Feeling bloated? There is no denying the fact that bloating woes may not only make you feel extremely uncomfortable but can also mess with your digestive health.
There can be numerous reasons triggering bloating and gastric issues ranging from eating contaminated food, stress and excessive consumption of the wrong food items that could trigger gastric issues among others.
While chronic cases may require medical intervention, in most cases, the condition gets better on its own by avoiding certain foods and loading up on gut-friendly foods to balance and enhance the gut microbiome.
Yoga has long been touted as one of the best ways to tame some of the most common health woes. Asanas like vajrasana, when done regularly after meals, ensure active, smooth and strengthened digestion. Can yoga help in relieving gas, bloating and ease gastric issues ? Yes, absolutely.
Yoga expert Yogacharya Anoop of the Chaitanya Foundation enumerates the benefits of Pawanmuktasana which is specifically beneficial in easing bloating and gastric troubles.
“Basically, any yoga asana or exercise that involves your lower body and spinal twists will aid in gastric ailments and bloating While Pawanmuktasana is the best bet for such health concerns you can also try a range of other poses like Janu naman asana (knee bending pose) and exercises like leg rotations, lower back twists,” he noted.
Benefits of Pawanmuktasana
– It helps make the intestinal activity more active.
– It helps the liver in performing better.
-When teamed with its counter pose Setubandhasana, it also helps strengthen the spine, especially the lumbar region.
Things to keep in mind
– Those who suffer from neck or spinal issues should avoid doing the posture.
– One of the other versions of the posture also requires you to bend your neck forward every time your knees meet the chest. You can also try the posture without alternating the legs.It’s easy to overindulge, and feel bloated and puffy after a big meal. The main cause? Not-so-savory reasons like gas and acid reflux. Instead of popping a Tums and flopping back on the couch, think about trying a natural cure for stomach troubles.
“Fifteen minutes of yoga will help ease your pain,” says Zayna Gold, creator of Healing Through Movement and a Boston-based yoga instructor. As a long-time sufferer of Crohn’s disease, she’s created this yoga sequence to beat bloat, flatten your middle, and ease your stomach pains.Gold recommends starting from a reclining position. “This gives you a chance to take a deep breath and feel energized,” she says. Then, she progresses from seated to standing positions. Some, like the bridge pose, are stretch moves that stimulate your abdominal organs. Next are twist poses that massage and tone your abdomen—great therapy for gas, bloating, and constipation. The remaining poses work out your back, neck and spine. “You will feel less stress when your nervous system is relaxed. The health benefits will spread to the rest of your body and ease your digestion,” says Gold.
