The Gall Bladder:
Question: Dear PoseMaster K, I just got an email request from 2 ladies who would like to do a few private yoga classes with me because they were advised that yoga would help their gallbladder issues. of course i will check Mr. Iyengar's book but do you have any guidance as well for gallbladder issues? Nick-Instructor

Response Hi Nick, regarding the gall bladder: The Gall bladder is part of the digestive system in that its main function is is to store bile that is manufactured by the liver and then secret it into the small intestine as a digestive aid. If you have looked at light on Yoga yet you have seen that under the gall bladder section he says, look at the sections on acidity, flatulence and dyspepsia. and these section show a fairly balanced approach to inversions, back bends twists and forward bends. When you see this, it is a way of expressing that full range of motion in the abdominal area is what will stretch, strengthen, enervate, and bring circulation to the organ. so in working with the people that requested yoga for gall bladder issues it will be a process of finding what they can do. Do you remember using the setu bandha bench? The long bench, legs and buttocks on the bench, shoulders on the floor in a back arch. Do you remember how we moved the legs to the side, first to the right for a few minutes and then the left. Remember that i said when we bring the legs to the right is squeezes the liver. The gall bladder is just behind the liver and this technique is also excellent for gall bladder issues. Try to get more info from the students about what their gall bladder issues are. Usually it is because the bile is not circulating and getting thick, not aiding digestion and if not treated will lead to gallstones. If they are in fairly good physical condition and want to flush out the gall bladder, therapeutic diarrhea is a very effective therapy. Flushing a gallon of salt water through the bowels. If they are not in good physical condition or if they have no experience with holistic health it wold not be workable. If the strengthening of the abdominal area postures like Jathara paravarthanasana and the navasana postures are to difficult. Use the technique we worked on in virasana (kneeling) roll the blanket and place across the head of the thigh bones, lay the stomach over the blanket and belly breath. This will massage the internal organs. Keep me posted on your progress...