Yin Yoga for Better Digestion
with Cathy Blatchly

The Gut is referred to as the Enteric Brain. It is home to ~50% of the dopamine and 95% of the

serotonin in our body. It is the seat of our intuition which is why we say “trust your gut”. The

gut-brain axis is the connection between the GI system and the central nervous system. The GI

tract has the ability to sense and receive impulses as well as to record emotions and

subconsciously remember experiences.

Yin yoga focuses on compressing and releasing fascial tissues and opening specific energy channels (meridians) in the body. In the Taoist tradition, the internal organs are referred to Palaces of our Soul or Spirit and are treated like shrines of the divine within us. Connecting to each organ’s qualities and caring for them with visualizations are natural ways to increase their individual functions and interdependent homeostasis. According to ancient Asian wisdom, there are 5 organ

pairs each of which are connected to interconnecting highways called meridans, channels or nadis traveling through them and linking up the whole body. These invisible highways move life force (prana or chi) (Lit from Within by Sarah Powers)

This class will focus on the stomach and spleen meridians with long held floor poses, standing poses (belly swirling and pumping) and a long guided Savasana to create space in the outer and inner body and promote optimal digestion.

In addition we will use pranayama and belly self massage to further address opening

and releasing the heart and small intestines.