A good digestive system is a necessary component for a healthy life. Digestion-related ailments such as constipation, stomach ache, ulcers, and bloating can be prevented with the help of a healthy digestive system.
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
Digestion Woes:
Impaired digestion can be caused by irregular meal times, unhealthy eating habits (not chewing thoroughly, rushing, etc.) and a stressful lifestyle, to name a few. When the digestive system is compromised, the modern remedy tends to be skipping meals and popping antacids (or ignoring it altogether). However, while occasionally effective, such methods are only temporarily useful and do not lead to sustained health.
Long-Term Remedy:
While bringing radical change to our day-to-day habits is no easy task, certain measures can be adopted to rejuvenate and strengthen the digestive system. When it comes to getting the body back to optimal health, nothing works better than a regular yoga practice. Apart from being an ancient technique with no side-effects, yoga allows you to restore your body’s natural functioning without requiring that you make major changes in the rest of your life.
Simply practicing these basic yoga postures can relax your abdominal organs and help improve the functioning of the digestive system:
Camel Pose opens and stretches the front part of the body. This pose also improves the posture and helps overcome menstrual discomfort.
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
Bow Pose stretches and strengthens the abdominal muscles.This pose also relieves constipation and menstrual discomfort.
Boat Pose strengthens the abdominal organs and improves digestion. It also releases any accumulated stress from the body and strengthens the back.
Bridge Pose stimulates the abdominal muscles and aids in better digestion. This pose also relieves the body of anxiety, stress and depression.
Wind Relieving Pose massages and strengthens the abdominal organs. This pose also helps in relieving the body of gas and aids in better digestion.
Ayurveda – A Health Oriented Approach:
Incorporating Ayurveda into your daily routine, along with Yoga, is one of the best ways to experience holistic health in the mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda helps guide lifestyle decisions, helping you make choices that support the health of your body’s natural constitution. Ayurveda also provides knowledge of how to prevent diseases and eliminate the root cause of pre existing conditions.
Yoga is an effective technique that brings health to not just the digestive system, but the entire body. If you practice any other physical workout, yoga can be safely incorporated into your routine. As with any other physical activity, the effects of yoga take time to manifest. A regular practice will help improve digestion, tone your body, and increase flexibility.
If practicing for an hour sounds too intimidating, don’t worry! Starting with just ten minutes everyday can kickstart the development of new healthy habits and restore your digestive system back to its optimum functioning.
While yoga is an excellent remedy for stress in the mind and body, it is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga under the supervision of a trained yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting your doctor.
