Digestive system & Yoga

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DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Dr. Sandeep Dongre
MA (Yoga), Ph.D (Yoga)
International Yoga Trainer
World Record Holder – Pranayama

2. The Ashtanga Institute, Mumbai
Food needed for :
1. Growth
2. Repair
3. Energy
4. To Maintain body
Temperature
Digestive System
Chemical Substances :
1. Water
2. Salts
3. Vitamins
4. Proteins
5. Fats
6. Carbohydrates
Digestion is a process by which complex insoluble substances are converted into
simple soluble forms. This process is carried out with the help of certain chemical
substances called ‘Enzymes’ which are present in the digestive system e.g.
Pepsin in the gastric juice.

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Digestive System Organization
Phases Include :
1. Ingestion
2. Movement
3. Mechanical and Chemical
Digestion
4. Absorption
5. Elimination

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Structures of Digestive system
Alimentary canal Accessory glands
• Mouth
• Oral cavity
(teeth and tongue)
• Pharynx
• Oesophagus
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large intestine
• Rectum
• Anus
• Salivary glands (3)
• Pancreas
• Liver
• Gall bladder (storage
organ)

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◦Mechanical (physical)
◦ Chew
◦ Tear
◦ Grind
◦ Mash
◦ Mix
Digestion Types
◦Chemical
◦ Enzymatic reactions to
improve digestion of
◦ Carbohydrates
◦ Proteins
◦ Lipids

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Teeth mechanically break down food
into small pieces. Tongue mixes
food with saliva (contains amylase,
which helps break down starch).
Epiglottis is a flap-like structure at
the back of the throat that closes
over the trachea preventing food
from entering it. It is located in the
Pharynx.
Oral Cavity

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Larynx & Pharynx

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• Approximately 10” ( 25 cm ) long
• Starts from Pharynx above to the
stomach below
• Functions include:
• Secrete mucus
• Moves food from the throat to the
stomach using muscle movement called
peristalsis
• If acid from the stomach gets in here
that’s heartburn
Esophagus
Peristaltic Movement

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• J-shaped muscular bag that stores the food
you eat, breaks it down into tiny pieces
• Acts as a storage for a period of about 3 to 4
hours
• Most dilatable portion of digestive tract
situated below the diaphragm
• Sphincter muscles on both ends
• Mixes food with Digestive Juices that
contain enzymes to break down Proteins
and Lipids.
• Acid (HCl) in the stomach Kills Bacteria.
• Food is liquified and formed into a ‘Chyme’
which is then passed to Duodenum
Stomach

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• Small intestines are roughly 7 meters long, Vary from person to person
• Lining of intestine walls has finger-like projections called villi, to increase surface area.
• The villi are covered in microvilli which further increases surface area for absorption.
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Small Intestine

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Nutrients from the food pass into the bloodstream
through the small intestine walls.
Absorbs:
◦ 80% ingested water
◦ Vitamins
◦ Minerals
◦ Carbohydrates
◦ Proteins
◦ Lipids
• Secretes digestive enzymes
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Small Intestine

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About 1.5 meters long
Accepts what small intestines don’t absorb
Rectum (short term storage which holds
feces before it is expelled).
Functions
◦ Bacterial digestion
◦ Ferment carbohydrates
– Absorbs more water
– Concentrate wastes
Large Intestine

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• Not part of the path of food, but play a critical role.
• Include: Liver, gall bladder and pancreas
Accessory Organs - The Glands
Pancreas :
• Produces digestive enzymes to digest fats,
carbohydrates and proteins
• Regulates blood sugar by producing
insulin

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Liver :
Directly affects digestion by producing bile
◦ Bile helps digest fat
• filters out toxins and waste including drugs and alcohol
and poisons.
Gall Bladder :
• Stores bile from the liver, releases it into the small
intestine.
• Fatty diets can cause gallstones
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Liver & Gall Bladder

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Digestive Problems
These problems lead to major health challenges later !

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Yam & Niyamas
• Ahimsa : Proposes vegetarian food
• Satya : Keeps person away from lying
and the following vicious cycle
• Shauch : Cleanliness
• Santosh : Contentment of mind for food
• Tapah : Controlled diet
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BY DR.NUTAN PAKHARE - KAIVALYADHAMA
Yogic Practices
Prana Functionality
Pran Hunger, Ingestion
Saman Digestion
Udan Vomitting
Vyan Assimilation
Apan Excretion

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 All asanas have an effect on the spinal column and the abdominal
cavity. Alternate positive and negative pressure exerted
 Stretch / pressure / cross sectional pressure in alteernate directions
on the abdomen
 In topsy turvy postures Gravitational force is applied in reverse
direction
 All above leads to Improvement of muscle tone of Inner & outer
abdominal muscles
 Blood supply to the internal organs is improved
 Functioning of related glands and organs like Pancreas and Liver is
also improved
Remove toxic matter and thus avoid various complications
 Stimulates digestion e.g. Vajrasana
 Relax system so better elimination e.g Shavasana
11 September 2019
BY DR.NUTAN PAKHARE - KAIVALYADHAMA
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Yogic Practices
Asan & Mudras

18. The Ashtanga Institute, Mumbai11 September 2019
BY DR.NUTAN PAKHARE - KAIVALYADHAMA
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Yogic Practices
ShuddhiKriyas (Cleansing Methods) : Pranayama :
 Vaman dhauti removes excess acid from
the Stomach
 Normalise and balance the flow of
Prana which helps in correcting
Digestive imbalances
Vastra & Danda dhauti physically
stimulate the mucosal lining of the
stomach
 Pranayama balances the Autonomic
Nervous system (ANS)
 Salt water used in all kriyas has a mild
antiseptic action
 Balanced ANS improves and
harmonises digestion process
Shank Prakshalan washes the whole
tract
 Uddiyan, Agnisar and Nauli kriyas tone
and strengthen Recti muscles

19. The Ashtanga Institute, Mumbai
Thank You !!
Dr. Sandeep Dongre
MA (Yoga), Ph.D (Yoga)
International Yoga Trainer
World Record Holder – Pranayama
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