Dr Rabia, a Gastroenterology registrar in London and Yoga Trainer shares her 5 favorite poses to help intestine well being with the Yogamatters Small Rectangular Bolster. Guarantee these poses are usually not practised on a full abdomen (at the very least half-hour after consuming) and keep in mind to take heed to your physique if one thing doesn’t really feel proper.
Legs up with bolster help (Viparita Karani)
The right way to: Begin by laying in your again. Bend knees and place your toes on the ground and knees up in the direction of the sky. Press by way of your toes to elevate pelvis off of the mat. Place the small rectangular bolster horizontal beneath your hips. Discover a snug place that feels best for you however guarantee your entire pelvis is supported. From there elevate your toes of the bottom, prolong the legs and permit your legs to hover. Chill out your toes and relaxation your arms by your sides with the palms dealing with up so you possibly can open by way of your chest. Keep within the pose for at least 3 minutes.
Variations: Lay down and relaxation your calves on the seat of a chair or place hips as near the wall as attainable and place your legs vertical towards the wall.
Childs Pose (Balasana)
With extensive open hips and your stomach resting on a bolster, that is the final word restorative pose for grounding and turning inward. Your entrance physique is supported – so it has the chance to really feel secure, protected and but open all on the similar time. You possibly can wrap your arms across the bolster to intensify the feeling of security which is a constructive sign in your gut-brain connection. Flip your head midway by way of to stretch the alternative aspect of your neck. This pose is especially helpful when you undergo from cramps, bloating or belly discomfort.
The right way to: Convey your knees as extensive because the mat and permit your massive toes of every foot to the touch. Place the small rectangular bolster vertically in-between the legs and gently fold ahead in order that your stomach and chest relaxation on the bolster. Let your arms relaxation in entrance and place your cheek onto the bolster – rotate the pinnacle and relaxation the alternative cheek after roughly 3 minutes on this pose.
Variations: Childs Pose with no bolster
Garland Pose (Malasana)

The right way to: From a standing ahead fold together with your arms positioned both on the ground or bricks to help, shift your toes as extensive as your mat and switch the toes outwards. Gently decrease your hips right into a squat place going to no matter depth feels snug for you. Both place the small rectangular bolster beneath your seat to relaxation or place blocks beneath every heel if wanted. Place palms into Añjali Mudrā (Prayer Palms) and use the backs of the arms to softly information the legs wider and really feel a gap of the hips.
Supine variation: Completely satisfied Child (Ananda Balasana)
Supported Sphinx (Salamba Bhujangasana)

Arching by way of the thoracic backbone together with your stomach resting on a bolster, is a stronger sensation than supported childs pose. It stimulates a mild stretch by way of your belly wall muscle mass and tones the backbone. Alongside gradual deep respiration, this pose offers a refined belly therapeutic massage in your intestine, which will be notably helpful when you undergo from bloating – however could also be an excessive amount of when you have belly pains, so take heed to your physique and adapt accordingly.
The right way to: Place the small rectangular bolster horizontally throughout the center of your mat. Gently lay down and goal to relaxation your pelvis and decrease stomach onto the bolster. Prop your higher physique up utilizing your forearms and keep lengthy by way of the backbone. Keep right here for so long as feels snug.
Variations: Cobra or Upward Going through Canine
Stomach Therapeutic massage
Following on from sphinx, you possibly can lie down and permit your stomach to relaxation with gravity. Gentle compression in your stomach offers a soothing sensation as you maintain the pose with an easeful breath and tune into the feeling of your stomach increasing and condensing towards the bolster. Flip your head midway by way of to stretch the alternative aspect of your neck. This pose is especially helpful after a protracted day, if you need to shift into ‘relaxation and digest’ mode – the parasympathetic aspect of your nervous system.
The right way to: After a while in Supported Sphinx launch your higher physique onto the mat and relaxation your arms by your aspect. Place one cheek onto the mat and alternate half means by way of the length of the pose. Keep right here for so long as feels snug.
Variations: With out bolster
Props: The small rectangular bolster is full of buckwheat, which permits it to mould to the counters of your physique while additionally offering agency help. In order for you much less help merely take away some buckwheat from the bolster utilizing the zip.
Join with Dr Rabia on her web site: www.doctor-rabia.com or Instagram: @doctor_rabia