Presented by Activia, this gentle and effective yoga flow is designed to stimulate digestion. Led by yoga and fitness instructor Frances Flores, these movements will tap into the brain-gut connection in order to relax and relieve. For more context, yoga has been touted for years as a tool to improve digestive problems, from IBS to constipation. Thanks to its ability to tap into the parasympathetic nervous system, yoga poses can actually ignite the body’s “rest and digest” processes, per the Canadian Digestive Health foundation. In this flow, you can expect twists (to help food move through the digestive system), deep breathing (for stress relief), and stretching (to increase blood flow to certain organs). Throughout the session, Flores will encourage you to listen to your body for any discomfort. Class member Paris Nicole has you covered with modified options.
This flow begins with a standing sequence with poses like Crescent Upright Twist and Revolve Triangle. Flores will remind you to “allow your breathe to guide you.” It is a short session and an opportunity to be present as you enjoy the sensations of the twists and stretches. You’ll get your blood flowing with plank to downward dog and the Standing Warrior Series will activate and build heat in your core and glutes. Then, you’ll take it down to the mat for seated postures including seated twist and a forward fold to stretch your hamstrings.
You’ll finish the flow knowing you have given your spine some love. As a session concludes, Flores will encourage you to “feel any shifts that may have happened in your mind or body” and “take the energy with you wherever you will go today.” In just 10-minutes you may notice you feel more centered, grounded, and hopefully better digested, too. And if you enjoyed Flores’s class, check out new workouts on the PS Fitness YouTube channel.
Genevieve Farrell Roston (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker and the director of video at PS. She oversees the Webby-nominated PS Fit video series, which makes fitness fun and accessible. She has more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A certified personal trainer, she loves running, Pilates, and rest days. As a mom of two, she is an avid reviewer of children’s gear and products.