Half Lord of the Fishes Pose is a gentle yet highly beneficial pose to incorporate into your yoga practice.
Performing twists in yoga gives our bodies a chance to wring out tension and realign the spine. What’s more, twists aid digestion, and help to eliminate built up waste as well as negative thoughts and emotions that live in the belly.
How-To
- Start in a seated position with legs out straight.
- Cross the right leg over the left so the right heel is outside the left hip.
- If comfortable, bend the left knee and bring the left heel to the right hip, resting the top of the foot on the ground. Alternatively, leave the left leg extended.
- Reach your left arm in the air, then twisting at the lower belly, hook the left elbow outside the right knee.
- Place the right hand on the floor behind the tailbone, as close to the body as possible. Use this arm to keep the spine long and sitting tall.
- Be careful not to use the elbow to force the body to turn, but rather use the strength of the core to twist.
Practice on both sides.
Why We Struggle with Digestion
Nearly 30% of the world’s population struggles with some sort of digestive disorder, and the incidence in women is two and a half times that of men. As with many health issues, the problem here isn’t so much a lack of digestion, as it is underlying stress that causes us to hold onto things. This is where yoga, and specifically twisting poses, can help.
There are a number of reasons that we might not be digesting our food successfully. The first would be an unbalanced diet lacking in sufficient nutrients, namely fiber. Another reason, and perhaps the more likely, is stress.
When we’re stressed, we tend to clench in the belly, and this slows digestions, leading to constipation. We might also experience bouts of extreme anxiety, which leads to diarrhea. Not only that, but women have developed a toxic relationship with their bellies, wishing them to be thin and toned, and scolding them for being bloated. The result, is an unbalanced, exhausted, and unloved digestive tract that needs care and attention.
The Importance of a Healthy Belly
In Ayurveda, an ancient holistic medicine, undigested food, as well as undigested words, experiences, thoughts, and emotions, live in our belly as Ama. They say that Ama is the root of all disease, it is the remains of everything still living in us, and it blocks our arteries, minds, and hearts. This means that poor digestion can lead to all kinds of other medical issues, both physical and mental.
For women, a hatred of the belly region ignores the great power that we hold here. It is where our creativity, power, and intuition live, not to mention it is the region that is capable of creating life.
Having this area of our body in prime working condition is essential for ourselves, but also for our future children.
Here are some of the holistic benefits of Half Lord of the Fishes pose, so you can utilize all the yummy benefits of deep twisting postures in your life and yoga practice:
Physically
Performing twists literally wrings out the digestive organs. They also restrict and then refresh blood flow to our essential organs that play roles in excreting waste and boosting immunity.
Spiritually
The Sacral Charka, or energy center, lies just below the belly button, the same place where the twists should stem from. This is the home of emotion, creativity, and an ability to go with the flow. It’s no surprise that when these things are stifled, this region of the body suffers.
Igniting the Sacral Chakra further heals this part of the body and allows us to release the old, static energy that no longer serves us and feel proud, confident, and powerful.
If you’ve struggled with poor digestion for years, it may be time to start getting serious about coming to terms with why. Incorporating twisting yoga poses is one way to encourage healthy digestion, but this must be complimented by a commitment to release whatever else is holding you back.
What benefits have you found from practicing Half Lord of the Fishes Pose? Share them with us in the comments below!
