The past few Monday’s I’ve been chatting about gut health and digestion, so I figured I might as well keep going, right?! That being said, let’s to chat about how much my gut and digestion loves YOGA! Or really, the benefits of Yoga for digestion!
If you’re like me, you tend to stress easily and you tend to carry that stress in your gut. This is why I try to DE-STRESS and REST more than one day. But another way I try to calm my “stomach stress” is by yoga. In fact, as soon as I wake up, I spend a few minutes practicing certain poses that “awaken” my body and my digestion. I also try to get to at least one yoga class a week or go through a yoga DVD at home. For me, yoga helps me stay connected with how my body is functioning and it helps me to shift focus –> from wired and tired to calm and (some what) collected.
When I’m calm and collected I can REGAIN focus on true priorities. When I’m calm and collected, I can focus on what we (me and the Kiwi) need nutritionally.
Yogi MATCHA Power Bowl! 2 Frozen banana, 1/2 avocado, green tea matcha powder, vanilla protein, and gluten free granola topping.
And when I’m calm and have shifted my focus away from stress, my digestion and absorption are WORKING!
Today I asked my favorite yogi, Christine, to share her top 3 yoga poses that help support digestion. Take notes, practice, and stay calm. 
Yoga for Digestion by Christine Yu – Love, Life, Surf
Yoga can help ease digestion and address digestive issues like bloating and nausea in a couple of different ways.
First, certain yoga postures (particularly twists) can physically compress and massage the abdomen and the abdominal organs. This helps to move toxins and fluids out of those areas. The compression can also soothe, as well as stimulate, the digestive organs to help things “get moving.”
Second, yoga postures can stretch and open up the front-side of the body, creating more room and space in the torso and abdominal area.
Third, yoga postures and breathing (http://www.lovelifesurf.com/pranayama-basics-and-techniques/) can relieve the stress response in our bodies. Stress has a tendency to knot up our stomach and manifest itself as digestive issues. By reducing the amount of stress we experience, we can often ease our digestive problems.
Here are 3 yoga poses that help to ease digestion:
Triangle pose
Stand with your feet about 3-4 feet apart so that your toes are facing the side of your mat. Turn your right 90 degrees to face forward toward the front of your mat. Turn your left toes in slightly. Your right heel should align with your left heel. Turn your right thigh outward so that your kneecap is in line with your ankle. Take your arms out in a T. Reach your right finger tips forward and extend your torso over your right leg, bending at the hip joint. Rotate your torso to the left and reach your right hand down to your shin, ankle or the ground outside of your right foot. Left fingers reach for the ceiling.
Triangle pose is also a twisting posture that stimulates abdominal organs, improves digestion and helps to relieve stress.
Bow Pose
Lie on your belly with your forehead resting at the center of your mat. Bend your knees and reach your hands back to grab your outer ankles. Inhale and kick your feet/ankles into your hands as you start to peel your torso off the mat and your legs lift up. Keep your neck long so take your gaze to just in front of your mat.
Bow pose stretches out the front of your body, from torso to abdomen, and helps to create space in those areas. Because you’re resting on your belly, it also creates abdominal pressure to help massage and stimulate your digestive organs. Alternatively, you can do Locust pose.
Standing Forward Fold
Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart and keep a slight bend in your knees. Fold of your legs, hands reaching towards the ground. You can either bring your hands to the ground or to a block, or you can grasp opposite elbows – right hand to left elbow and left hand to right elbow. Let the weight of your arms and head release fully to the ground
This is pose creates gentle abdominal pressure and massages your internal organs. Forward folds also help to calm the nervous system. When your head hangs below your heart, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system and tells your body to chill out.
Awesome! Thank you Christine! For more YOGA poses, you can follow Christine on instagram. She shares a lot of cool poses there! I love following and learning from her! Oh and for all you runners, be sure to check out Christine’s Yoga for Runners series!
Which one are you gonna try first? I love bow pose!
Cheers,
Wanna be Yogi Cotter
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Karen Loves to Run (@karenlovestorun) says
June 30, 2014 at 5:11 AMI have a lot of stomach stress as well and I’m always amazed at how yoga gets things movin’ after a class! It definitely helps to destress my tummy.
Karen @karenlovestorun
Lauren says
June 30, 2014 at 5:38 AMI 100% carry stress in my stomach and gut. I love yoga for helping calm this down! I love Standing Forward Fold pose – this is going to sound weird but I do it several times a day in the bathroom at work as well as a few twists haha. I LOVE twist poses – they release so much s**t built up – literally… 😉
LCCotter says
June 30, 2014 at 6:16 AMoh i totally do that too! not weird to me!
Meg @ A Dash of Meg says
June 30, 2014 at 5:48 AMahhhh yes yes yes i always say that when i stress i hold it allllll in my gut!!!!!!!! this is such a great post Lindsay! I love ya
Michele @paleorunningmomma says
June 30, 2014 at 5:52 AMI love this! I will need to try some of these after my long weekend away! Gut not so good after eating out for 4 days!
