7 Yoga Poses That'll Help With Bloating

Try these after dinner.

Yoga is pretty well known for its healing effects on chronic back pain, anxiety, and mobility.

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And in case you didn't already know, it's also good for helping you digest that meal you just had — aka, alleviating discomfort from potential gassiness, bloating, or even constipation.

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According to NYC-based celebrity yoga and Pilates instructor Kristin McGee, "Any time you move your muscles and stimulate blood flow, you stimulate digestion. And yoga is a full-body exercise [that does just that.]"

Jason Mraz @jason_mraz

yoga often begins by setting an intention for the class. Mine is, try not to fart in front of all these beautiful people. don't be that guy.

10:34 PM - 09 Apr 2013

"As you twist your body and gain flexibility, you're putting pressure on and stimulating your organs in a way that could help digestion," McGee tells BuzzFeed.

And of course, yoga isn't the only type of exercise that would aid in digestion. Anything that gets you moving, like running, strength training, or pilates, would also help. But, as McGee says, "Yoga is great for someone who needs a low-impact sport."

And personally speaking, I also find it to be the most relaxing. 🙏

Here are seven poses that might help get things moving, according to McGee:

1. Cat pose

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How to:

• Start with your hands and knees on the floor; your knees should be under your hips, and your wrists should be under your shoulders.

• Take a big deep inhale and on the exhale, round your spine up toward the ceiling, pulling your belly button toward your spine.

• Tuck your chin toward your chest, and let your neck release. This cat pose should transition into the cow pose.

2. Cow pose

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How to:

• Starting from cat pose, tilt your pelvis so your tail sticks up.

• Now drop your belly while drawing your gaze up toward the ceiling.

3. Crescent Lunge

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How to:

• Starting in downward-facing dog, step your right foot forward to a low lunge and drop your left knee.

• Stack your right knee over your ankle and press your hands into your right thigh to help lower your hips.

• Now inhale, look toward the ceiling, and reach your arms overhead.

• Reach your chest forward and up for a slight back bend.

4. Bow pose

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How to:

• Begin lying on your belly, with your arms relaxed alongside your body and your palms facing up.

• Now bend your knees, bringing your heels in toward your buttocks.

• Reach back and gently grab hold of your outer ankles.

• Finally, kick back into your feet to bring your sternum and your thighs up from the floor.

5. Chair pose

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How to:

• Begin from a standing position, with your big toes touching.

• Inhale and raise your arms above your head, perpendicular to the floor.

• As you exhale, bend your knees, bringing your thighs as parallel to the floor as they can get. Note that your knees will project out slightly over your feet but you should still be able to see your toes.

6. Garland pose

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How to:

• Squat with your feet facing outward and position them a little wider than your torso.

• Now move your chest forward between your thighs and bring your palms together in prayer at the center of your chest.

• Shift your weight so it's slightly more in your heels.

7. Reclining hero pose

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How to:

• Start in an upright hero pose.

• Bring your knees closer to each other so that your feet automatically widen. * Lower your hips until you find yourself sitting on the mat.

• Exhale and lean backward until your back rests on the floor, using your elbows to support you down.

Happy flexin' and tootin'!

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