Namaste away from the toilet.
The therapeutic benefits of yoga are well established, with regular practice associated with improved sleep, decreased blood pressure, less chronic pain and even cutting opioid withdrawal time in half.
Additional research suggests it may also improve symptoms of a common digestive disorder affecting millions of people.
Movement, especially first thing in the morning, has been shown to get your gut moving, especially “poop yoga,” doctor-approved toilet yoga poses to go number two.
But between 25 and 45 million adults struggle to go, in addition to dealing with painful abdominal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS.)
A study published in Comprehensive Physiology may have found a potential solution, as yoga improved several signs of IBS.
Researchers reviewed multiple studies that incorporated gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological symptoms, quality of life and yoga practices.
They found that those who engaged in various types of yoga saw reduced symptoms and an improved quality of life.
Nearly 86% of participants reported improved constipation, 87% had less abdominal pain and half saw improvements in diarrhea. Nearly 43% saw a reduction of irregular bowel habits.
Certain yoga moves may aid constipation and provide a digestive massage, such as any seated twisting poses, forward folds or ones that provide relief like Child’s Pose.
Deep breathing exercises may also improve digestion by engaging the diaphragm and turning on the body’s rest-and-digest mode.
This is also known as the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the ability to relax and perform routine maintenance tasks, such as digestion.
This side effect may explain why yoga has more to do with just the gut, though.
Participants also noted lower levels of anxiety and depression, leading scientists to believe the benefits result from the gut-brain axis.
The gut-brain axis is the link between our stomachs and our brains, warning that our diets and gut health have a large impact on mood and mental health.
This connection explains why stress can worsen IBS symptoms like diarrhea or worsen stomach discomfort.
More research is needed to determine which specific yoga practices are most effective and how often for lasting benefits.
However, the findings suggest yoga is a promising complementary approach for managing IBS.
