This International Yoga Day 2025, Heal Your Gut with These 5 Calming Yoga Poses
A sluggish digestive system doesn’t just affect how your stomach feels — it can lead to fatigue, mood swings, bloating, and even weaken your immunity. As the world celebrates International Yoga Day 2025, it’s the perfect opportunity to turn to yoga for better digestion and overall gut health.
According to Dr. Raghuveer A R from SOUKYA International Health Centre, yoga offers more than just physical flexibility — it aligns with the body’s natural rhythms to promote digestive wellness. “Certain yoga asanas activate abdominal organs, calm the nervous system, and stimulate gut motility,” he explains.
Imbalances in the digestive system can manifest in many ways — from gas and constipation to fatigue and poor skin health. The good news? Gentle movements like twists, folds, and breath-focused postures can help restore balance.
Dr. Raghuveer emphasizes that yoga goes beyond movement. “It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is essential for proper digestion and relaxation. Combine these asanas with mindful eating and hydration, and you have a complete approach to gut healing,” he says.
Here are 5 expert-recommended yoga poses that aid digestion:
1. Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose)
- When to do it: Right after meals
- Benefits: Enhances blood flow to the stomach and intestines, relieves gas, acidity, and post-meal heaviness
- Duration: Sit in this pose for at least 10 minutes to aid post-meal digestion
2. Malasana (Yogic Squat)
- When to do it: On an empty stomach or before meals
- Benefits: Opens the hips and compresses the belly, stimulates bowel movement, helps relieve constipation
- Why it works: Awakens the digestive fire or Agni, supporting better food breakdown
3. Ushtrasana (Camel Pose)
- When to do it: During your yoga practice
- Benefits: Boosts circulation to abdominal organs, tones the stomach, enhances breath and digestion
- Added benefit: Relieves emotional and physical tension in the gut
4. Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)
- When to do it: Mid-practice or in a detox-focused flow
- Benefits: Stimulates the liver, pancreas, and intestines, aids detoxification and regular bowel movement
- Function: Twisting action wrings out stagnation in the digestive tract
5. Balasana (Child’s Pose)
- When to do it: End of practice or when feeling bloated or anxious
- Benefits: Calms the nervous system, softens the abdomen, reduces stress
- Ideal for: Promoting deep rest, parasympathetic activity, and overall gut relaxation
These simple yoga poses, when practiced consistently and combined with mindful lifestyle habits, can significantly boost digestion, relieve digestive discomfort, and enhance overall vitality.
This International Yoga Day, take a few minutes to tune into your body and show your gut some love — not just with food, but with mindful movement.
