The digestive system

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THE SECOND BRAIN
The digestive system – often called the enteric nervous system or the second brain – does far more than just process food. It breaks down what we eat, absorbs essential nutrients, eliminates waste, and plays a central role in overall health and emotional well-being.

A remarkable 80% of the immune system resides in the gut, and about 95% of the body’s serotonin – commonly known as the “happy hormone” – is produced in the bowels. This deep connection between the gut and the brain explains why stress can disrupt digestion, and why gut imbalances can contribute to anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.

Emerging research is exploring how optimising gut health may support mental health and how therapies focused on the digestive system could complement treatment for emotional and psychological conditions. A healthy digestive system is not just about physical wellness – it’s also key to emotional balance and resilience.

TWISTS, FORWARD BENDS, BACKBENDS & THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
While many forms of movement support digestion, yoga is especially effective – particularly twists, forward bends and backbends, which stimulate the abdominal organs, boost circulation, and enhance both digestion and detoxification.

Twisting and forward bend poses gently compress the abdominal area, stimulating the digestive tract and encouraging peristalsis – the wave-like muscle movement that moves food and waste through the intestines. Upon releasing a twist or forward bend, a surge of oxygenated blood revitalises the organs, enhancing their function. Backbends lengthen and open the front of the body, including the abdomen and chest. This expansion stimulates internal organs, improves posture, and creates space for fuller breathing. While they don’t compress the digestive organs as much as twists or forward bends, backbends still improve circulation and promote digestive vitality. Twists, forward bends and backbends help support digestion by:

• Nutrient Absorption - activate the gut to improve the absorption of nutrients.

• Constipation Relief - compression and release help move waste through the colon, easing bloating and sluggishness.

• Detoxification - restricted blood flow during a twist followed by a flush of circulation supports the natural detox process.

• Stress relief - reduced stress related gut issues and constipation.

BREATH & THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The diaphragm, a muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, moves down during inhalation, creating negative pressure in the chest and positive pressure in the abdomen. This pressure change helps massage the digestive organs, aiding in the movement of food through the digestive tract. Restricted diaphragm movement, due to tight muscles or improper breathing, can disrupt this process and contribute to digestive issues like constipation, bloating, and acid reflux. Proper breathing, particularly diaphragmatic breathing, can also help regulate the nervous system and reduce stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the ‘rest and digest’ response, which can positively impact digestion.

By caring for your “second brain,” you support both your physical vitality and emotional balance – leaving you feeling lighter, clearer, and more energized from the inside out.

EXPLORING THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN YOUR PRACTICE
This sequence mirrors the natural flow of digestion and encourages regular elimination. When practicing we twist to the right first to stimulate the ascending colon and then to the left to stimulate the descending colon. There are lots of opportunities to maximise the effects of twists, forward bends and backbends. With a gentle reminder to breathe throughout with the ‘+’ and ‘-’ breath cues throughout.

The first row starts with some supine squeezing of the digestive system, followed by a childs pose version of cat cow and tabletop crunches which continues to rhythmically press the abdominal region, using the breath to maximise its effect. The second and third row are your two standing flows which are continuous flows linked with the breath. Pause and breath for two or three breaths as indicated at the start and the end of each flow. You can extend your practice by repeating these two standing flows two or three times per side. To enhance the twist, forward bend and backbend effects on digestion pause at any of these poses and take a few more breaths than indicated in the sequence. Happy baby in the last row is the ultimate pose for moving digestion and wind along. Come into a gentle twist after and then move into your two restorative poses to finish your practice following the restorative pose guide below.

ALIGNMENT CUES
Below are the restorative techniques used in this sequence. The props you’ll need are:
1 x bolster - or 2 towels, wrapped around a horizontally rolled pillow and tied to secure.
1 x yoga bricks - or 1 thick similar sized dictionaries.
2 x yoga blankets - or any wool, thick cotton or fleece blanket with density.

No.1 - Reclined bound angle
Place a rolled up blanket in the centre of your mat and a folded blanket at the top of your mat. Lie down over the rolled up blanket with the roll under your belly and your head on the rolled up blanket. Inhale, press your belly into the blanket roll, exhale, let the blanket press up into the abdominal area.

No.2 - Reclined bound angle
Place your bolster vertically along the top centre of your mat. Place a brick at its lowest height under the far end of the bolster. Sit with the back of your hips against the short end of the bolster. Bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees drop out to the sides. Prop your legs with a rolled blanket under each thigh or use a yoga belt to secure your feet and support the legs. Gently lie back onto your bolster.

