Her Unique Glow

Have you ever heard the saying:

“Your gut is your second brain.”

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Well that’s because not only does it have a direct connection to your brain via the vagus nerve, but it’s that digestive fire that influences what and how much of what we eat gets digested and used within the body. Let’s face it, our guts are SO intelligent that they have a whole hidden, internal ecosystem of gut microorganisms (our gut microbiome) that ultimately affects its overall functioning and wellbeing.

Gut issues and digestive discomfort (whether that’s bloating, abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements etc.) can be debilitating and range from mild discomfort to rolling-around-on-the-floor pain – In fact, it’s something that I see way too often in my practice with my clients, and trust me, I’ve been there too so I know just how life altering it can be.

When our gut microbiome is balanced and humming along harmoniously, our food is digested, assimilated and absorbed more efficiently by the body which in turn affects the overall wellness and health of our bodies. When it’s in dysbiosis (an imbalance resulting in more of the ‘bad’ bacteria than the ‘good’), gut issues and digestive discomfort can occur, which to some can be life debilitating.

It’s not only how our food is digested that can affect the health of our gut, but also what we choose to put into our bodies. The more nourishing, plant-based whole-foods we can add into our diet, the more satisfied and balanced our digestive system will be. Now of course, nothing is that simple: That doesn’t mean you have to become vegan over night or cut out a hundred foods that you love to eat and it most certainly doesn’t mean that after years of gut dysbiosis a quick change of diet will sort everything out. Gut health & associated gut imbalances may take weeks, months or even years to rectify – you may even need the guidance of a health coach, nutritionist or medical professional to get you there – BUT guess what? There are a few Yoga poses that can help relieve some of that discomfort and encourage your digestive system to tick along that little bit smoother!

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In Ayurveda, Agni is that internal digestive fire and many Yoga poses are known for stimulating and enhancing Agni to help improve that digestive fire, helping you to better assimilate the foods you eat and relieve digestive discomfort. Not only can practicing Yoga help to stimulate this digestive fire but it can also:

• Improve blood flow to the digestive organs (improving their health and functioning)
• Improve bowel movements by massaging the abdominal muscles
• Improve your mind-set and mental health leading to more nourishing food choices

There are SO many Yoga poses that can help improve your digestion and relieve pain and discomfort caused by gut issues, but here are 5 of my favourites (I recommend holding each pose for 5 breaths):

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***I’ve also filmed a Yoga sequence showing you how you can put these 5 Yoga poses together to create an abdominal-massaging, digestive enhancing flow. Head to the end of this post to watch it or click the link here.

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