As long as certain things are followed, yoga can actually be a very effective way to lose weight. Like any form of exercise or exercise, yoga helps the body burn calories. However, yoga differs from typical practices because of its holistic focus on mindfulness. Yoga is actually a 5,000-year-old philosophical practice—not just a daily exercise. But when it comes to weight loss, keeping the philosophy of yoga and mindfulness in mind can actually be beneficial.
lose weight with yoga
lose weight with yoga
The power of yoga to help you lose weight is manifold. Many yogis bring exercises on the mat into their daily lives. Thus, yoga is not only an exercise program, but also a powerful tool for influencing lifestyle choices, eg, B. when and how much to eat. This makes yoga unique among weight loss techniques. At the end of the day, weight loss is only possible when the body is in a calorie deficit — understood as burning more calories than it takes in. For example, losing one pound of fat requires burning about 3,500 calories (a deficit). The physical activity of yoga helps burn calories.
True yoga is not about the shape of your body, it’s about the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga has to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have done; yoga cares about who you become. Yoga is designed for a deep and profound purpose, and to be truly called yoga, it must embody its essence. Adil Parshiwala
But other aspects, such as mindfulness and philosophy, can also help yogis make healthier food choices. Yoga philosophy includes ethical and moral principles such as yamas and niyamas. Practicing this philosophy can lead to aparigraha, or calm, which can affect dietary choices. In addition, yoga can also have physiological effects on the body, such as: B. Reduce stress, balance the nervous system, and improve thyroid function. All of these can lead to more effective weight loss.
10 Tips for Yoga to Lose Weight
The following ten tips are important ones to keep in mind when trying to lose weight with yoga. Some of these tips might even surprise you, especially if you’re used to the classic weight loss formula.
Yoga can be a great calorie burner
Yoga can be a great calorie burner
For the first tip, let’s start with the most obvious one when it comes to weight loss: burning calories. The only way to really lose weight is to stay in a calorie deficit. There are many important lifestyle factors that can help the body lose weight more efficiently, but ultimately the body needs to burn calories in order to lose weight. Practicing yoga can burn a lot of calories. For example, an hour of yoga can burn a total of 200-600 calories. Total calorie consumption depends on factors such as age, weight, metabolism and type of yoga practice. Certain types of yoga can help burn more calories. These include faster, more energetic, and aerobic styles of yoga, such as power yoga, flow yoga, Ashtanga yoga, and more.
Don’t Underestimate Gentle Yoga Practice
Don’t Underestimate Gentle Yoga Practice
Just because gentle yoga classes don’t burn as many calories doesn’t mean they’re still unimportant when it comes to weight loss. In fact, a gentle yoga style should be part of the routine for anyone trying to lose weight. It might be counterintuitive — how can a simple yin yoga class, without even breaking a sweat, help you lose weight? Gentle yoga focuses on reducing stress in the body. It is very effective in calming the body’s stress response and reducing the hormone cortisol in the body. People under chronic stress have elevated cortisol levels, which can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdomen. Intense exercise actually puts more stress on the body, causing it to produce more cortisol, making weight loss impossible. A gentle yoga style can help a person overcome the initial hurdle of lowering cortisol, allowing their body to lose weight.
fasting before yoga
fasting before yoga
The tradition in yoga is not to eat for a few hours before practice. This leaves the stomach and intestines free and ready to rotate in various asanas. So fasting helps detox and also helps reduce nausea – not very comfortable doing handstands while full! However, fasting before yoga practice also has weight loss benefits. By practicing yoga on an empty stomach, the body burns energy stored in fat stores instead of calories from the previous meal. This is the fat burning process commonly known as ketosis.
Reducing Stress Is Essential for Weight Loss
Reducing Stress Is Essential for Weight Loss
As mentioned earlier, stress and body weight are closely related. People who experience chronic stress tend to gain weight and lose weight less efficiently. why is it like this? Their bodies go into “fight or flight” mode as their sympathetic nervous systems go into overdrive. As a result, the body sends energy to its essential functions and tends to retain fat because it is in “survival mode.” Historically, our ancestors were best served by relying on fat for warmth and energy during times of stress. That might have made sense in the Ice Age, but it’s less desirable in modern times. Physiologically, this is due to elevated cortisol and other stress hormones. Yoga can help with this by reducing stress — which has been shown to be effective in numerous studies. Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system through diaphragmatic breathing. This passage from Nervou