify the body, forward folds that help massage the internal organs, and back bends that help boost circulation and stimulate the abdominal muscles. You can practice this yoga sequence in its entirety or use the poses individually, either first thing in the morning or 2-3 hours after meals. Hold each pose for 30 seconds to a minute. Breathe deeply throughout the entire practice, as this will help the digestive process, too:

1. Marjari asana (Cat-Cow stretch)
   • Breathing deeply in cat and cow poses massages your organs as you alternately compress and lengthen the intestines. According to Yoga Journal, this movement “helps bring fresh blood to the epithelial cells,” which are responsible for healthy gut function.
   • This pose also strengthens and tones the vagus nerve, which plays an important role in digestion.


2. Ustrasana (Camel pose)
   • Stretches the stomach, abdomen and intestines.
   • Ustrasana exercise for digestion relieves constipation.
   • Improves digestion.


3. Shishuasana (Child’s pose)
   • This pose compresses the abdomen and massages the internal organs, stimulating digestion.
   • This pose relaxes the mind, reducing stress.


4. Paschimottasana (Seated forward bend pose)
   • Massages abdominal organs and reduces abdominal fat.
   • One of the best yoga poses for bowel movements and exercises to relieve constipation.
   • Provides relief from flatulence.
   • One of the most effective yoga poses for bloating.


5. Naukasana (Boat pose)
   
   • Strengthens the abdominal muscles.
   • Powers up the intestines. This stimulates digestion by improving the secretion of digestive juices.


6. Pawanmuktasana (Wind-relieving pose)
   • Strengthens the abdominal muscles.
   • Removes gastrointestinal problems.


7. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Sitting half spinal twist)
   • Improves digestion
   • Improves both liver and pancreas function.


8. Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved triangle pose)
   • Stimulates appetite.
   • Improves digestion.
   • Alleviates constipation.
   • Activates the kidney.
   • Energizes the abdominal organs, especially the liver and the intestinal tract.

Suggested Reading:

8 Poses for Better Digestion - Learn more here.