4 YOGA ASANAS TO RELIEVE ACIDITY

It is believed that a vast number of diseases today result from our negligence toward what we eat, how we eat, when and in what amount we eat. One of the most common ailments that affect us is a form of indigestion called acidity where gastric juices are over-produced in our stomach. The over-secretion of the gastric juices can be very hazardous as they eat away the stomach lining, leading to gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Embarking on a yoga journey can be your first step towards better digestion. Through yogic techniques and dietary changes, you can control and even eliminate acidity, balancing the functioning of the digestive system and lowering the levels of stress, which is the cause of many diseases.Supta badha konasana or reclined bound angle pose Like many restorative yoga asanas, this asana is excellent to support your digestion. This pose relieves gas from the system and treats chronic acidity.Steps to do the pose: From badhakonasana or cobbler’s pose, lean backwards and get your elbows to the floor. Now lower your back to the floor and hold this pose for a few minutes. To come out of the pose, roll over to your right side and slowly sit up. You can use your hands as a

support to get up.Caution: Do not perform this pose if you are pregnant or have a shoulder injury.Setubandhasana or bridge pose The lining of our stomach is extremely sensitive, and acidity can erode the wall. Along with our lack of mindful eating, stress also affects our digestive organs. Therefore, de-stressing the mind becomes as important as strengthening our abdominal organs. Practise back bending postures such as setubandhasana to cool both your mind and your body.Steps to do the pose: Lie on the yoga mat with your back on it. Now bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor. While

you do this, keep your arms by the sides of your body. Breathing out, shift your weight to your arms and push your pelvis off the floor, toward the ceiling. Keep your body lifted so that your neck and head still lie flat on the floor. Hold this position for five steady breaths and slowly bring down your body.Halasana or plough pose Halasana is excellent in dealing with acidity. The asana helps you get a tranquil mind and body that can help control the secretion of gastric juices in your stomach and control acidity.Steps to do the pose: Lie flat with your back on the floor. Place your arms on the sides of your body. Bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor. Now, gently raise your legs from the hips. You can

place your hands on your hips for support. Now bend your legs and try to touch the floor behind your head with your toes. Now straighten your

hands, so they lie flat on the floor. To return to the starting position, gently roll your back onto the floor.Vajrasana Performing this asana immediately after your meal can increase blood flow to the stomach and intestines and aid in the digestion process. By regular practise of this asana, you can clean your whole digestive system. Make a habit to sit in vajrasana 10-15 minutes after your meals. This pranayama will also aid in better digestion.Steps to do the pose: Kneel on a yoga mat and let the top surface of your feet touch the mat. Your heels should be pointing

upwards. Now gently sit with your buttocks on your heels. Now place both your palms on your knees. You may close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

10 HOME REMEDIES FOR ACIDITY THAT REALLY WORKSuffer from acidity or acid reflux and are tired of having antacids? Well, there are natural ways you can get rid of the problem. Thought to be due to increased pitta or the lack of digestive fire, Ayurveda prescribes a number of remedies for the conditions. Not only are these remedies sans any side effects, they will also help resolve the discomfort that comes with acidity in jiffy. So to help you beat heartburn, here are 10 home remedies that actually work.(Beware, sometimes what seems like acidity could actually be a heart attack, especially in women).Home remedy for acidity #1: BananasHow do they help? They are a rich source of potassium and help keep the level of acid production in your stomach in

check. Certain components in the fruit also help increase the production of mucous in your stomach, which

helps protect it from the harmful effects of excessive acid production. Are high in fibre content which helps speed up digestion, preventing the recurrence of acidity. ]Tip for reliefEat a ripe banana for some relief. You could also eat an overripe banana to beat an especially bad bout of acidity, as they tend to contain more potassium which makes it the perfect antidote. Here areeight foods that can help you detox naturally and aid digestion. Home remedy for acidity #2:  TulsiHow does it help? Tulsi leaves help stimulate your stomach to produce more mucous Has antiulcer properties and reduces the effect of gastric acids,Tip for reliefChewing on five to six tulsi leaves when you suffer from acidity is a great way to beat the discomfort you feel.Home remedy for acidity #3: Cold milk How does it help? Milk has a high amount of calcium that helps it prevent acid build up and absorbs the excess acid

