At Bodhifit Studio, we love to incorporate traditional Chinese meridian stretching into our classes. Not only does it help to improve our flexibility, it also helps our organs to function optimally.

As we sprint towards the end of Summer, Chinese medicine tells us that there are a couple of organs which tend to suffer most at this time of year – the stomach and the spleen. This is because we’re coming down from the summer high that usually includes a little extra food and alcohol (and who can blame us, it’s the perfect time of year for poolside parties and backyard barbeques!).

The stomach and spleen are the two primary organs for digestion. The spleen also plays a major in both the immune and lymph systems as it helps to remove waste and bacteria from the blood and release iron back into the blood stream.

A poorly functioning stomach and spleen can result in more than just an uncomfortable stomach ache. It can also make us feel overly fatigued, have low to zero energy and motivation, lack concentration, have high emotional stress, anxiety, mental agitation and poor sleep quality.

But it doesn’t stop there. These organs are also responsible for processing our mental and emotional thoughts – particularly those related to self-worth and self-esteem. So, if our digestion is out, we’re probably feeling a little down on ourselves. Or, vice-versa, if we’re feeling a bit down on ourselves, our digestion is likely suffering too!

Given this, it’s SUPER important to take extra care of our digestive system in late summer.

So, how do we do this? Well, it ultimately comes down to three things:

1. Eat a healthy diet

2. Get enough sleep

3. Reduce stress levels

In our humble opinion, yoga is one of the best things we can do to help decrease anxiety and stress levels, and promote a decent sleep (heck, it’s why we started a yoga school to begin with!). Plus, with enough sleep and a lifted mood, we’re also better equipped to stay motivated and make healthy food choices.

Hatha yoga, in particular, is renowned for regulating and replenishing the body’s energy. The movement in hatha yoga, combined with slow, controlled breathing, helps the parasympathetic nervous system (a.k.a the “rest and digest” system). This system is responsible for regulating the body's unconscious actions, like resting and digesting.

Other movements, like sun salutations, twists and inversions also help these organs to rejuvenate and address the physical, emotional and energetic cause of fatigue.

To wrap it up, if you’re feeling pretty down and out right now, you’re not alone! A few yoga classes will help to lift your mood, improve your sleep quality, decrease anxiety and have you feeling happier and healthier in no time.