Yoga & Digestive Health

Twists are one of my favourite parts of my yoga practice, they help to strengthen and flex the spine but most importantly twists massage all the internal organs, helping to eliminate waste, stimulate agni (digestive fire) in the belly and support and improve the digestive system.

Indian yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar describes twists as a "squeeze-and-soak" action: The organs are compressed during a twist, squeezing out blood filled with toxins and waste, when released fresh blood flows in, carrying oxygen, minerals and vitamins to our organs.

Marichyasana III or Great Sage Pose Variation 3 (as seen here) is performed by hugging right knee into chest and extending out left leg, grounding through your sit bones and lifting crown of head to sky, creating space in each vertebra. Inhale lengthen through spine, exhale rotate your torso to the right using your left arm to rotate further using your left arm to lengthen the spine.  Hold for a minimum of 5 breaths, each exhale squeezing and letting go of negative thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Always remember to twist to the right side first, massaging ascending colon to loosen toxins and then left side to squeeze them out of your system in the descending colon.

At The Key you will discover a variety of health practices that assist the body in establishing healthy organ function including improving overall gut health. Find out how our nutrition range of botanical based and vegan certified products can help support optimal digestive health every day.