HOW TO BE DE-BLOAT AND IMPROVE DIGESTION WITH PILATES

SIMONE DOULAVERAS

Good digestion is the key to a whole lot of good: eliminating toxins, mental clarity, weight loss, nutrient absorption and a healthier immune system. 

​But, how do we do this?

​The way to get your digestive system firing is by working the four main muscles that surround the digestive organs: transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques.

Activating these muscles through movement massages the organs of the stomach, and what’s the best way to work them? One word: Pilates (preferably at The Loft!).

HOW IT WORKS
To activate the muscles that surround the digestive track and massage the stomach organs, we use a combination of:

• Deep, intentional breathing
• Abdominal work
• A rotation of the trunk of the body
• Inversions

This will result in de-bloating and absorbing more nutrients from your food. You will feel less sluggish and it will kick start the detoxification process through your body.

OUR 5 FAVOURITE EXERCISES THAT AID DIGESTION:

• THREAD THE NEEDLE – twists and rotates the muscles of the trunk of the body.
  Inhale as you reach to the ceiling and exhale with force as you dive through to use breath to deepen the stomach massage
• Down dog – inversion that allows gravity to detoxify the digestive system
• Criss cross – abdominal exercise that activates all four of the main muscle groups to massage the digestive tract. Exhale through pursed lips as you twist
• Rollover – abdominal inversion exercise. Works the abdominal muscles plus uses gravity to detoxify the digestive system
• Cat stretch – simple and effective, moving the trunk of the body must be the focus rather than rocking backwards and forwards or shrugging into the shoulders for it to work effectively
  
  Ready to move? We’re ready when you are at The Loft!