Promote healthy digestion holistically with a combination of our Digestive Harmony and these 4 yoga poses! While our Digestive Harmony formula is quite effective, it can be even more powerful when used in conjunction with movements to encourage digestion. These yoga poses use abdominal twisting or stretching to bring more energy and openness to your tummy.
To get into Cow Face Pose, carefully stack your knees on top of one another, firmly root your sitting bones, and allow your feet to lay in a soft diagonal on the floor. Only if your knees feel comfortable may you slowly lay your body forward. Let your head relax and place your hands facing upward to let gravity do the work. After breathing into this pose for 1-3 minutes, switch to the other side, switching the stacked knee on top.
- Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
To get into Eagle Pose, first go into chair, bending at the knees, weight in the heels, with arms up toward the sky. Bring your right arm under your left, either grabbing the opposite shoulder, or wrapping your arms completely until your palms touch. Bright your right leg up and around your left quad, wrapping your foot along the opposite calf, if accessible. Keep your hips in line and bend deeper into your knees, press all of the major joints together for compression. Hold for 3-5 breaths than repeat on the opposite side with left leg over, left arm under.
- Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana)
To get into Extended Puppy Pose, begin on all fours, slowly walk your fingers forward until you feel a nice elongating stretch in the back body. Tent your fingers up and curl your toes under. Keep your arms engaged, draw your hips back, and let your forehead touch the ground. Breath and stretch for 5-10 breaths.
- Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
To get into Bow Pose, begin on the floor lying on your stomach. Bend both knees and grab the outside of your feet near the arches. Ensure that your elbow is facing outward. Gently kick into your palms and let your chest rise from that push. Stay on the soft part of your belly with a gentle gaze upward. Try to get the stretch even throughout your entire back, ensuring that you are not putting too much pressure in the lower back. Hold for 3-5 deep breaths, try a Child’s Pose or Forward Fold for a counter pose to this deep back bend.
Jane Veitenheimer is a Minneapolis-based writer who is passionate about vinyasa yoga and holistic healing. In her free time she juices, knits with her two cats, and goes on long hikes with her dog.
