Losing weight can be a hassle. There are many promising methods, but the pounds lost tend to return once the diet is over: You should know that for people who practice yoga, it is different. Many of them testify to the weight loss inherent in their practice.
Yoga helps to better sense the real needs of the body and improves self-control. Physiological changes are observable; yoga and meditation simply help to keep the figure without even thinking about it.
Yoga can help to find the line or to keep it!
If we want to lose weight, one aspect is very important: pleasure! If we don’t take pleasure in doing yoga, we are not going to be motivated, we will go backward and therefore we risk not reaching our weight loss goals.
Yoga helps to firm and sculpt your body. It can be very useful if you want to have a flat stomach! But yoga is more than just physical exercise!
If a person has serious overweight problems, practicing yoga alone will of course not be enough. It will take more cardio activity to burn the piled up fat.
But it can help to de-stress and accept yourself by working on the mental aspect of yoga instead.
To lose more than 10 kg, it is important to be followed by a professional. The practice of yoga, however, can help a lot in addition to more intense physical activity.
The gentle weight lifting exercises of yoga combined with a balanced diet can give significant results in losing weight effectively.
What Style of Yoga to Favor?
There are various styles of yoga. All kind of yoga are based on breathing and on the harmony between body and mind.
But if one is put off by the fatigue that yoga often inspires, there are more productive styles like Ashtanga or Vinyasa that are specifically effective in helping to burn calories and slim down. These kinds of yoga also help remove accumulated toxins and listen better to your body and its signals of hunger and satiety.
Moreover, many yoga postures manage the activity of the adrenal glands and thyroid which help to regulate our metabolism.
We can also try Bikram Yoga if no conflict prevents us from doing so. It is about practicing hatha yoga (the most common form) in a room heated to 40 ° and having a humidity level of 40% in order to facilitate the elimination of toxins.
Bikram classes generally 1.5 hours long and contain series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises. Consulting a doctor is compulsory before entering on the practice of this form of yoga.
If the practice of Bikram yoga must be restricted to one to two sessions per week, to lose weight rapidly, the daily practice of yoga at home can be a good thing.
Finally, daily yoga practice can be supplemented by indoor yoga classes or with a teacher at home:
- Vinyasa yoga,
- Ashtanga yoga,
- Prenatal yoga,
- Sophrology,
- Positive thinking exercises,
- Of mindfulness meditation.
6 Yoga Poses to Lose Weight:
Combined with healthy food hygiene, consist mainly of fruits and vegetables, fiber and few carbohydrates, yoga helps to lose weight and in particular to lose belly.
Focus on your general health before practicing the following exercises.
If in doubt, contact with yoga professional that will help you in doing the exercises without risk of injury.
Following are some exercises that especially target the stomach!
i) The Cobra Pose
This posture strengthens the abs and reduces abdominal fat. It also strengthens the spine and back.
- Lie on your stomach, legs straight,
- Place the palms of the hands on the floor below the shoulders,
- Inhale and lift the chest slowly,
- Hold the position for two full breaths,
- Rest the whole body on the ground on the exhalation,
- Repeat 5 times with a 15 second rest period between each repetition.
ii) The Bow Pose
This posture strengthens the abdominal strap. It activates the digestive system and constitutes a good stretch of the back.
- Lie on your stomach, legs straight,
- Curl your knees and grasp your ankles with your hands,
- Raise the head on the inspiration while looking in front of you so as not to hurt the neck and raise the legs as high as possible,
- Retain this position for two full breaths during breathing normally,
- Take the body back to its original position on an exhalation,
- Repeat 5 times with a 15 second rest period between each repetition.
iii) The Boat Posture
It is best pose for a flat stomach. It also has advantages for the stomach and intensifies the back and legs.
- Lie down on your back,
- On an inhale, lift your legs outstretched,
- Catch your legs with your hands at the calves (knees if it’s too difficult),
- Make sure you keep your back straight and your abdominals tight so you don’t hurt yourself,
- Breathe normally and maintain the pose for two full breaths,
- Back to the original position while breathing out.
- Repeat 5 times with a 15-second pause between each repetition.
iv) The Plank
It is the best pose to keep a flat stomach and tone the whole body! It strengthens the arms, shoulders, back, buttocks, and thighs!
- Lie down on your stomach,
- Place your hands on either side of the shoulders and push yourself away from the ground,
- The hands should be aligned with the shoulders, the body must form a straight line from the tip of the head to the tips of the toes,
- Be careful not to dig your back,
- Maintain the position as long as possible by breathing normally,
- Release the pose on an exhalation.
v) The Posture of Liberation from the Winds
This posture helps cure lower back pain while controlling the acidity level of the stomach. It helps tone the abdomen and hips.
- Lie down on your back,
- Curve your knees and bring them back to your chest while breathing out,
- Apply pressure to the abdomen with your thighs,
- On an exhale, raise your head to try to touch your knees with your chin, without straining the cervical, it is the upper back that works,
- Breathe deeply and maintain the pose for two full breaths,
- Back to the original position on an exhalation,
- Repeat 5 times with a 15-second pause between each repetition.
With a regular practice of these five postures, the results should not be long in being felt!
vi) He Eagle Pose to Fight Cellulite
- It strengthens the thigh muscles in-depth but above all gently.
- It softens and tones the calves, thighs, hips, and ankles.
- It softens and relaxes the arms and shoulders.
- This position also increases concentration and balance.
Some additional tips
- Green tea is an excellent anti-oxidant,
- Green vegetables have a low glycemic index,
- Meal replacements should be banned: they are generally high in sugar or salt,
- White meat is less in calories than red meat,
- Drinking a lot of water cuts the appetites,
- Avoid fast sugars in the morning and instead prefer salty and fatty foods such as eggs and wholemeal bread,
- Ban diets! High protein diet, cabbage soup… None have been proven and hello the yo-yo effect. The key is eating a balanced diet that is neither too rich nor too poor, and regular physical activity to keep fit.
Synthetic:
No need to go on all fad diets to lose weight! Favoring a healthy and varied diet and exercising is often enough to keep your weight in shape.
Yoga is not a magical practice for losing weight, but it is useful for toning the body and building it harmoniously. Yoga, in addition to supporting weight loss, is a natural anti-depressant. It will help you release your stress and negative thoughts. Be careful while practicing the proposed postures.
