The Digestive System

Question 1

Discus five (5) separate āsana that supports digestive system function

Answer 1

The most powerful action to cleanse and support the organs of the digestion includes postures that create axial rotation, such as spine twists (seated, supine, standing and seated) and postures that invert the spine such as standing forward bends, inversions and arm balancing.

• Parivrtta supta padangusthasana (revolved reclined, big to pose knee bent)
• Jatathara parivartanasana(firmly rotated pose)both legs together straight
• ardha Matsyendrasana 1(half Matsyendrasana pose 1 modification
• Marichyasana III
• Salamba Sarvangasana 1(shoulder stand)

Question 2

Discuss the intricate relationship between the practice of Prāṇāyāma and digestion?

Answer 2

Pranayama, especially those such as Khalabati in the morning can start the Digestion process off and get in ivigorated for the days metablolism.

Prāṇa flows through the stomach channel in the early part of the day, between 7-9am and when Prāṇa is deficient here, nausea and vomiting may occur. Samāna Vāyu is responsible for moving food downwards to remove impurities.

Worry governs the organs of the stomach and digestion as a whole; it causes the Prāṇa to ‘knot’ in body and creates physiological disturbances in this part of the body. We do not see worry but we do see how it affects the digestive organs by causing either constipation or diarrhoea or both during times of IBS.

Question 3

How does yoga practice influence the mind-gut relationship?

Answer 3

The PSNS increases gastrointestinal secretion and motility while the SNS has inhibits these actions.

This means, when we are in a more relaxed state, our digestive system is more conducive to function optimally.

The SNS causes vasoconstriction creating a reduction in blood flow to the digestive tract. This means when we body feels stress, digestive function decreases.
Yoga encourages PSNS

Question 4

Why is it so important to practice āsana on an empty stomach and how would explain this to a student who is new to Yoga

Answer 4

Yogis incorporated daily āsana and Prāṇāyāma practices to improve the function of metabolism and digestive assimilation. They recognised the impact a healthy diet had on the body, and subsequently how this then influenced the mental, emotional, and spiritual body.

Yogis also made sure they did not eat for 3-4 ours prior to teach āsana and Prāṇāyāma practice and completed their food consumption up to 5 hours prior to a restful sleep.

Not to sure of the why other than it’s easier to do Asana on an empty stomach

Question 5

How does Prāṇā influence digestion and vice versa?

Answer 5

Prāṇa flows through the stomach channel in the early part of the day, between 7-9am and when Prāṇa is deficient here, nausea and vomiting may occur. Samāna Vāyu is responsible for moving food downwards to remove impurities.

Worry governs the organs of the stomach and digestion as a whole; it causes the Prāṇa to ‘knot’ in body and creates physiological disturbances in this part of the body. We do not see worry but we do see how it affects the digestive organs by causing either constipation or diarrhoea or both during times of IBS.