If you’re one of the more than 15 million people in the United States practicing yoga, you already know how beneficial the poses and breathing techniques can be for your body, mind and overall well being. Yoga, a centuries-old practice, stimulates blood flow, balances hormones, encourages digestion, lowers blood pressure and more.

But did you know that when you practice yoga, you’re not only stretching and massaging your limbs and inner organs, but you are also detoxing your body naturally? Different poses help circulate blood flow, stimulate digestion and help purge your body of toxins.

Abe’s own resident certified yoga instructor (and all-around great team member), Meghan Gerrity, explains why and how different poses are great for helping detox your body in various ways. So enough with the background. Let’s get to the poses!

POSES:

Supta Matsyendrasana (Reclined Twist):

The reclined twist stimulates the flow of fresh blood to your digestive organs, which in turn increases the health and functioning of your entire digestive system

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog):

When in downward dog, one of the most common poses, yoga practitioners engage the abdomen, encouraging digestion. Also, the heart is elevated over the head, which helps increase both blood and lymph circulation.

Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall):

This helps to increase blood and lymph circulation. Fresh blood flows to the abdomen encouraging digestion and this pose also calms the nervous system.

Parivritta Marichyasana (Seated Twist):

The seated twist stimulates digestion by squeezing abdominal organs.

Sasangasana (Rabbit):

Not only is rabbit a fun pose to say and do, it also stimulates the thyroid gland, improves immune system, balances hormones and improves circulation.

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (Twisted Revolved Side Angle Pose):

Like the reclined and seated twists, this post stimulates digestion and blood flow, but also offers added leg strengthening and elongation of the spine.

Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand) & Halasana (Plow):

These two inversion poses offer a number of benefits like:

• better sleep, digestion and focus
• benefitting the cardiovascular, lymphatic, endocrine, and nervous systems
• Relieving back pain by counteracting the pull of gravity

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