Burning calories and losing weight is not for the faint-hearted. And if you are counting on weight training and other intensive exercises, you will burn out soon. Obviously, starving is never the right approach to lose extra pounds. If some of you have an eating disorder too, then you shouldn’t be hard on yourself when it comes to diet. A less aggressive yet effective solution for weight loss is yoga.
Does Yoga Really Help With Weight Loss?
Yoga is an extremely graceful exercise. It’s excellent for both mind and body. Many people wonder if it’s really effective when it comes to weight loss. Yoga traditionally is not an aerobic exercise but some types of yoga are more physical than others.
Certain intense styles of yoga help burn calories and prevent weight gain. Since yoga keeps you moving, you don’t gain excessive weight. Practicing yoga also tones muscles and improves the metabolism rate. Some form of restorative yoga also helps in weight loss. Such type of yoga is promising for people whose body weight makes certain yoga positions difficult hence requiring more energy and effort to come in action.
Yoga during IVF treatment and pregnancy helps to relieve stress and tension in the body as well as the mind. IVF is a stressful process, so anything that will help the patient relax while getting the operation done is only going to be good for them. Treatment for infertility can result in long-term or persistent stress.
To effectively lose weight with yoga, you must practice it more actively. At least 3 to 5 times per week for an hour is recommended.
9 Yoga Positions for Weight Loss
Ready to lose weight? Here are some highly effective positions:
1: Warrior Pose
The warrior pose tones your thighs, shoulders, and improves concentration. The longer you hold that pose, the better results you may expect. There are three types of warrior poses:
Warrior Pose #1
It challenges your thighs. When holding this pose, if you are shaking, this means it’s working.
Warrior Pose #2
This pose is somewhat similar to the first one except that it allows you to open the sides, stretch, and elongate different areas.
Warrior Pose #3
This one may look simple but it’s challenging. To maintain the balance while holding pose requires all your core, leg, and back muscles to engage. When you try this pose for the first time, you will experience soreness in your legs.
2: Downward Dog Pose
This pose is meant to tone your entire body. It targets and the arms, thighs, hamstring, and back muscles. While you are holding this pose, it’s recommended to concentrate on your breathing. This practice will boost concentration and improve blood circulation.
3: Chair Pose
The chair pose works your arms, hips, abs, thighs, and butt. When practicing this pose, exhale and then bend your knees, pushing your buttocks back and lowering toward the floor. Pretend as if you are sitting on a chair. Continue taking deep inhales and exhales.
4: Superman Pose
This pose requires you to lie with your face down, legs together and your forehead resting on the mat. Your arms should be out in front of you. Hold your lower body off the ground. Your weight must rest on the lower belly and pelvis. Inhale and exhale while you are at it. The superman pose targets your abs, back, chest, shoulders, arms, hamstrings, and butt.
5: Plank
Plank is one of the best ways of strengthening your core. As you drop into the plank position, you will start feeling your abs. Doing planks daily will develop rock-solid abs.
6: Shoulder Stand
Shoulder stand is a much-recommended yoga position for improving digestion. It develops strength too. It’s also therapy for balancing the thyroid levels. Other benefits include improved respiration system, metabolism rate. It also strengthens your abs, legs, and upper body.
Add this position to your practice daily and you will experience a huge difference in your health. The best part, it even improves sleep.
7: Bridge
The bridge pose works wonders for glutes, thyroid, and even weight loss. When you reach your chest towards your chin, this gently massages the thyroid gland and improves metabolism.
When you press down your feet, this action engages your thighs and back, helping you tone those muscles as well. That’s not all, the bride pose also stimulates the abdominal organs, which will keep your digestive system happy.
8: Sun Salutations
This pose slowly helps you stretch your body. It warms up the muscles and gets the blood flowing. It also builds internal heat and tones some major muscles. With sun simulation, you can expect to trim your waist and tone your arms. Other benefits include improved metabolism.
9: Triangle Pose
This yoga pose is beneficial for several health issues. It doesn’t directly contribute to weight loss but it enhances digestion, which ultimately reduces fat deposits in the belly area. This aligning and stretching pose works your entire body especially shoulders, hips, calves, and thighs. It also tones the muscles.
Conclusion
If you are up for losing weight the calm way, pick one of these poses, and start right away. The benefits of yoga go beyond the benefits of running and other intensive workouts. Set some goals, make a commitment to yourself, and get ready to be in control of your weight.