The march of civilisation has brought upon us a set of plagues. Yes, plagues. They are called lifestyle diseases; imbalances in the body brought on purely by the way we chose to live our lives.
We eat more for taste, less for nutrition; compromise on sleep for the sake of work or entertainment; put enormous pressure on ourselves to perform to societal norms and so on. It isn’t surprising anymore to hear of young adults with heart issues and children with diabetes.
We, as a society, are slowly getting used to a mindset where being unwell is ‘normal’, and this mindset will spell disaster for the generations to come. In years of teaching, I have seen that if there is one organ system that takes the most beating in both adults and children, it is the digestive system.
Most people have forgotten what good digestion feels like, and live with pain, discomfort, embarrassment, medication and lethargy.
Our digestive system is resilient enough to bounce back to functioning normally, but we need to aid it in as many ways as possible; by eating right, chewing well, drinking enough water and, of course, exercising. The following posture massages the lower abdomen and the internal organs, thereby boosting circulation and encouraging peristalsis. If you suffer from gas, constipation or indigestion, practise this posture every morning before food.
Modified Dhyanveerasana with Twist (Hero’s Meditation Pose)
Sit with both legs straight in front of the body.
Bend the left leg underneath the right leg so that the left heel is touching the right buttock.
Bring the right leg over the top of the bent left leg so that the right heel touches the left buttock.
Adjust the right knee so that it is above the left knee.
Lengthen your spine and bring your chin parallel to the ground.
Rotate your torso to the right and backwards.
Place your right arm behind you with your fingers pointed backward.
Place the back of your left arm against your right thigh to help twist your torso further.
Exhale and inhale deeply.
Close your eyes and hold the posture for 10 to15 deep breaths.
Unwind and repeat the posture with your left leg on top and your left hand moving backwards.
