Summer is the season when many of us hope for a flat belly: between family reunions, long lovely days, shared meals, and beach moments. And yet, many still feel more bloated than ever. Why?
Well, traveling by plane, train, or car often disrupts digestion. Long hours of sitting, irregular mealtimes, processed restaurant food, and stress all contribute to that uncomfortable, swollen feeling. Add heat and dehydration to the mix, and you’ve got the perfect storm of bloating, fatigue, and digestive discomfort.
But here’s the good news: yoga can help you achieve a flatter belly naturally, without extreme diets or intense workouts.
Why yoga helps with bloating and inflammation
Certain yoga poses are more than just stretching. They gently stimulate the digestive organs, promote intestinal movement, and support lymphatic detox. When combined with intentional breathwork, they help lower cortisol levels, reduce inflammation, and balance your hormones. This creates the ideal internal environment for weight loss, better gut health, and sustained energy.
Even just 10 minutes a day of targeted movement and breath can make a noticeable difference in how you feel, lighter, calmer, and more at ease in your body.
Here are 5 accessible yoga poses and breathwork techniques to beat the bloat and support your flat belly goals this summer.
Start with 5 long breaths in each pose and increase to 10 as you feel more comfortable. For best results, practice daily: ideally in the morning, before a meal, or before bed.
1. Viparita Karani (legs-up-the-wall pose)
This gentle inversion supports lymphatic drainage, calms the nervous system, and reduces stress-related bloating: a major contributor to bloating discomfort.
How to do it:
Lie on your back and bring your legs up against a wall. Let your hips rest close to the base of the wall. Arms by your sides, palms facing up. Stay for 5–10 minutes, breathing slowly through the nose.
2. Balasana (child pose)
A powerful pose for gut health, this gentle forward fold compresses the abdomen, helping to relieve gas and stimulate digestion.
How to do it:
Kneel down, sit your hips back toward your heels, and fold your torso forward. Bring your forehead to the mat and arms forward or back.
Variation: Keep big toes together and open knees wide. You can add a pillow under your torso for extra comfort.
Breathe deeply into your tummy for 1–2 minutes.
3. Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal lock breathwork)
A core detox breathwork practice that tones the waistline, supports digestion, and enhances anti-inflammatory responses. Do it on an empty stomach.
How to do it:
Lie down or sit with a straight spine. Exhale completely through your mouth, then hold your breath out. Pull your abdomen inward and upward beneath the rib cage. Hold for a few seconds. Gently release and inhale. Repeat 3–5 times.
Try extending your arms as shown in the image for a deeper effect.
4. Ardha Matsyendrasana B (half spinal twist with one leg bent over)
Twists act like a wringing cloth for your internal organs: stimulating circulation, aiding digestion, and relieving tummy tension.
How to do it:
Sit with your left leg extended, bend your right leg, and cross it over the left thigh. Right hand behind you, left elbow outside right knee. Inhale to lift, exhale to twist. Stay for 5 breaths, then switch.
Can’t bring your elbow over the knee yet? Simply wrap your arm around the bent leg to start.
5. Banana Pose (reclined side stretch)
This relaxing pose lengthens the entire side body, improves fascia mobility, and encourages anti-inflammatory flow to the abdominal cavity: ideal for reducing bloating and aiding weight loss.
How to do it:
Lie on your back. Shift legs and torso to the right to form a banana shape. Cross left ankle over right and clasp left wrist with right hand.
Hold 2–3 minutes, then switch.
Real results, real calm
Instead of chasing quick fixes or punishing routines, turn inward this summer. Your yoga mat can be the gateway to a flat belly, stronger digestion, and balanced hormones, all while helping you gain energy and feel more centered in your body.
💚 Want to go deeper?
If you’re ready to feel calmer, lighter, and more in tune with your body, discover my step-by-step Relaxing Yoga Techniques Program, designed to reduce stress, regulate the nervous system, and support healthy digestion.
Feel lighter, move freer
One of the biggest benefits of gentle yoga is the feeling of lightness it creates, both physically and mentally. By releasing tension in the abdominal region, encouraging deep diaphragmatic breathing, and improving circulation, yoga helps reduce that heavy, sluggish sensation many experience after meals or during periods of stress.
These postures also stimulate the digestive system and support the natural detox process. The result? Less bloating, more energy, and a stronger connection to your body.
Over time, this consistent movement builds a more toned core and improved posture, which naturally enhances your confidence and comfort, especially during the summer months.
So rather than chasing quick fixes or external results, focus on how you feel. When your digestion flows, your hormones are in rhythm, and your nervous system is calm, the rest follows.
Ready for the next step?
Incorporating gentle yoga into your routine is more than just a way to flatten your tummy. It’s a daily reset that helps you reduce stress, improve digestion, support hormonal balance, and feel good in your body again.
Whether you’re navigating digestive discomfort, low energy, or inflammation, these calming practices can restore your sense of ease and control—without pressure or extremes.
And if you’re looking for a simple, guided way to go deeper, the Relaxing Yoga Techniques Program is your next step. Designed to be a self-paced program, it includes calming breathwork, Yin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra sessions that help you relax, reset, and reconnect.
👉 Explore the Relaxing Yoga Techniques Program here and start feeling lighter, calmer, and more energized—inside and out.
Your body already knows how to heal. Sometimes, all it needs is a little support, one breath at a time.
You’re just one small shift away from a more peaceful, healthier you.
Namaste,
Let’s continue learning & growing together!
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About the author
Marine Baaklini, the visionary behind marinebaaklini Yoga, specializes in classes designed to enhance and improve hormonal well-being. Join Marine Baaklini’s Relaxing Yoga Techniques Program to gently introduce a daily yoga practice into your lifestyle.
Additionally, we invite you to book a free private consultation with our naturopathic coach. This one-on-one session is a truly excellent opportunity to have all your questions answered and to learn how to incorporate the right WEIGHT-LOSS strategies into your lifestyle effectively.