produced, thereby reducing the symptoms of acidity. The fact that it is cold also provides instant relief from the burning sensation one feels during acid

reflux.Tip for reliefIt is essential that you have the milk cold and without any additives like sugar. You could even mix it with a spoon of ghee to make the remedy even more effective.Home remedy for acidity #4: Saunf or aniseedHow does it help? Has very potent anti-ulcer properties (due to the volatile oils it contains) Aids in digestion and relieves constipation. Helps cool the lining of the stomach, reducing that burning sensation you feel during a bout of

acidity.Tip for reliefWhile simply chewing on a few saunf seeds can help reduce the symptoms of acidity, as a long term remedy, boil a few seeds in water and leave overnight, drink this water during the day when you feel uneasy.Home remedy for acidity #5: JeeraHow it helps It has properties that stimulate the production of saliva which helps in better digestion, improves

metabolism and relieves gas and other gastric troubles.  According to Ayurvedic doctors jeera has a calming effect on irritated stomach nerves and helps

heal ulcers.Tip for reliefYou can chew a few seeds of jeera to relieve acidity or boil it in water and drink the solution when it has cooled down.

Home remedy for acidity #6: CloveHow it helps When bitten into your taste buds react cloves pungent taste and secrete excess saliva, which in turn

aids digestion and beats the symptoms of acidity. Has carmitive properties and helps improve peristalisis (the movement of food down the stomach).Tip for reliefIn case you’re suffering from acidity, bite a clove once so that the juice is released and then keep it in the mouth. The slowly released juice will immediately lower acid reflux and give you some relief. Cloves can also help relieve a sore throat, here’s how .Elaichi:  How it helps Known to balances all three doshas – kapha, pitta and vataaccording to Ayurvedic texts, elaichi is

known to stimulate digestion and relieve stomach spasms. It also soothes the inner lining of the stomach helping it ward off the effects of excess acid produced

in the stomach.Tip for reliefTo relieve acidity crush two pods of cardamom (with or without the skin), boil the powder in water and drink the cooled juice for instant relief.Mint leaves or pudinaHow it helps Pudina helpslower the acid content of the stomach and improves digestion. Has a cooling effect which helps reduce the pain and burning associated with acid reflux.Tip for reliefIf you feel an attack coming on chop some mint leaves, add them to a pot of boiling water and drink this water after it cools. You could alsotry mint to calm indigestionGingerHow it helps The root is known to improve digestion and aid in better absorption and assimilation of  essential

nutrients. It also protect your stomach against ulcers by promoting mucus secretion and reducing the effect of

the acid on your stomach.Tip for reliefFor relief from acidity, chew a small piece of ginger. If you find that too pungent, try boiling it in water and drinking the decoction. Another remedy is to crush ginger, mix it with a small piece of jaggery and keeping sucking on it allowing the juice to slowly reach the stomach.AmlaHow it helps Amla is a kapha and pitta pacifier apart from having high amounts of vitamin C that helps in

healing the injured stomach lining and oesophagus.Tip for reliefHave one teaspoon of amla powder twice a day to help keep acidity at bay.So the next time you feel like you might suffer from a bout of acidity, ditch that bottle of antacid, and try some effective home remedies instead, after all they’ve been around for centuries.

YOGA POSES TO IMPROVE DIGESTION

It is believed that good digestion is the key to good health. According to Ayurvedic doctors, the stomach plays and important role in regulating the body’s mechanisms and a healthy stomach can help keep acne at bay, make you less irritable, helps keep your body safe from diseases like indigestion and in some cases even cancer. So much so that the principles of Ayurveda stipulate that an unhealthy stomach can lead to poor eyesight. So. wouldn’t you want to take care of this important organ? Try these Yoga poses for some help:

Sarvangasana: This pose is essentially known for its ability to regulate the working of the thyroid glands. These glands are responsible for the proper functioning of the entire body including the digestive, nervous, reproductive system, regulating metabolism and respiratory system.  Apart from that , it nourishes the spine with a good supply of blood and oxygen, helping you beat nervous system disorders, and improving your all round health. 

