Yoga For Weight Loss

Yoga is a great way to calm your mind and lower stress, but did you know you can also lose weight doing yoga?

At first glance, it would seem that sitting on a mat and meditating is not going to burn fat and calories. But yoga can be as effective as any fast paced cardio workout at building up a sweat, increasing strength and losing weight.

Yoga is a great way to  relieve stress and ease your everyday experiences by quieting your mind. Stress in your life can lead to unwanted weight gain. Entering into a peaceful state lowers the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol causes the body to store fat, especially in the midsection.

While there are many different yoga styles, they are all based on the same definition of yoga which is the union of mind, body and spirit.

Yoga for Weight Loss – Tune Up and Slim Down All over

Research shows that yoga benefits both the mind and the body. The more physically active styles of yoga such as Ashtanga, Vinyasa or Bikram can burn significant calories and reshape the entire body.

Moreover, research shows that yoga can help slim your waistline as long as you count calories at the same time. Many women who have been practicing yoga for years develop a graceful dancer's body with long, lean muscles. It was reported that nearly 16 million Americans practice the ancient discipline of yoga to promote weight loss, increase stamina, lower stress and find inner peace.

Yoga forces you to step outside of your comfort zone to better understand yourself from a different perspective. It raises an awareness of your overall sense of purpose in life and can help you gain control of your eating habits.

When you learn to clear your mind of all distractions, it helps you listen to your body's needs and so you are better able to differentiate between feelings of real hunger versus food cravings. This mindfulness will help you enjoy your meals by helping you focus on the meal (not the TV) and taking your time to eat. 

Yoga has other health benefits besides weight loss...

• An hour of stretching, breathing and holding various poses can slim and tone the body.
• Yoga is a stress buster and will leave you feeling calm and focused.
• Recent scientific findings show that yoga's benefits include overall better health and peace of mind.
• Breathing is an important part of yoga which teaches you to breathe in positive energy and breathe out all negative stress.
• It has also been shown that the strength and balance poses can increase flexibility, tone muscle, improve posture and rejuvenate the skin.
• You may even begin to feel and look younger with regular yoga practice.

Millions of women have integrated yoga into their daily lives and as a result, they have reported feeling happier, healthier and more fulfilled. Yoga soothes the nervous system which helps calm the heart. A study from the Indian Institute of Technology showed that those who practice yoga have steadier heart rates.

Doing yoga on a regular basis can help ...

• Lower high blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol levels
• Improve blood sugar levels
• Reduce stress hormones

Studies show that regular yoga practice can help lower fatigue and keep the body in balance. Yoga moves engage your core which requires focus and balance. 

According to research published by the Mayo Clinic, yoga's deep breathing combined with the need for balance and concentration, helps to lower blood pressure and lessens feelings of stress and anxiety. The extra intake of oxygen when you breathe deeply also helps you feel more energized and alert.

Yoga For Weight Loss – Yoga is Also a Great Stress Reliever

Yoga will move your body through challenging poses that work all of your muscles so you burn the most fat. Holding these positions isn’t as easy as it looks. Doing so will build strength and focus.

Yoga can clear your head, tone your muscles and give you the same endorphin high you get from running. Over time, you can learn to use the deep breathing from yoga whenever you are feeling stressed or anxious.

So the next time you are at wits end, try to sneak in some yoga moves. Learning how to do yoga is relatively easy and will help you improve your focus and relieve tension.

Yoga is a great time to turn off your brain and tune out whatever is bothering you at the moment. Yoga forces you to stay in the present moment during your practice so you are able in tune into your body, focus your mind, harness your energy and center yourself.