8 Yoga and Meditation Practices to Improve Digestion

How much attention do you pay to your gut health? Something that the past couple of years have taught me is that digestion is something we take for granted. Whether it’s the food we eat, or our lifestyles, there are times when we do not look after our bodies as much as we should. This can sometimes lead to people struggling with digestive health issues . In recent years, statistics suggest that 4 in 10 people experience at least one digestive symptom at any given time (Dr Anton Emmanuel, NHS). Food of course plays a role in gut health. However, other things such as exercise, caring for your mental health, and even the way you breathe are key. Living with Crohn’s Disease, I have discovered various yoga and meditation practices for digestion. Yoga and meditation can help relieve symptoms, as well as improve mindfulness over your digestion. Here are some of my go-to yoga and meditation routines which help you to be kinder to your gut.

Yoga

Great for beginners

If you are just getting started with yoga for digestion, Super Easy Yoga For Digestion by Erica from Hack Your Health is a great starting place. Erica has Crohn’s herself, so knows what it feels like to struggle with digestion. She is also a qualified yoga instructor and calmly guides you through some basic moves to aid digestion.  A lovely practice and YouTube channel to check out if you want to know more about Crohn’s or gut health.

For when you need a gentle practice

If you are a fan of yoga, then you will know how amazing Yoga with Adriene is. I have been doing an Adriene routine most days during lockdown and my mental health has benefitted hugely. If you are in the mood for a gentle practice that is centred around sitting and lying down, then Yoga for Gut Health by Adriene is perfect. It is a routine which I incorporate regularly into my lifestyle, so much so that I can do it without the video.

Focus on your breath

Breathing is a vital part in all yoga. A practice which really looks into breathing, particularly the correct breathing for digestion, is Dr Megan Rossi’s (The Gut Health Doctor) routine in her book Eat Yourself Healthy. The book is a recent purchase, and although I haven’t read everything yet, I have already learnt so much. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about gut health.

When you need some quick support

Sarah Beth from Sarah Beth Yoga has Ulcerative Colitis, so knows the importance of looking after your gut. She has many YouTube videos focused on digestion. One of my favourites is a 12 minute practice called Yoga for Bloating, Digestion, Ulcerative Colitis, IBD & IBS, ideal for when you don’t have much time to spare or just feel the need for some quick relief in the moment.

When you want a workout

Yoga and meditation for digestion is often very gentle. If you are experienced with yoga, or feel like a workout, Yoga with Adriene’s Yoga For Digestion Flow is a full-on 25 minutes, which not only benefits your digestion, but is a great cardio workout too.

Meditation

It is rare these days that we take some proper time to be still and focus the mind on our breathing and digestion. Practicing regular meditation is important for becoming more mindful about our digestion and giving our bodies a chance to rest.

All of these meditations are found on Spotify, so you can practice them wherever you are. They are episodes from podcasts, so you can do a meditation, while also discovering a great podcast.

Meditation for Improved Digestion – Food & Other Pleasures

This is my favourite meditation I have discovered so far, as it focuses on healing digestive issues. The meditation gives you a chance to develop a relationship with your gut and find out what you should be doing to help yourself.

Meditation for Digestion – Matcha Hour | Breathwork & Tools for Your Highest Self

This is a short 10 minute episode about types of meditation you can do for digestion. There are 3 methods discussed – belly breathing, mindful walking, and ginger tea. I won’t go into any further details as it is worth a listen.

Simple Meditation for Digestion – Simple Meditations

This meditation is so calm. It is perfect for when you want to take some time for yourself, enjoy some peace and quiet, and give some time to your digestion. Really relaxing!

If you enjoyed reading this post, then you may want to check out:

• 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditations for the Busy Times
• 1 Year Living with Crohn’s Disease: Lessons Learnt

Have you tried any yoga or meditation for digestive health? Let me know your thoughts.

Megan x 

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