Can Yoga Help With Bloating?

Here at GR8NESS, we’re yoga enthusiasts. The ancient practice has been shown to have significant health benefits. We’ve explored how yoga can help you get a good night’s sleep, how it can help prevent burnout, and how the practice can be used to help manage anxiety.

For our next yoga information-exploration, we’re asking another question. Can yoga help with bloating?

What is Bloating?

Bloating is a common condition that many people experience quite frequently. Bloating happens when excess gas builds up in your stomach, causing feelings of fullness, pain, and discomfort.

You may pass gas or burp frequently when you’re bloated. Your stomach may feel “puffed out.” Bloating is typically short-lived, though it is uncomfortable, which is why everyone tries to beat it as quickly as possible.

Common Causes of Bloating

Many common, everyday actions cause bloating. Eating too much or too fast, eating foods you are intolerant to, or eating foods that contain too much fat or create gas in your stomach (like broccoli and beans).

Many women experience bloating around the time of their periods or while they are pregnant. Smoking, chewing gum, or swallowing air when you gulp water too fast can all cause bloating, also.

Can Yoga Help With Bloating?

Yes! The GR8 news is that yoga can help with bloating. It’s an all-natural, holistic way to help manage the uncomfortable condition. The best part is that it often works quickly and can provide immediate relief.

Yoga helps with bloating by increasing circulation in your stomach muscles, putting gentle pressure on your stomach to help relieve and pass gas, promoting digestion.

Yoga Poses That Help With Bloating

To get the most out of yoga for bloating, focus on poses that engage your stomach muscles. The poses are simple, so you don’t need to be a yoga guru to get some relief.

Supine Twists

Lay on your back, bring your knees to your chest, spread your arms out on either side of your body, and then lower both knees to one side of your body while you face your head in the other direction. Hold for at least 30 seconds.

Apasana

Use this pose to help pass gas and relieve that full feeling in your belly. Lie on your back, hug your knees to your chest and slowly rock side-to-side for 30 seconds.

Child’s Pose

Sit on your knees and bend forward with your arms outstretched, while keeping your buttocks on your heels. Try to touch your forehead to the ground. Hold for 60 seconds.

Seated Twist

Another pose to help you pass gas and relieve pressure in your stomach, sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Then, bring one leg over the other to form an upright triangle. Turn your body towards your bent leg and bring the opposite arm across that leg. You’ll feel a stretching sensation in your back and side. Hold for 30 seconds.

What’s GR8 about using yoga to relieve bloating is that it doesn’t require a trip to the drug store. Next time you feel bloated, take a seat and complete the poses to feel better in no time.