How Yoga Can Improve Your Digestion: Discover Natural Relief and Balance

When I was younger, people always asked me, “How can you eat so much without gaining weight?” I was known as “the skinny one” because I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain weight. I felt light and energetic all the time, and I couldn’t imagine that changing.

But when I was 23, things did change. After having my gallbladder removed, I suddenly gained 10 kg, my metabolism slowed down, and I felt like I was trapped in a body that wasn’t mine. I felt heavy, bloated, and had trouble with digestion, like constipation. It was a new experience for me, and I struggled to accept it.

Then, out of nowhere, I lost a lot of weight, but my digestion became very sensitive. It reacted to everything—visitors, traveling, eating at different times, or even changing my routine. After searching for answers, I finally found help through yoga for digestive health. These practices not only helped me regain my energy and balance, but they made me healthier and stronger than before. I’ll explain how in the following sections.

2. What is Yoga and How Can It Help with Digestion?

Yoga is a practice that helps control and calm the mind. It’s a guide for living a meaningful life, according to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. There are eight steps in Yoga, called the eight limbs of Yoga:

• Yama (moral guidelines like non-violence and truthfulness)
• Niyama (self-discipline like cleanliness and faith)
• Asana (yoga postures)
• Pranayama (breath control)
• Pratyahara (control of the senses)
• Dharana (concentration)
• Dhyana (meditation)
• Samadhi (a state of enlightenment)

Yoga is also part of Ayurveda, which means the “science of life.” Together, they guide people toward health, happiness, and peace. Yoga for digestive health is powerful because it can naturally help with constipation, which happens when stools are hard and difficult to pass. Ayurveda says that constipation is often related to an imbalance in Vata Dosha, which controls movement in the body, including digestion. Stress, travel, cold weather, and dry food can make Vata worse and lead to problems like constipation, sleeplessness, stiffness, and anxiety.

When Vata is out of balance, it affects Apana Vayu, the energy that helps with elimination. To calm Vata, yoga poses (especially those that involve turning the body upside down, like inversions) are very helpful. If constipation becomes a long-term problem, deep relaxation and breathing exercises from yoga can help the body remember how to relax.

3. Yoga Poses to Help Relieve Constipation

Certain yoga poses can help balance Vata and improve digestion. Here are a few effective yoga poses for digestive health:

• Plough Pose (Halasana): This inversion helps digestion by balancing Vata. In this pose, you lie on your back and lift your legs over your head. It massages internal organs, improves blood circulation, and strengthens muscles, making it one of the best yoga poses for digestive health.
• Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana): This pose strengthens the stomach muscles and helps the digestive system work better. It also improves breathing, relieves back pain, and helps with menstrual issues.
• Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana): This pose stretches the back and legs while massaging the stomach area, improving digestion. It also strengthens the hamstrings and increases flexibility.

4. Breathing Exercises (Pranayama) and Meditation

Pranayama, or breathing exercises, can also help with digestion. One simple exercise is abdominal breathing, where you lie down and focus on breathing deeply into your belly. This movement helps improve digestion and relaxes the body.

Meditation is especially helpful for calming the mind. A simple meditation technique is the “So-Hum” meditation, where you focus on your breath and the sounds “So” when you inhale and “Hum” when you exhale. This helps bring peace to the mind and body.

5. Ayurveda Tips for Relieving Constipation

In addition to yoga, Ayurveda offers some helpful practices for dealing with constipation:

• Vata Diet: Eat warm, cooked foods and drink warm liquids. Avoid cold or raw foods. Try eating more sweet, sour, and salty tastes, and include foods like rice, sweet potatoes, and ginger.
• Ginger: Eating a small piece of fresh ginger with salt and lemon before meals can help improve digestion.
• Oil Massage: Massaging your body with warm sesame oil helps calm Vata and improve digestion.
• Triphala: This herbal remedy made from three fruits can help cleanse the bowels and improve digestion.

6. Conclusion

Yoga for digestive health has changed my life. It helped me regain my health and balance after a difficult time. Even though it’s not always easy to stay consistent with my routines, whenever I return to my yoga and Ayurvedic practices, I feel much better. If you’re struggling with digestive issues or feeling out of balance, a yoga retreat or an Ayurvedic treatment can help you reset your body and mind.