People practice yoga for many mind and body health-changing solutions. Some people practice yoga to help them achieve mental clarity and improve their ability to concentrate. Others prefer to practice yoga simply because they want to exercise.
If your reason for doing yoga is to lose weight, you have to consider exercises that not only help you to achieve peace of mind and stretch your muscles, but also serve as a good workout to help you shed those extra pounds.
Yoga Classes and Weight Loss
Yoga is not a high-intensity exercise; however yoga classes usually run from 75 to 90 minutes of non- stop activity. This means that you will be working your muscles all-throughout this period. While you perform these exercises, they will lengthen, strengthen and balance not only your muscles, but your entire body.
You may also do core work by practicing chaturanga poses (plank poses). Like any other weight loss activity, you may have to indulge in practicing these yoga exercises 4 to 5 times a week in conjunction with eating a portion-controlled balanced diet.
Experts suggest that the best first step towards losing weight is to increase one’s physical activity, so choosing yoga for weight loss is a good first step! All you have to do now is to choose the right exercises to perform.
Yoga Styles Ideal for Weight Loss
Vinyasa and Ashtanga are two styles of yoga that are ideal for people wanting to lose weight. These classes will usually last for 90 minutes, and are physically demanding.
Indulging in Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga will also provide you with cardiovascular benefits as you burn those calories. At the same time you will be still stretching and toning your muscles. Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga can also provide you with some weight bearing exercises to improve your bone health.
Yoga Improves Digestive Health to Help Promote Weight Loss
Yoga classes expose your body to different kinds of moves, such as forward twists and bends. These moves help release gas by compressing your abdomen. There are also yoga moves that will enhance blood flow to your digestive tract and bowels, thereby improving your digestive health.
A weak gastrointestinal tract can hamper your body’s ability to lose weight. This is because a weakened or damaged gastrointestinal tract can lead to poor digestion which can inhibit weight loss. With the help of several yoga moves, you will be able to stimulate your gastrointestinal tract and unleash its vital force to help improve your overall digestive health.
For best results, start performing your yoga exercises on an empty stomach.
Yoga Teaches You To Focus On Your Body
One subtle factor that yoga has, that will power up your weight loss efforts, is its ability to make you focus on your body. This allows you to be more aware of your body and how it feels as you go through your daily activities. This self-awareness will lead to a shift in the way you treat your body.
You will more likely begin to eat only when you are hungry and not just because you feel the desire to eat that delicious snack. It will soon become easier for you to feel satisfied and stop eating before you feel overfull.
Regular practice of yoga can significantly help in your development of ‘mindfulness’ especially during mealtimes. You will become more conscious of your habits in regards to your food preparation, portion sizes and your manner of eating.
If you follow a nutritional plan and practice your yoga exercises regularly, yoga can definitely help you lose weight.
