5 Yoga Poses to Support Detox & Digestion

Looking for a way to detox that doesn't involve juicing? Or maybe you want to add a deeper boost of detox to your current cleanse? Whatever your motive may be, the following poses will help your digestion, improve your range of motion, and strengthen your body; leaving you feeling so fresh and so clean.

Before we dive in, one thing to remember is that our body already has it's own powerful cleansing system. So, view these poses as a way to assist and stimulate what is already put in place. You can do each pose individually or you can add them to your favorite yoga flow.

Forward Fold w/ Belly Massage

Compression and pressure on the abdomen will help to move stagnant energy in the digestive system.

• Stand with your feet hip distance apart and take your fists to your hip creases.

• Keep the spine long and strong as you fold forward over bent or straight legs, letting the back body completely release with the head and neck hanging heavy without effort.

• If you don’t feel pressure from your fists in your belly, bend your legs so that your belly rests gracefully on your thighs, with the fists gently compressing the lower abdomen.

• Then make small circles with the fists to gently get movement in the intestines to help your body release waste and toxins from the digestive tract.

• Stay here for 5 or more breaths before coming back up to Tadasana, Mountain Pose.

Wide Leg Standing Forward Fold w/ a Twist

This pose stimulates the abdominal organs, improves digestion and helps to detoxify the body.

• Start with your legs wide and feet turned slightly out, exhale and fold all the way down

• Inhale, and halfway lift the torso creating a flat back, extending the line of energy from the crown of the head to the wall in front of you while pointing your tailbone to the wall behind you. Feel that dynamic pull in opposite directions.

• Place the right palm under the face in line with the midline of the body, exhale as you hollow the belly and twist, lifting your left hand, fingertips pointing towards the sky.

• Stay here for five breaths. Allow yourself to really feel the stretch in the inner right thigh. Then slowly bring the left hand to the earth to meet the right. Inhale as you halfway lift again to neutralize the spine.

• Exhale, now with our left hand placed under the face and gentle twist to the right. Stay here for five breaths.

Seated Spinal Twist This is a restorative pose that helps support your digestion and encourages spinal mobility.

• Begin seated on your mat with your legs extended in front of you. Bend both knees, and place your left heel as close to your right sit bone as you can. Cross your right foot over your left knee, and plant it on the floor so your outer right ankle is next to your left knee.

• Reach your right arm behind you, and place your palm on the floor. Cross your left elbow over your outer right thigh to gently increase the twist.

• Gaze behind you and over your right shoulder, staying here for five breaths. Then release the twist, straighten your legs out in front of you, and do this pose with your left knee pointing up.

Head to Knee Pose This pose helps stimulate the livers and kidneys as you fold forward and compress the organs.

• Begin in a seated position with both legs straight out in front of you.

• Bend your right knee, and hold your right foot with your left hand. Bring your right arm under your right leg, and reach around to grab on to the arch with your right hand

• Pull your right toes down gently, and place the sole of your right foot against your left inner thigh so your right heel is pointing up.

• Lengthen through the spine, and fold your torso over your left leg. Place your hands on the floor on either side of your leg or on your shin. If your hamstrings and hips are more flexible, reach for your foot — the right hand holds the left wrist.

• Rest your forehead on your leg, and stay here for five breaths. Continue lengthening the spine as you relax the shoulders away from your ears.

• Then release your hands, sit up, and switch sides.

Legs Up the Wall This pose helps relieve stress, lower back pain, soothes muscles cramps and over all allows your body to reach a deeper state of calm so that all components are functioning properly.

• Put one edge of your folded-up blanket right up against an empty wall-space.

• Sit sideways along the wall so that your right shoulder and right leg are touching the wall. As if you want to sit on the wall, put the right side of your bottom up on the wall as much as you can so that the sit-bones are in contact with the wall.

• Keep this contact as you swing your legs up the wall and recline into a comfy position. You can take your legs wide, bring the feet together, or keep your legs straight and feet pointed up. Whatever feels best for you.

• Stay here for 10 breaths or more, following your breath as your body and mind relax deeper into the pose.