7 Poses to Do After Thanksgiving Dinner

The holiday season is often synonymous with overeating. Celebrations and reunions with family and friends give us an excuse to eat an extra piece of pie (or two), or simply indulge until we can’t fit anymore in. This year, instead of sleeping off the holiday meals with a nap or popping pills to relieve your discomfort, use the following 7 yoga poses to re-ignite your digestive fire, regain your energy, and keep things moving along.

The holiday season is often synonymous with over-eating. Celebrations and reunions with family and friends give us an excuse to eat an extra piece of pie (or two), or simply indulge until we can’t fit anymore in. This year, instead of sleeping off the holiday meals with a nap or popping pills to relieve your discomfort, use the following 7 yoga poses to re-ignite your digestive fire, regain your energy, and keep things moving along.
Cat/Cow (Marjaryasana)

Cat/Cow pose stimulates the digestive process by repeatedly stretching and contracting the abdominal muscles and organs.
To Do This Pose:
Support yourself on your hands and knees. Check that your shoulders are stacked over your wrists and your hips over your knees. As you inhale, arch your back, drop your navel toward the mat and look up. As you exhale, round your spine and tuck your head toward your torso. Keep moving in this pattern for 5 deep breaths.
Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Downward Facing Dog aids in digestion by bringing the whole body into alignment, naturally relaxing the digestive track. As this pose is an inversion, do it slowly and carefully if you’re experiencing acid reflux or heartburn, and don’t stay in the posture if it aggravates these feelings.
To Do This Pose:
Support yourself on your hands and knees. Move your hands one palm’s distance forward. Tuck your toes and lift your hips toward the sky, slowly straightening your legs. Try to keep your spine long and straight. Stay here for 10 deep breaths.
Garland Pose (Malasana)

This is one of the best poses for digestion, evidenced by the fact that most of the world goes to the bathroom in this position. This pose can especially help with gas.
To Do This Pose:
Bring your feet a little wider than hips distance with your toes slightly pointing away from each other. Bring your hands together at heart center. Slowly, staying balanced, lower your hips towards the floor, trying to keep your feet flat on the mat. Press into your thighs with your elbows. Take 10 deep breaths in this position.
Seated Twist (Maricyasana)

Twists are excellent for digestion as they deeply massage the abdominal organs to get things moving again. But after a huge meal, they can be uncomfortable, so be sure to take this twist slowly and gently.
To Do This Pose:
Bend your left leg and bring your left foot next to your knee. Bend your right arm and move your right elbow to the outside of your left thigh, twisting to the left, using your elbow to gently deepen the twist. Bring your left hand to the floor behind you for support. If the twist feels too deep, try twisting to the right instead, which will give you a gentler twist, but provide the same benefits. Hold for 5 deep breaths and repeat on the other side.
Wind Relieving Pose (Pavanamuktasana)

The name of this pose really says it all—this posture is great for relieving gas and bloating!
To Do This Pose: Lie on your back. Bend your left knee and take hold of your upper left shin with your hands, drawing your thigh towards your stomach. As you exhale in this posture, see if you can bring your thigh closer to your chest. Repeat on the other side.
Reclining Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana)

This gentle, relaxing twist is another great pose for stimulating Agni—our digestive fire—as it nourishes the digestive organs with fresh blood flow.
To Do This Pose:
Lie on your back and extend your arms out to both sides. Bring your knees in toward your chest, and gently let them drop toward the left side. Bring your gaze toward your right fingertips. Hold for 5 breaths and repeat on the other side.
Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

The perfect pose to finish your practice, Supta Baddha Konasana increases blood flow to your abdominal organs and pelvis and creates space in these areas, which allows digestion to be efficient and unimpeded.  
To Do This Pose: Lying on the floor, bring the soles of your feet together, close to your pelvis. Allow your knees to drop gently towards the floor. Allow your arms to relax along side your body with your palms facing up. Breathe deeply here for 1-5 minutes to finish your practice.