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Ruth Delahunty Yogaru

Summer evenings flow

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YOUR EVENING RESET
After a full day of activity, decision-making, and stimulation, it’s normal to feel mentally wired or physically tense. A gentle evening ritual helps release the day’s buildup and prepare your body and mind for rest. Moving with intention slows the nervous system, supports deeper sleep, and creates space to ease into relaxation.

Yoga is one of the most effective ways to wind down in the evening. Gentle movement, paired with conscious breathing, activates the parasympathetic nervous system – your body’s “rest and restore” mode. This response helps lower stress hormones, eases muscle tension, and creates a sense of calm that prepares you for sleep. Evening yoga often targets areas where stress accumulates, such as the spine, hips, shoulders, and jaw, gently encouraging release.

A consistent evening yoga practice supports your body’s natural circadian rhythm. It can enhance melatonin production, aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and ease you into a more restful and regenerative sleep. Even just 15 minutes of slow, mindful movement can become a powerful signal that your day is ending and it's time to relax and reset.

EVENING YOGA IN SUMMER
Evenings offer a unique opportunity to tune inward and honour your body’s need to slow down. This is your time to let go of effort, disconnect from screens and stimulation, and shift into rest. In the warmer Summer months, evenings can be the perfect time to cool down and rebalance. With longer daylight hours and more social commitments, summer evenings may still carry a sense of stimulation well into the night. Evening yoga can help you step back from that momentum and prepare for a good night's sleep. Gentle breathing, especially with extended exhales or deep belly breathing, is especially effective in calming the nervous system.

Cooling poses – such as forward folds, hip openers and reclined poses – support relaxation and release heat from the body. These poses also support digestion and detoxification, which can be disrupted by summer’s shifting routines. Gentle twists are especially helpful after summer meals or travel fatigue, and supported poses with the arms open encourage both stillness and a sense of cool spaciousness.

Your summer evening practice offers a grounding pause in an otherwise energetic season. Roll out your mat, dim the lights, and soften into the gentle rhythms of your evening wind down – your body and mind will thank you by morning.

EXPLORING SUMMER EVENINGS FLOW IN YOUR PRACTICE
This full sequence focuses on staying lower to the ground than our regular practices to purposefully prepare for lying down in bed. This sequence starts in the first row with seated breath-led movement and child pose flow to stimulate the vagus nerve, regulate your heart rate, and ease the body into a restful state. The second row is a continuous flow to help you ease out any tension and fidgets from a busy day. The third gives the opportunity to realign the spine, stretch the front body and strengthen the back body. The final row has a four pose seated flow and three restorative poses. You can either pick one of the restorative poses or if you need more time to unwind you can do all three.

ALIGNMENT CUES
Below are the restorative techniques used in this sequence. The props you’ll need are:
1 x bolster - or 2 towels, wrapped around a horizontally rolled pillow and tied to secure.
2 x yoga blankets - or any wool, thick cotton or fleece blanket with density.
2 x yoga bricks - or two thick similar sized dictionaries

Restorative
No.1 - Supported childs
Come into a kneeling position with your hips on your heels. Nestle a bolster between your knees, vertically along your mat with a folded blanket on the far end. Place your hands either side of the bolster. With an inhale lengthen through the whole spine and on an exhale gently place your front spine along the centre of the bolster. Place your right cheek on the bolster. Feel the breath in the back of the ribs and lungs. Swap to your left cheek half way through the pose.

No.2 - Reclined seated
Place two bricks horizontally at the top of your mat, One at its highest height and the other at its mid height. Lie your bolster over the bricks along the centre of your mat and place a folded blanket on the far end of your bolster where your head will rest. Sit with the back of your hips along the short end of the bolster. Roll up a folded blanket and place it under your knees. Gently lie back onto your bolster. Feel a gentle opening across the chest.

No.3 - Mountain brook
Half roll a four fold blanket and place it at the top of your mat. Accordion fold the other blanket and place it below your top blanket where your shoulder blades will lie. Place the bolster towards the bottom of your mat where your knees will be. Lie supine on your back, nestle the rolled part of the top blanket in the curve of your neck, place the accordion folded blanket under the lower tips of your shoulder blades and the bolster under the creases of your knees. Legs and arms extended, palms facing up, feet fall out to the side. Feel the rise and fall of the props supporting your back body.

To save the images for personal use click and hold down the image until the ‘save image’ option appears; on Mac hold down ‘control’ and click the image to get the option box; on PC right click on the image to get the option box. Scroll down in the ‘option box’ and click ‘save image’.

Ruth Delahunty Yogaru

Summer mornings flow

Join me and practice this sequence and more of my monthly sequences on Stronger You. Enjoy a FREE 2 WEEK TRIAL with the code YOGARU2W.

