Although I became a yoga instructor in January, I have been exploring yoga and its benefits for numerous years. So, I have realized that yoga is the best possible tool you can use to relieve yourself of stress. This is highly important, because many diseases are a consequence of piled up stress and some chronic diseases can worsen because of stress.
The combination of deep breathing, stretches and meditation is known to calm down both mind and body. But, yoga is much more than that, it is a way of life, which I, as a yoga instructor need to put into practice and set a good example for my students.
Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases are long-lasting health conditions, which are most often caused by bad diet, unhealthy lifestyle or a slow metabolism. The list of chronic diseases is quite long, some of the most common ones are arthritis, asthma, cancer, COPD, chronic respiratory diseases, etc.
Even though these diseases cannot be cured, their symptoms, which are awful, can be reduced with some lifestyle changes. This is where yoga comes into play, because it is all about a healthy lifestyle. People who suffer from such diseases certainly do not need additional stress, so they should do yoga to calm their minds, and consequently, their bodies.
Celiac Disease and Gut Health
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that primarily impacts the small intestine. Symptoms of this awful condition are chronic diarrhea, bloating, malabsorption, etc. Gluten is to blame for this health issue, as it causes an abnormal reaction of the immune system and consequently, damages the small intestine.
The solution for this health condition is to completely avoid gluten containing foods. Also, the combination of yoga and a healthy diet can greatly improve your digestion, and in turn, your overall gut health. Yoga is known to reinforce the blood flow, and it also forces intestinal toxins out of the body, with its twists and stretches that target abdominal organs.
Yoga Poses for Better Digestion
I have realized, from my long-time experience with yoga, that some yoga poses can significantly ameliorate digestion.
For example, cat-cow pose warms up your body and also stretches your spine and abdominal organs, stimulates kidneys and adrenal glands. This is a warm-up sequence that consists of two moves. You start by getting into cow pose and then you move into cat pose.
Triangle pose stimulates the abdominal organs, and as a result improves digestion. This pose is performed in standing position, you rest your right hand on your right ankle and stretch your left arm towards the ceiling. Keep this pose 30 to 60 seconds.
Downward facing dog pose is another one that improves digestion. To get into this pose you basically need to make an upside down V letter with your body, starting with your knees and hands on the floor and then gradually lifting your sitting bones toward the ceiling. You should stay in this pose from one to three minutes.
Yoga Can Be a Life Saver for People Who Suffer from Chronic Diseases
People who suffer from these chronic health conditions can turn their lives around just by giving yoga a go and gradually adopting it into their lifestyle. They will minimize stress, improve digestion and those two combined can outstandingly improve health.
