Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we’ve got the four “F’s” to be thankful for: friends, family, food and a four-day work week. This year, fight the food coma and be thankful for La Jolla ambassador, Ingrid Yang, who shows us which yoga poses can help ‘unstuff’ after a fruitful Thanksgiving feast.
poses for digestion:
child’s pose (also known as downward facing turkey)
Okay, that was a joke, though the pose does kind of resemble a roasted turkey. Child’s pose is not only great for taking a breather between yoga poses (or between courses) but forward bending creates heat in the abdomen and helps to get those digestive juices flowing.
marichyasana III (seated twist)
Here’s one good reason to break out a game of Twister after Thanksgiving dinner. Twisting wrings out the internal organs and helps to move things along. Marichyasana III pose is known to massage abdominal organs like your liver and kidneys. Start in a seated position with both legs extended out. Bend one knee and twist the torso towards the bent leg. Hold for as long as you like and repeat on the other side.
apanasana (upward pose)
Look to your left then right and make sure no one else is around (this pose is a relieving one, if you know what we mean.) Lying on your back, bring both knees into the chest and give yourself a big hug. Rock your knees from side to side to help massage abdominal organs and get digestion going. Hold the pose for as long as you like.
After dinner, fight the urge to hit Savasana, that’s the turkey’s natural sedative trying to take advantage and it won’t help your digestion. Be happy, be merry, and eat, then be glad your yoga pants have enough stretch to accommodate the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!
want more?
- don’t forget to breathe: Pranayama away the pecan pie
- bring a healthy and blissful treat to the table
- do yoga with Ingrid