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
June 30, 2014 at 5:54 AMThis is really helpful! I think it’s crazy how many benefits come from yoga, which is why I personally think everyone should give yoga a try. I also try to go to a class once a week but I often practice at home in my spare time. Five minutes of yoga is better than none!
CARLA says
June 30, 2014 at 6:06 AMOH
I had no idea.
((sharing))
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
June 30, 2014 at 6:27 AMI have never done yoga really… I really need to try a class. I get too antsy at home!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
June 30, 2014 at 8:03 AMI’ll come teach you! 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
June 30, 2014 at 6:31 AMOMG I am doing ALL of these tonight! This is such a timely post because I just mentioned managing stress better in my goals for July over on the blog today. When I’m stressed, my stomach is the first place to show it and my digestion suffers big time! These are much appreciated. 🙂
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family says
June 30, 2014 at 6:38 AMI used so many of these when I was pregnant and having tummy issues! LOVE.
Lucie@FitSwissChick says
June 30, 2014 at 6:53 AMI feel so exactly the same way about Yoga like you. I always try to go to one or two classes per week, it really makes such a big difference to my balance!
Love Standing Forward Fold!
Alex@Veggin' Out says
June 30, 2014 at 6:55 AMI get so stressed so easily, especially during the school year… I haven’t tried to use yoga yet to relieve some of that stress, but I think I should try it this fall! I love that it helps digestion too. There was a time when I did yoga everyday, and I think I could benefit from going back to that. Or at least doing it every once in a while!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
June 30, 2014 at 7:20 AMthere’s poses to help babies with digestion too! well obviously we have to help them but itz funny how much WE can help with our own digestion (vs. meds)
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
June 30, 2014 at 7:47 AMYet another reason I should do more yoga. 🙂
Ashley says
June 30, 2014 at 7:57 AMI can relate with the stress belly!! I need to add these poses into my routine.
Jaclyn @ Bumpsweat says
June 30, 2014 at 8:03 AMI’ll try triangle pose, because that’s probably the only one that can accommodate my belly right now 😉
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
June 30, 2014 at 8:03 AMThanks for having me over today Lindsay!
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
June 30, 2014 at 8:08 AMI love forward fold, especially after a run. I may try out triangle pose today. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
June 30, 2014 at 8:16 AMMy stomach takes the brunt of my stress as well… and then those digestive issues just stress me out even more 😆 It’s a vicious cycle. I do find that stretching helps a lot, though. I’ve mostly been doing the forward fold, but I’m going to try bow pose as well. Thanks, ladies! <3
Jody - Fit at 56 says
June 30, 2014 at 8:39 AMYES, I stress so going to try these since they look simple & I have never done yoga! 🙂 THX!!!
Kat says
June 30, 2014 at 8:42 AMGreat tips from two awesome blends!
Cassie says
June 30, 2014 at 8:43 AMHad no clue these poses help digestion!! I gotta get to yoga tonight… to keep my stomach calm and my hips are soooooo tight.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
June 30, 2014 at 9:12 AMI’ve actually done the bow pose before when I needed to poo. Worked like a charm! 🙂
Samantha @ The Faithful Runner says
June 30, 2014 at 9:20 AMI love doing the bow pose when I need to use the restroom! I’ll have to try the others though! Can’t beat a good hip stretch!
She Rocks Fitness says
June 30, 2014 at 9:22 AMI love all of these poses, but triangle is always a favorite. I look forward to it every time the teacher tells us to go into it. 🙂 And I also love Christine!
Kindal @ LiftingRevolution says
June 30, 2014 at 9:33 AMI always love Christina’s pictures! I have loved seeing her passion for Yoga grow over the past year. Now off to do some twists and bends 😉
Tara Newman says
June 30, 2014 at 9:52 AMOh, I love Christine. So great to see her here! Triangle and forward fold. I am not a fan of bow pose – my back and shoulders are all messed up and give new meaning to the word TIGHT!
Tina Muir says
June 30, 2014 at 10:15 AMI had no idea yoga would ease digestion. Is there anything yoga is not good for?! That being said, Bow is probably the pose I dislike the most. For some reason it is just so uncomfortable for my body and I do not like the way I feel in the pose….not in the burning way of most poses, but it just feels so unnatural to me. I will try these poses out…You know I am a stress person too!
Jennifer F says
June 30, 2014 at 10:35 AMI like bow pose too, but it’s hard for me!
Jessica says
June 30, 2014 at 10:41 AMHa! I NEED these today. I am back from an amazing camping trip where I ate ALL the food and my body needs a bit of a digestion tune-up. 🙂
LCCotter says
June 30, 2014 at 11:23 AMoh i totally get that! lots of veggies, water, and yoga! haha
Megan @ The Skinny-Life says
June 30, 2014 at 10:50 AMStanding forward fold is one I do regularly. It really does force me to chill out. It also gives me a great stretch in my hips and back. Any suggestions for slow digestion? Since you’re on the whole gut health kick these days. 🙂
Lauren says
June 30, 2014 at 10:51 AMYoga is incredible for digestion! I also love lying down with knees to my chest then twisting to each side.
