Exercises that will help ease your digestive problems and get your system working more efficiently

The process of eating and digesting our food is fundamental to life. By eating the necessary quantity of food at the required time, we maintain the physical body in a state of health and high resistance. In this day and age of hectic routines, stress, tension and fast and refined convenient foods, something is sadly amiss — we have lost sight of the importance of the digestive process, good food and dietary habits and the importance of physical activity.  We use food in other ways — to relieve our frustrations, satisfy our emotional needs, greed etc. The result is a range of stomach disorders from indigestion, constipation, peptic ulcers to liver diseases. We do not realise that ongoing disturbances in our digestive systems can have a major impact on our overall health and affect any other conditions or diseases we may have.

Our amazing system of yoga gives great importance to maintaining good digestive health. Over the next seven days I have given you a programme, which if done regularly, will help with your digestive problems and get your system working more efficiently.

Today, we begin with three bandhas (neuromuscular locks) that regulate and increase endocrine (glandular) secretions in the body. They work on the salivary glands, the liver and pancreas that are involved in the digestive process and restore hormonal balance throughout the body. Do these regularly to feel the results!

Caution: Those with heart problems, high blood pressure and pregnant women should avoid exercise two and three. Those with cervical spondylosis, vertigo, high blood pressure and heart disease should avoid exercise one.

Exercise 1

• Sit in padmasan. Sit with your legs stretched out and your back straight. Bend one leg, place the ankle on the opposite thigh close to the groin. Bend the other leg and place the ankle on the thigh of the bent leg, close to the groin

• Inhale deeply.  Keeping your chest high, hold your breath and lock your chin against your chest

• Hold for as long as comfortable

• Release your chin, look up and exhale

• Repeat only three times.

Exercise 2

• Stand with your legs apart and slightly bent, your feet out. Rest your palms on your thighs

• Bend your back and exhale forcefully

• Suck in your stomach to create a hollow space

• Hold for as long as you can hold your breath comfortably

• Release contraction and breathe in

• Repeat only three times.

Exercise 3

• Sit with your legs stretched out and your back straight.

• Bend one leg; place your ankle on the opposite thigh close to the groin. Bend the other leg and place your ankle on the thigh of the bent leg, close to the groin. Place your hands on your knees

• Exhale completely, pull up the genital space and close the anal space. Keep the abdominal muscles tight

• Relax the lock and inhale

• Repeat three times only.