Hi johnt, here's some youtube videos that show yoga, massage, etc. to help prevent/relieve constipation. I tried doing the exercises that I could along with simultaneously taking a laxative so can't say for sure the exercises did the job or the laxative but I did have a BM an hour or 2 after doing the exercises. Good luck. Of course do this stuff at your own risk and don't overdo the massages.
I assume amazon has books on constipation which recommend specific stretching/massages.
Fwiw, I think just laying on my back and just pulling my legs back and every which way helped the most. There are a zillion videos


Yoga for Constipation - YouTube
Massage for Constipation - YouTube
Yoga That Helps You Poop with Sarah Badorine - YouTube
Constipation Pooping Positions - YouTube

The bowel movement beet test: How to measure your digestive ‘transit time’ - National | Globalnews.ca

http://movementdisorders.ufhealth.or...-constipation/

https://www.squattypotty.com/shop/ca...toilet-stools/

I added magnesium 400mg to my diet and the constipation went away for good.

can you recommend a formulation or brand?

No. I just use whatever is at Walmart.

Another thing that can really help with constipation is exercise, particularly walking, which helps move things along as you walk plus the gravity factor pulling things downward. I realize not everyone is that mobile, but it does help.

Also on magnesium: if you start to get diarrhea you may be taking too much-although some might view that as a welcome change to constipation

A couple of years ago a thought occurred to me regarding the connection between blowing your nose and pooping.

We learn at a fairly young age that it is wise to "clench" when we blow our nose, to prevent a possible accident at the other end. Well, I thought, maybe when we are trying to poop, we could assist things by doing the exact opposite. So the next time I was trying to poop, I tried blowing my nose at the exact same time as I was pushing, and it worked.

Anyway, it works for me and I use it all the time now.

NB: The push and the blow have to be at the exact same time.