Cause of constipation and yoga help
Constipation is the root cause for most of our health problems. The best way to prevent ailments and maintain good health is by ensuring regular bowel movements. The main cause of constipation is normally our eating habits and wrong diet. Overeating, starving and irregular eating causes constipation. Also a faulty diet or one that is rich, spicy and high in fatty foods causes constipation. It is important to have lots of fluids, fruits and fiber rich vegetables to avoid constipation. Lack of exercise is also one of the reasons for constipation.
Intake of laxatives is a superficial remedy for temporary relief. One should not become reliant on laxatives as this is not a permanent remedy and in the long run, can even be disastrous. The best way to eliminate constipation is to incorporate yoga in your daily routine. There are many yoga postures which help in correcting and curing constipation as well as activate all the organs of the digestive system.
The following yoga poses are effective for constipation:
Ardha Halasana (The Half Plough Posture)
Lie flat on your back. Stretch your legs and keep your toes together. Keep the arms at your side with the palms facing downwards. Inhaling press the palms down and raise your right leg slowly as high as possible. As you exhale, bring the leg down. Repeat the process with the other leg also.
Pavanamuktasana (The Wing Relieving Pose)
Lie on your back. Stretch your legs and keep your toes together. The arms should be kept by your side. Breathe deeply. Breathe out and bending your right leg, bring it towards your stomach. Hold it with both the hands. Breathe deeply and raise your head and bring your chin close to the kneecap. Exhale and bring your head back on the floor. Breathe in and stretch your leg out. Repeat this posture with the other leg and then with both the legs together.
Trikonasana (Triangle Posture)
Stand straight and keep your hands by your side. Keep your legs apart as much as you can. Inhale and raise your arms and bring them to a horizontal position. While exhaling, bend your trunk to the right until the fingers of your right hand are touching the ground behind your right foot, the arms forming a vertical line and your face turned upwards. Inhaling, come to the standing position. Perform the same movement to the left. Repeat this posture a few times.
In addition to these there are other poses that can help like the Cobra Pose or Bhujangasana, the Half Spine Twisting pose or Ardha Matsyendrasana, the Supine Pelvic Posture or Supta Vajrasana and the Shoulder Stand Pose to name a few.
