Yoga poses for improved digestion: Float, don't bloat/ Yoga poses for improved digestion: Acid reflux to healthy gut

20 Apr 2015

For those chained to their desks for nine hours every day, diet is a major problem. Indigestion, leading to an uncomfortable bloated feeling, and acid reflux are pretty common and unfortunate side effects of eating at the desk and at all hours of the day. Yoga has a simple and natural cure for this.

Bengaluru-based foundation The Art of Living, established by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981 to provide natural cures for a holistic lifestyle, illustrated six moves that will not only relieve the discomfort, but will also give you an excellent 20-minute workout to blast belly fat.

With International Yoga Day on June 21 a couple of months away, here's how you can incorporate these simple asanas into your daily life. Your stomach will thank you for it.

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    Pawanmuktasana

    Excellent in releasing gas, this pose shall massage the intestine and other abdominal organs to strengthen them. Exhale and while inhaling, lift your legs at a 90 degree angle to the floor. Bend your knees to press your thighs against the abdomen. Grasp your legs with hands, and rest your chin on the knees.
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    Trikonasana

    Also known as the triangle pose, this move helps improves digestion by stimulating the abdominal organs. It also tones the belly and burns fat. Here's how to do it.
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    Ustrasana

    This yoga asana also known as Camel Pose stretches and strengthens your abdominal organs. Additionally, it also relieve back pain, and overcome menstrual cramping.
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    Paschimottanasana

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    An excellent hamstring stretch, this move will also tone your shoulders as well as massage your abdominal and pelvic organs. Stretch your feet straight out, keeping your toes flexed towards you. Breathe in, raise your arms and stretch up. On breathing out, bend from your hip joints and focus on moving towards the toes with your chin. Keep your back straight, place your hands on your legs and focus on moving forward.
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    Bhujangasana

    A fatigue-reducing move, this asana is also known as Cobra Pose - as it resembles a snake with its hood raised. It helps open the shoulders and neck and tones the abdomen, and is useful for people with respiratory disorders. Lie flat on the ground, with your forehead, stomach and toes (feet together) touching the floor, and palms downward. Breathe in, and lift your torso off the floor using your hands. On breathing out, return back to the floor.
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    Kapal Bhati Pranayama

    This asana works wonders: not only does it improve your blood circulation, it'll assist digestive tract functioning, absorption and assimilation of nutrients, and also help you lose weight. According to Dr Sejal Shah, an Sri Sri Yoga teacher: “80 per cent of the toxins in our body are released through the outgoing breath. Regular practice of Kapal Bhati pranayama detoxifies all the systems in our body. ” Here's how to do it.

Courtesy: The Huffington Post

Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,The Art of Living is an educational and humanitarian movement engaged in stress-management and service initiatives. Read More