DEAR PKIA: YOGA W/MICHELLE (PART II)

January 4th, 2010

Dear PKIA and Yoga Momma:

This is embarrassing, but I’m gassy and constipated. Can you recommend any poses for my belly and bowels?

Sincerely,
Windy in Wyoming

Dear Windy in Wyoming:

Dang I hear you, I’ve just moved into a new phase with my intestines and it’s all about GAS!!! I’m telling you I suffer something fierce at times. What I’m doing personally is bumping up the probiotic and being sure to take a big old heaping spoon full a day mixed in my juice or water. The second thing I’ve done is called my gal pal Michelle – My Yoga Momma and asked her how we can get down physically to help move this gas through!

Here is her point of view and what we can do:

Both of your issues can be helped with forward bends, twists and inverted poses. One pose that I would recommend specifically for moving the gas is Happy baby Pose (Ananda Balasana). Lie down on your back and bring your knees in toward your chest. Grab the outside edges of your feet and press your knees into the armpits, keeping your feet flat toward the sky. Keep your knees as close to 90 degrees as possible. Take 10 slow breaths then release gently.

A good pose for the bowels is Wind Removing Pose (Pavanmuktasana), which obviously works for the above mentioned ailment as well. Start by lying on your back. Bring your right knee in toward your right shoulder, using both hands press the knee in as tight as you can toward that shoulder. This massages the ascending colon. Repeat with the left leg, pressing toward the left shoulder. This massages the descending colon. Then bring both knees in, hugging them to your chest while trying to keep your entire spine on the floor. This massages the transverse colon. Repeat this series of movements two times.

There is also an easier alternative which can help called Child’s Pose (Balasana). Child’s Pose is done by kneeling on the floor (tops of the feet flat against the floor) and resting your abdominal on your thighs, try to keep your bottom touching your heels. This pose can be done with your arms stretched forward in front of you (a bit more active) or with your arms by your sides (a bit more relaxed).