Practising Yoga for Weight Loss

Can Yoga Help with Weight Loss?

Practising yoga for weight loss is a good idea. It promotes health and fitness without having to go to the Gym. Yoga is a collection of thousands of physical exercises. Some of these exercises, such as Sun Salutation or Pranayam, are very popular and are practised by many people.

Can They Lead to Weight Loss?

A short answer to this is “yes”.

They involve a great deal of movement of the body parts, including twisting and turning. All these activities increase metabolism and promote fat-burning. At the same time, yoga stands for healthy eating and lesser cravings. In addition, the exercises are scientifically designed, and they tend to discourage the accumulation of fat on any part of the body. Thus, regular practice of yoga tends to remove fat.

Healthy and Proportionate Body

Yoga exercises lead to a healthy and proportionate body. An overweight person doing yoga exercises regularly will see a gradual and natural loss of weight. The drop may not be as drastic or quick as it may be in gym exercises. Proficiency in yogic exercises is slow and gradual, and so are the results. Yogic exercises take some practice for someone to be able to perform them. The elements of weight loss are inbuilt in yoga exercises.

Higher Forms of Yoga

You need an experienced and leaner body to do higher forms of yogic exercises. Some yoga postures are complex and difficult, and these are performed only by experts. For these kinds of exercises, the practitioner needs to develop a suitable body for performing complex twisting of limbs and body parts. Without weight loss, it’s not possible to get this kind of body.

More than Weight Loss

Yoga is related to Hindu saints who developed this over a long time as an integrated way to keep one’s mind, body, and soul in order. Yoga exercises are part of a philosophy that emphasizes healthy eating, periodic fasting, exercises, and spirituality.

There is a difference between yoga and gym workouts though both intend to promote health and fitness.

Yoga Exercises for Weight Loss

Here is a brief list of yoga exercises that can lead to weight loss. Practising these exercises for 3 to 5 days a week can show results in a few weeks.

List of Yoga exercises that actively promote weight loss

• Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation)
• Boat Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
• Parivrtta Utkatasana (Twisted Chair pose)
• Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge pose)
• Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand)
• Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward dog pose)