Yoga for Nausea: A List of Yoga Asanas to Help Alleviate the Symptoms of Nausea

Nausea is an uncomfortable sensation that often comes with queasiness, vomiting, or abdominal pain. It can be caused by various factors such as pregnancy, food poisoning, alcohol intake, stomach bugs, stress, anxiety, and infections. While medical treatment is necessary for severe cases, yoga can be a helpful complementary practice to ease the symptoms of nausea. Here’s how yoga can help and a list of specific poses that can provide relief.

How Yoga Can Help with Symptoms of Nausea

Yoga helps alleviate nausea through:

• Promoting relaxation and reducing stress with deep breathing exercises.
• Light stretching to ease abdominal tension and improve digestion.
• Enhancing mindfulness, helping individuals manage their sensations more effectively.

Yoga Poses That Can Help Alleviate Feelings of Nausea

1. Corpse Pose (Savasana)

How to Do It:

1. Lie flat on your back with your legs extended and arms resting at your sides, palms facing up.
2. Close your eyes and take slow, deep breaths.
3. Hold the pose for at least four deep breaths, focusing on relaxation and stillness.

Benefits:

• Promotes deep relaxation and reduces stress.
• Encourages a meditative state, which can help calm the mind and body.
• Reduces physical tension, aiding in overall relaxation.

2. Seated Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)

How to Do It:

1. Sit on the mat with your legs extended in front of you.
2. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the outside of your left thigh.
3. Place your right hand behind you and your left elbow on the outside of your right knee.
4. Inhale and lengthen your spine, then exhale and twist to the right.
5. Hold for two deep breaths, then repeat on the other side.

Benefits:

• Relieves tension in the abdomen and promotes digestion.
• Reduces symptoms of nausea and stress.
• Stretches the spine and shoulders, improving overall flexibility.

3. Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana)

How to Do It:

1. Sit on the mat with your legs bent and the soles of your feet touching.
2. Hold your feet with your hands and gently fold forward, allowing your head to hang heavy.
3. Hold the pose for three deep breaths, then slowly return to a seated position.

Benefits:

• Allows the stomach muscles to relax, reducing nausea.
• Encourages deep breathing, which helps alleviate symptoms of nausea.
• Stretches the hips and groin, improving flexibility.

4. Child’s Pose with a Pillow (Balasana)

How to Do It:

1. Kneel on the mat with your big toes touching and knees spread wide.
2. Place a pillow between your hips or under your stomach.
3. Lower your torso over the pillow, extending your arms forward or resting them alongside your body.
4. Rest your forehead on the mat and hold the pose for three deep breaths.

Benefits:

• Promotes relaxation and stillness, easing anxiety and nausea.
• Provides gentle stretching for the spine, hips, and neck.
• Supports the body in a restful position, encouraging calmness.

Summary

Incorporating these yoga poses into your routine can help alleviate the discomfort of nausea by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving digestion. Practicing these gentle poses regularly can enhance your overall well-being and provide relief from nausea symptoms.