Bloating can be one of the most uncomfortable and annoying symptoms keeping us from feeling our most vibrant selves. Unfortunately, for many people it’s a way of life – not just due to eating foods that aren’t right for your body, but also in part from the stresses and demands of modern life.
Movement medicine is a powerful tool to have in your wellness arsenal against bloating, because you can actually target the belly and digestive system to relieve the pressure that’s causing it.
Read on for tips from body alignment, fascia, and movement specialist Lauren Roxburgh, aka “The Body Whisperer,” on beating bloat and achieving better core and gut health. She’s sharing a couple methods to try at home!
featured image: laurenroxburgh
image: loroxburgh
What’s the best way to massage the belly?
The belly can be a difficult area to target and massage using the foam roller (one of my favorite movement medicine tools), which is why I created the Body Sphere. Its shape is so great for applying soft, gentle and detoxifying pressure on areas of the body, like the stomach. Massaging your belly with the Body Sphere helps free up tension in your belly, decrease bloating, flatten the stomach, and awaken the deep core muscles.
image: loroxburgh
How is inflammation linked to bloating?
Inflammation is such a buzzword in the wellness world today, but oftentimes inflammation in the gut area of the body can be traced to compression, tension and toxins trapped in the belly. Working on relieving stress and stagnant energy in this area has helped so many of my clients feel so much better physically and more vibrant in general.
Can you share more about the gut-energy-stress connection?
On an emotional level, a lot of us tend to hold blocked emotional energy in the gut, which is why these moves can feel so cathartic as well. On a physiological level, massaging your organs helps calm your nervous system so you can access the important “rest and digest” state that is vital for healing and rejuvenation. Plus, many of my clients report that incorporating belly work on the Body Sphere helps reduce sugar cravings and helps regulate their appetite–all thanks to the way that reconnecting to the deep core helps cultivate a better connection to our hunger levels and gut instinct.
Try It Out
If you want to try a movement medicine sequence for yourself, these sequences will help you become your own Body Whisperer at home with the body sphere (or any soft ball) to help beat bloat and reduce stress:
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For more information on Lauren Roxburgh’s method, check out her book The Power Source: The Hidden Key to Ignite Your Core, Empower Your Body, Release Stress, and Realign Your Life. Don’t forget to check out her Virtual Aligned Life Studio when you order her book! If you’re interested in trying out her program, Lauren is offering a FREE MONTH trial to learn more of these transforming moves.
