The Accountant-May-June 2017

HEALTH
lower back, using your arms to support
your legs as you straighten your spine.
The wind-relieving pose: Lie flat on your
back. Bend one knee and extend it to your
chest, holding it for ten seconds. Then
switch and do this with the other knee;
Alternate between knees at least five to
ten times.
Try Kapalbhati Pranayam yoga. Many
people say it is effective in relieving
constipation. It should be done on an
empty stomach or 5 hours after a full
meal. When you sit on the toilet, don’t put
your feet on the ground. Instead, lift them
up so you’re squatting into the toilet a bit
more, or place them on a footstool. This
position is ideal for moving your bowels.
If you want to try squatting, get a child’s
step stool or stack of phone books and
prop up your feet while you’re sitting on
the toilet. If you don’t feel comfortable
squatting, pull your legs in as close as
you can get to the toilet bowl and raise
your heels so you are doing “tippie-toes”
with your feet. Then lean as far forward
as you can without losing your balance,
this will get your body into a “squatting
position” without actually squatting. This
will let stools out easier. Find something
Make time for a
bowel movement,
whether it’s in the
morning, after your
afternoon meal,
or several times
a day that are
convenient for you.
If you don’t have a
regular schedule,
your body can
be confused and
unready to have a
movement
about knee-high with handles you can
grab. Position it so the handles are right
above your toes. Two tall, wooden stools
might work. Grab the handles and press
down for stability and strength while
trying to move your bowels. Massaging or
pressing a few key pressure points in your
body with a free hand or just two fingers
can help stimulate your colon and relieve
your constipation. Try applying pressure
to the following points: The outer end of
the elbow crease The highest spot of the
muscle on the back of the hand that sticks
out when you bring your index finger and
thumb close together, if your constipation
lingers for three weeks or more, you
should see a doctor because it could be a
sign of more serious digestive conditions.
You should also see your doctor if: You
have severe constipation and have never
been constipated before; you have blood
in your stool; you’re bleeding frequently
from straining; you’ve lost weight without
trying. Use a rectal glycerin suppository.
This suppository works by drawing water
into the intestines. This usually results in
a bowel movement within 15 minutes to
an hour. This method is not meant to be
used often, but is a measure to be taken in
58 MAY - JUNE 2017