It is well known that your gut health impacts your overall health. Multiple studies have shown a link between gut health and conditions such as Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), as well as various types of heart diseases, kidney diseases, and pituitary gland disfunctions.
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How does yoga play a role in improved gut health? Yoga helps by reducing stress, increasing circulation, and stimulating physical movement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
A study done in 2016, entitled "Effect of Yoga-Based Intervention in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease", placed 100 patients, 60 of those with Ulcerative Colitis and 40 with Chron's Disease), into two groups - a test group and a control group. The test group participated in 1 hour a day of yoga, in addition to their standard medical treatments. The control group only continued with their standard medical treatments. At the end of the 8-week study, the test group reported lower levels of intestinal colic manifests (gastrointestinal pain caused by blockages), joint pain, and anxiety, specifically as related to their bowel disease symptoms. The study concluded that yoga is a safe and complimentary addition to clinical treatment for those with inflammatory bowel diseases.
As addressed in an article by Harvard Medical School, your gastrointestinal tract is also receptive to our emotions, meaning that feelings such as anger, sadness or anxiety can actually prompt a physiological response in your gut. This is referred to as the "brain-gut connection". This connection can also flow the opposite way, meaning your gut health can impact your mental health. Here, yoga improves your gut health by improving your mental health by assisting in the management of levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Some of the most commonly practiced poses to aid in digestion and to assist with digestive issues are:
Seated Side Bend
Supine Spinal Twist
Cat/Cow Poses
Cobra Pose
Bow Pose
Child's Pose
Camel Pose
These poses also help improve the flow of blood and oxygen in the body, which can also assist in reducing the build up of gas in the stomach.
Digestive health is just another one of the many reasons why yoga is good practice for everyone!
-Charlene
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