How to do this pose:To do this pose, lie on a yoga mat with your legs extending outwards. Now slowly raise your legs either by first folding them at the knees or by lifting them straight. Place your palms along your back and hips to support it, and raise your body while pointing your toes to the ceiling. All your weight should be on your shoulders. Make sure you breathe slowly and lock your chin into your chest. Your elbows should be touching the floor and your back should be supported. Hold this pose for as long as you are comfortable. To return to the lying position, slowly lower your body. Do not simply fall back to the lying position.Tips to keep in mind: Do not do this pose if you suffer from any neck or spinal injuries. If you do have high blood pressure perform this exercise only under supervision. Trikonasana : This aasana strengthens your legs, knees, ankles and chest. It also helps improve digestion and improves one’s rate of metabolism. Apart from that it improves mental equilibrium making you more calm, reduces anxiety and stress, thereby helping you beat acidity and stress related stomach ailments like constipation. Steps to do this pose:Stand up straight, now spread your legs apart. Turn one foot outwards such that your toes are facing sideways and turn your other foot slightly inwards. Now, stretch your arms sideways. Bend at your hips and lower one arm towards the outward turned leg while allowing the other arm to rise up towards the sky. Make sure you distribute your body weight equally on both your legs. Now, breathe out when you bend down. Place your arm either on your ankle, shin  or knee. If you are extremely flexible, try to touch the floor with your palm. Breathe in and out softly and allow your body to relax. Make sure your hips are straight and you are not bending backwards or forwards. Hold this pose for five breath counts.  Now, exhale and come up to the standing position. Repeat this on the other side. It is recommended that you do not push yourself too much while doing this pose, take your time to gain some flexibility.Tips to keep in mind: Do not do this pose if you have high or low blood pressure, a neck or back injury, suffer from migraines or have diarrhoea.Janusirsasana: This pose is great to heal the digestive system and relieve stress, it helps stretch out your back, neck, calf muscles and hamstrings. It is a great pose to quieten the mind and beat insomnia. Steps to do this pose: Sit down on the floor with your legs together in front of you. Now fold one of your legs at the knees, and place that leg’s foot on the upper thigh of the extended leg. The higher your legs are placed on your thigh the more the stretch. Now place one hand on your hip for support and while extending the other hand. Now, exhale and bend forward. Try to clasp your toes with your extended arm. Stay in this position for five breaths. Now inhale and come back to the sitting position.Tips to keep in mind: Do not do this pose if you suffer from any kind of knee injury, lower back pain or injury, diarrhoea or asthma.Bhujangasana: This pose opens up the chest, improves breathing, reduces stress, strengthens the shoulders, back and abdomen and more importantly improves circulation and digestion. The pose is great in helping the stomach acids function normally thereby helping you beat symptoms like acidity, constipation etc.Steps to do this pose: Lie flat on the floor on your stomach. Place your forehead on the floor and your feet flat on the ground. Make sure your feet and heels are slightly touching each other. Place your hands with your palms facing downwards right next to your shoulders with your elbows as close as possible to your body. Make sure they do not flare out. Now, exhale and lift your upper body one part at a time – first your head, chest then your back and pelvis. At this point make sure your hands are straight and elbows are locked. Make sure your navel is in contact with the floor and you are

placing equal pressure on both hands. Now breathe in and out slowly and try to calm your mind. To get out of the pose, breathe out and gently come back down to the lying position. To sit up again, turn to your side and get up with the help of your palms.Tips to remember: Do not do this pose if you have a wrist injury, are pregnant or have a back injury.Balasana: Also known as the child’s pose, this aasana is a calming and restorative in nature. It allows you to relax and stretches out your arms, lower back and spine. Since this pose relaxes you it is best to beat stress and relieve gastrointestinal symptoms related to the condition. So, after that tiring day at work, this is the best aasana for you. Steps to do this pose: Start with your knees on the floor, now rest your buttocks on your feet. Make sure your back is straight and your hands are resting on your knees. Now exhale, and while using your hands as support, slide down and forwards into the child’s pose. Once here, breathe in and out slowly. Just relax and let your body calm down. The goal is to have your forehead touch the ground, but if you can’t do not push yourself. Hold this pose for as long as you are comfortable. Now to come out of this pose inhale and use your hands to push up your upper body. Rise slowly and try not to put too much pressure on your back.Tips to remember: If you suffer from acidity, are pregnant, have a lower back injury do not do this pose. Finally, remember that these poses are supposed to be done only till the point that you are not uncomfortable. Avoid pushing your body beyond your physical limits. You will be able to achieve the perfect pose with practice.