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 6:13 AMoh yes… i need to do that one today. love the compression
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
June 30, 2014 at 10:58 AMFor a few more weeks, I can do the standing forward fold and most of the triangle… the bow pose will have to wait. 🙂 Love this post!
Casey @ Casey the College Celiac says
June 30, 2014 at 11:06 AMThe bow pose looks amazing! I LOVE yoga, but haven’t hit the mat in a while. Maybe today will be the day! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
LCCotter says
June 30, 2014 at 11:23 AMi’ll do the same! let’s get moving.. well yoga style! haha
Sheena says
June 30, 2014 at 11:23 AMBow and locust pose are my favorites! I have GI issues (yay IBS!) and before it gets super bad and painful and day-ending, I try to get some poses in to help alleviate it as much as I can!
LCCotter says
June 30, 2014 at 6:30 PMi agree! any little bit helps!
Kim K says
June 30, 2014 at 12:44 PMLC! i’ve been to two yoga classes in 3 days!!! i’m just learning poses…bow is so hard for me (well as is everything else right now)!
Jen says
June 30, 2014 at 1:19 PMi know all 3 poses! great post! I’m always looking for things to improve my gut health 🙂
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 6:12 AMyou know it! gut health for the win!
Shashi @ runninsrilankan says
June 30, 2014 at 1:30 PMSo am not a huge fan of yoga {that statement puts our “blendship” to the test – right? 🙂 } well…even though am not a huge fan of it – I am a huge fan of the fold and the bow – I was just doing them because they felt good, I had no clue they were so beneficial.
LCCotter says
June 30, 2014 at 6:30 PMhaha our blendship could never be tested. You made beet pizza, so you’re all good with me!
Tiff @ Love Sweat & Beers says
June 30, 2014 at 3:08 PMLove triangle!! It’s my fav (or at least tied for fav)
Kim says
June 30, 2014 at 5:47 PMI’m going to start doing these and hope they help!!!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Domi @ Eat, Pray, Lift says
June 30, 2014 at 5:49 PMGiving these a shot right now! Perfect timing since my digestion has been ALL kind of catywampus with my stress over my new job. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Livi says
June 30, 2014 at 8:16 PMI love this! Yoga is so helpful to center me and relieve stress.
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 6:12 AMtotally! which is why i need it so much. haha
Katie says
June 30, 2014 at 10:47 PMBow pose scares me a little but I’m willing to give it a try. She makes it look so easy.
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 7:03 PMyou can do it!! i promise
Carla says
July 1, 2014 at 12:44 AMI just started a yoga series online and just learned about this today. Can’t say I understand yet but during the series I did learn about standing forward fold. I will have to see if they incorporate the others that Christine says during the series (it’s a detox series).
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 6:14 AMthat’s very cool! what series is it?
Chuck says
July 1, 2014 at 1:12 AMI’ll have to try the last 2 of these, especially the bow! I like to use the resolved triangle pose for digestion as well! http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/692
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 6:14 AMthat is so good! i need to work on my form there as well. Lots of core strength!
Heather @ better with veggies says
July 1, 2014 at 12:22 PMi LOVE how functional yoga can be – thanks for sharing these poses!!
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 7:01 PMi agree! just need to remember to do these more often!
Audrey @ In Shape Cupcake says
July 1, 2014 at 2:13 PMI love all these! I already do a couple of them! Need to try the BOW pose! Don’t usually do actual yoga, but I feel like it would help me out a lot during training.
I usually de-stress with a super easy run without my garmin or just sit and drink tea. Always relaxing!
GiGi Eats says
July 1, 2014 at 3:01 PMBe proud of me, I am currently doing the BOW POSE as I type this so I can enhance my “SEXY” digestive track…
Amalia says
July 1, 2014 at 3:11 PMThese are great.. I definitely have digestion issues (yuck) and hopefully adding yoga will make it easier!
LCCotter says
July 1, 2014 at 6:43 PMlet me know how it goes!
molly says
July 3, 2014 at 1:42 PMI just signed up for a continuing ed class about yoga and digestive health! I find soo many yoga poses feel great, especially when im sore or stressed!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
July 3, 2014 at 6:12 PMI love forward fold and child’s post and the lay flat on your back and do nothing pose. 🙂
I really love all the poses and especially how yoga makes me feel: calm, cool and collected. It’s reinvigorating and rejuvenating. Good for the mind and the body.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
July 4, 2014 at 7:09 AMI LOVE love love love LOVE triangle pose! It’s good to know it helps my digestion because it’s always been a favorite of mine! I remember a yoga instructor several years ago talking about the power of triangle and how it’s a great pose to really tune in and manifest your dreams, how if you really want something you should think about it while in that pose and send the energy to making it happen. I’ve always wondered if I misunderstood her because I can never explain it properly but every time I’m in triangle, I always make a wish…like when you blow out your candles on your birthday! lol
Diana says
July 6, 2014 at 6:07 PMI love triangle! Feels so good. I dread bow. Lol
LCCotter says
July 6, 2014 at 9:26 PMhaha that’s the one i love!