YOUR MORNING RESET
After a night of rest, it’s common to wake up feeling a little stiff or sluggish. Gentle movement first thing in the morning helps shake off that heaviness, re-energise the body, and set the tone for a more grounded, vibrant day. Morning movement releases endorphins, increases oxygen flow, and boosts circulation – leaving you feeling more awake, clear-headed, and ready to meet the day.

Yoga is one of the most effective and accessible ways to get moving in the morning. It gently stretches and strengthens the entire body, mobilises the spine in all directions, and opens up the hips – especially helpful if you spend much of your day sitting. By focusing on key areas like the spine, hips, and shoulders, yoga helps relieve tension, improve posture, and support pain-free movement. This physical reset also uplifts your mood and cultivates a sense of emotional clarity and openness.

A consistent morning yoga practice does more than just wake you up. It supports digestion, balances hormones, boosts metabolism, and strengthens your immune system. Most importantly, it creates intentional space for self-care before the demands of the day begin – grounding your energy, aligning your body and mind, and helping you show up with more presence and resilience.

MORNING YOGA IN SUMMER
Summer brings an energetic, outward-moving rhythm to life – longer days, social activity, and increased momentum. Morning yoga helps balance that vibrancy with inner steadiness and mindful activation. Grounding standing poses build strength in the legs and core, helping you move through your day with a calm, steady foundation. Focusing on the inhale, and drawing breath deeply into the lungs, uplifts your energy and awakens the nervous system.

Summer mornings offer the perfect opportunity to build or refresh your yoga practice. The early light makes it easier to wake up, roll out your mat and get moving. The warmer weather means your muscles are more pliable, making it a great time to explore deeper backbends and heart-opening poses. These postures improve spinal mobility, encourage a more upright and open posture, and create a natural sense of expansion – physically and emotionally. Poses where the arms are lifted help circulate blood around warmer areas like the chest, armpits, and head – offering a cooling, revitalizing effect.

Increased heat and perspiration can slow digestion, especially after a night of sleep. Gentle morning twists stimulate the gut, enhance digestion, keep things moving and leave you feeling lighter and more comfortable. Follow your practice with a large glass of water to support hydration and amplify the digestive benefits of your movement.

Your summer morning practice will help you stay balanced, focused, and align with the day ahead. Start your day on the mat and step into summer with strength, clarity and ease.

EXPLORING SUMMER MORNINGS FLOW IN YOUR PRACTICE
This sequence starts in the first row with MFR on the feet to connect you with your foundation and gentle, breath-led movements to gradually build heat and warm all the muscles up. The second and third row are your standing flows, grounding through the legs shakes off any lingering sleepiness and helps you feel steady and confident in the day ahead. Complete each full line with the right leg forward and then repeat the line with the left leg forward – this is one full round of the flow. For a longer practice you can repeat these two standing flows. The final row brings you back down to the ground to absorb all the goodness of your time on your mat and get you ready for the day ahead.

Instead of ending in the traditional Savasana, the sequence closes with Samavritti Pranayama – equal breath – to focus the mind and regulate the nervous system. Morning breathwork is like a tall glass of cool water for the whole body: hydrating, energizing, and deeply restorative. It sets you up not just for movement, but for mindful presence throughout the day.

ALIGNMENT CUES
Below are the MFR and pranayama techniques used in this sequence. The props you’ll need are:
1 x MFR balls - or 1 tennis ball.

MFR Feet
Compression - from standing or seated, place 1 x ball at position No.1, gently press down with an inhale and release on the exhale x 5 breaths and move on to No.2. Continue to No.5. 

Roll & cross fibre - with the toes on the ground place 1 x ball at No.5, roll the ball across your heel x 5. Place 1 x ball at No.6, roll the ball across the knuckles of your toes x 5. Place 1 x ball at No.6, roll in one direction from toes to heel x 5. 

Scribble - roll and scribble across the sole of the foot. Repeat all steps on the other foot.

Pranayama
Sit in a comfortable position – cross legged, sitting up on a brick or straddling a bolster. Inhale for the count of 4, exhale for the count of 4 x 3 rounds. Inhale for the count of 4, pause for 2, exhale for the count of 4, pause for 2 x 3 rounds. Inhale for the count of 4, pause for 4, exhale for the count of 4, pause for 4 x 3 rounds. 

To save the images for personal use click and hold down the image until the ‘save image’ option appears; on Mac hold down ‘control’ and click the image to get the option box; on PC right click on the image to get the option box. Scroll down in the ‘option box’ and click ‘save image’.

Ruth Delahunty Yogaru