Yoga for nausea is therapeutic. Learn how to relieve nausea in this article.
Did you know that you can naturally cure nausea fast and all you need to know are a few yoga poses?
Yes, it can be done! If you’re not big on taking medication or you’re just looking for a natural remedy, there are a few key asanas that you can use to bring some instant relief to your nausea.
Whether you’re suffering from morning sickness, a tummy bug, or you’re just feeling a little queasy, there’s a yoga pose for that.
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What is Nausea?
Nausea is a nonspecific symptom which means that there is no definitive cause of nausea – unfortunately, we can be plagued by it for a number of reasons.
Nausea is a discomfort in your upper stomach that triggers the urge to vomit. While you may not always vomit as a result of nausea, you will almost always feel the need to.
If you’re unsure, contact your doctor.
Why Does Yoga Help Relieve Nausea?
You may have assumed that yoga helps relieve nausea based on its ability to calm your nerves – which can cause nausea or make it worse. And that’s true. But yoga can help relieve nausea that is not caused by nerves and anxiety, too.
When you do yoga, it enhances blood circulation. Why does this help nausea? Well, it means that more oxygen is circulated throughout your body which helps refresh your system and keep it balanced. As a result, your body starts to feel rejuvenated and you get some relief for your upset tummy.
Can Yoga Be Used to Relieve Morning Sickness?
Absolutely! As with any physical activity when you’re expecting, make sure you consult your health care practitioner in regards to any poses that could put you at risk in any way. You may just need to modify your yoga poses which does not make them any less effective. Yoga is a great way to naturally improve morning sickness without having to take any yucky medication.
3 Yoga Asanas for Nausea
Now, we’re going to take you through three yoga poses that have been found time and time again to be effective for nausea.
1. The Hero Pose
The Hero Pose can be incredibly effective for nausea because it creates space in the abdomen. This takes some of the pressure off of the stomach, diaphragm, and liver, which can help reduce nausea.
How to: Sit on your knees and keep your heels underneath your hips. Spread your legs slightly outwards so that your hips can rest on the floor. To make this pose more affective for nausea, raise your arms, bend them at the elbow, and rest them on your head. Hold this position for about 10 to 12 breaths. This pose can also be done in a reclining position (Reclining Hero Pose) where your back is resting on the ground but this may not be as effective for stomach relief.
2. Deep Breathing Yoga
Simply focusing on deep breathing can help reduce your nausea fast – in fact, it’s my go-to for whenever I’m feeling nauseous. Deep Breathing yoga relieves nausea by encouraging oxygen to flow through your body. This pose also removes pressure from your diaphragm and abdomen which could quickly help you relieve some discomfort.
How to: Sit cross-legged on the floor, sitting up as straight as feels comfortable – do not put more stress on your aggravated tummy. Close your eyes and take slow breaths, holding each for a few seconds before slowly exhaling. Repeat this deep breathing exercise for five to 10 minutes or however long you need.
3. Legs Up the Wall
While this may seem like the last pose you’d want to be in when you are nauseous, trust us when we say that it helps. This asana helps improve your digestion which in turn takes some of the pressure off your stomach and improves your nausea.
How to: You can do this pose on the floor or from the comfort of your own bed. Take a pillow or folded blanket and position it a few inches from the wall or from your headboard. Scoot your hips towards the wall and rest your tailbone on your support, letting your hips relax into it. Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet to the wall, gradually walking your ankles upwards until your legs are straight against it. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, picturing your nausea fading away. Stay in this pose for as long as you need to, or for eight to 10 minutes.
Note: As mentioned, you should always consult with your healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant and engaging in any new physical activity but this pose should be used with extreme caution. At a certain point in your pregnancy, you need to be mindful of laying flat on your back. This can affect the oxygen supply to your baby and can be dangerous.
The Final Word on Yoga for Nausea
If you’re struggling with nausea, we definitely sympathise with you. It can be a real bummer, especially when you’re simply trying to go about your day without feeling sick. Having a way to relieve nausea without constantly having to pop medication is certainly ideal and yoga can be a great way to achieve this.
While we may feel like avoiding physical activity of any kind when we’re nauseous, these yoga moves are simple, and gentle, and relieve the pressure on your stomach rather than exacerbate it. Try one or all of these poses next time you’re feeling some nausea coming on – you will not be disappointed!
