YOGA FOR DIGESTION

Bloating, gas, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea; I now have the Pepto Bismol commercial running through my head... These symptoms, sometimes minor and sometimes unbearable, are all connected to the proper digestion of the fuel that we give our bodies at every meal. Put more plainly, “Your tummy is going to feel crummy when you don’t eat properly!” Save yourself the pain (and the money you spend on antacids) by paying more attention to what you eat and helping your body digest your food properly!

Being a yogi means living consciously in every aspect of life. Paying attention to our bodies and nourishing them properly is an important practice. When we eat on the run, eat too quickly, eat while feeling stressed, eat large portions, and eat the wrong combinations of foods, we are not being mindful eaters; instead we are fueling indigestion. Learning about how our bodies process the food we eat and how we can be more gentle to our bellies helps us to slow down and make better food choices, thus reducing the chances of indigestion. I encourage you to continue to read up on the wonderful world of digestion; in the meantime here are some healthy eating tips:

• Chewing food more completely limits the energy our bodies spends on breaking the food down.

• Not drinking fluids during meals helps to keep the digestive juices from being diluted. 

• Drinking fresh lemon water and green tea throughout the day helps to stimulate digestion and purify the body.

• Keeping meals simple and combining foods properly helps the stomach and small intestine properly distribute the nutrients to the different cells in the body.

• Fruit should be eaten by itself, protein should be eaten with vegetables and not grains, and grains should be eaten with vegetables and not proteins.

The physical asana of yoga for digestion includes twists, forward bends, restorative poses and meditation. As always, the practice of asana (physical yoga poses) should always be done on an empty stomach; never eat less than two hours before practice. Twists and forward bends are good for massaging the internal organs, stimulating the liver and kidneys (our internal toxic filtering systems), and engages the digestive “fire” in our bellies. Restorative poses and meditation help us to slow down and de-stress, bringing a conscious awareness to our bodies and assisting us in making the right choices for fuel off the mat.