How Yoga Can Help You Lose Weight: The Ultimate Guide
When we think of yoga, most of us think of it as a practice that helps us relax, relieve stress and maybe even find peace. We don’t usually associate it with weight loss. However, this ancient practice has proven benefits for a slimmer body. Those who practice yoga on a regular basis tend to have lower body fat and more muscle mass than non-practitioners.
Yoga can not only help you burn more calories and lose excess fat but also
strengthen your muscles, improve posture and make your body feel lighter in
general. It’s not just about stretching and relaxing—there are many poses that
will slim and strengthen you at the same time. In fact, studies have shown that
combining strength training with your normal yoga routine is even more
effective when it comes to losing weight and toning your body.
What is Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that has its origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, which means “to yoke” or “to unite”. The practice of yoga is about connecting your mind and body, and finding balance and harmony between the two.
It’s a holistic approach to health and self-care that has numerous benefits, including stress reduction and increased self-awareness. It’s also a great way to connect with your body and appreciate its strength and abilities.
Yoga can be done throughout your life and at any age.
There are different types of yoga that are designed for people at
different levels of experience and at different stages of life. There is yoga
for children, seniors, pregnant women and even those who suffer from conditions
like anxiety, depression or insomnia. Yoga is something that can be done alone
at home, with a partner or at a class. It’s important to find an approach that
suits your lifestyle and that you enjoy.
The Benefits of Yoga for Weight Loss
As we’ve discussed above, a balancing yoga practice can help you lose weight in a number of ways. Here is a list of the most important benefits:
Better posture: A regular yoga practice will improve your posture, as well as your self-confidence. Bad posture can lead to back pain, headaches and other health issues, but by improving your posture, you’ll also improve your overall health.
Improved flexibility and mobility: Yoga poses are designed to stretch and strengthen your muscles, ligaments and joints. By including yoga in your fitness routine, you’ll increase flexibility and mobility, as well as reduce your risk of injury.
Reduced stress: A yoga practice can help you find a state of mental and physical relaxation. Stress and anxiety can cause you to overeat and store fat, so finding a way to reduce stress and calm your mind is important for weight loss.
Improved sleep: A good night’s sleep is essential for weight loss. A yoga practice can help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up feeling refreshed.
Better
digestion: A yoga practice can also help with digestion, particularly of the
intestinal tract, which can become sluggish during periods of stress.
How Does Yoga Help with Weight Loss?
As we’ve discussed, there are many different benefits to a yoga practice, including weight loss. But how exactly does yoga help you lose weight? There are a few ways:
A yoga practice reduces your appetite. When you feel calm and at ease, your body produces a chemical called serotonin, which makes you less likely to crave sweets and refined carbs.
Yoga increases your metabolic rate, which makes it easier for you to burn fat.
Yoga can help you lose weight in the long-term by reducing your
risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.
Jump Start your weight loss with yoga
There are many ways in which yoga can help you lose weight. However, you can “jump start” your weight loss journey with a few weight loss yoga poses that combine strength training with stretching. Here are three great yoga poses to help you get started.
The Warrior: This pose helps to tone your legs, glutes and core. Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and your toes pointing straight ahead. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the inside of your left knee so that your right foot is almost in line with your left knee. Bend your left knee slightly and lift both arms overhead as you inhale. As you exhale, bend your elbows and lower your hands in front of your face, making sure to keep your palms facing each other.
The Chair: This pose is great for your lower back and your core. Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your knees and bring your heels as close to your butt as possible. Place your hands on your knees and slowly lift your torso up off the ground, making sure to keep your back straight.
The Tree Pose: This posture is excellent for your core,
lower back and glutes. Stand with your feet together and place your hands on
your hips. Bend your right knee and bring your foot up to your left side. Bend
your left knee slightly, roll your shoulders back and look straight ahead.
Strengthen and tone your muscles with Yoga
As we’ve discussed, yoga can help you strengthen your muscles, which can lead to faster weight loss. Here are three recommended yoga poses to strengthen your muscles.
The Downward Facing Dog: This yoga pose stretches your upper body and your core, making it ideal for strengthening your back muscles. Start on your hands and knees with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Straighten your legs and lift your hips off the floor as high as you can. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders and your knees should be directly under your hips.
The Cat Pose: This yoga pose is great for stretching and strengthening your back. Get on your hands and knees, with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Slowly arch your back, lifting your head and chest up, while letting your stomach sag towards the floor. Hold this position for five breaths, then release your back, lifting your head and chest up, while lifting your stomach towards the ceiling.
The
Shoulder Stand: This pose is one of the best yoga poses for strengthening your
shoulders and upper back. Lie down on your back with your legs straight and
your arms at your side. Bring your knees towards your chest and lift your hips
off the ground. Use one hand to bring your feet towards your head, grab your
ankles with the other hand and pull your legs towards your chest. Stay in this
position for 20 seconds, then release and rest. Repeat this pose two or three
times during your yoga session.
Increase your metabolism with yoga
Yoga helps your body to increase its natural metabolism, which is essential for weight loss. Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories, so the faster it is, the easier it is to lose weight.
There are a number of yoga poses that can help you increase your metabolism, including:
The Sun Salutation: This is a dynamic yoga sequence that includes a number of poses that are great for boosting your metabolism. You can perform the sun salutation as a warm up before your other yoga poses, or at the end of your session to boost your metabolism and burn extra calories.
The Cobra Pose: This yoga pose can help you to overcome food cravings and boost your metabolism. Lay on your stomach with your hands under your shoulders, palms facing down. Slowly lift your chest, head and legs off the floor as high as you can, making sure to keep your stomach on the floor. Hold this pose for five breaths and then release.
The Wheel Pose: This yoga pose is not only
great for your metabolism but also for your digestive system. Lie down on your
back and bring your legs towards your chest. Lift your hips off the floor and
place your hands on your feet. Open your legs as wide as you can, making sure
to keep your back straight. Hold this pose for five breaths and then release.
Conclusion
Yoga can be an excellent addition to a
healthy diet and an active lifestyle when it comes to losing weight. It can
help you to feel more relaxed, reduce stress and increase your metabolism.