(originally published in The Telegraph Magazine 23rd February 2008)
FITNESS Yoga has been shown to improve digestion; the exercises involved and the continual stretching and compressing of the abdominal cavities encourage movement through the bowel. The simple Sun Salutation exercise, for example, includes a stretch and bend at the waist – something that doesn’t happen if you sit at a desk all day. Yoga also helps improve oxygen flow, a result of muscular activity, and increases the rate and depth of breathing, which will in turn encourage improved function of vital organs such as the liver and kidneys and the small and large intestine. According to Herb Hamilton, director of the Wellness and Fitness Institute in Tampa, yoga is a relaxant, and as half the battle in dealing with IBS lies in stress management, the relaxing benefits of yoga may also encourage healthy bowels.