Can yoga help me lose weight?

One of the many benefits of a consistent yoga practice is an increase in body awareness, specifically -- not only what we put in our mouths, but more so how particular foods affect our body. We start to make healthier choices. Weight loss is simply taking in fewer calories than we expend throughout the day and being conscious of what goes into your body is a very important part of this equation. Additionally, yoga builds lean muscle and increases your metabolism, helping you to burn off additional calories.

Yes. Yoga can definitely help to aid in weight loss. There are many varieties of yoga available to us, and while some are more vigorous than others, the universal principals found in almost all forms of yoga help us to connect to our body's wisdom. This connection is paramount in how we live our lives outside of the yoga studio. Being aware of our body and it's needs helps to make the right decisions around everything from nutrition to mental health.

Yoga poses themselves help to lengthen and strengthen the entire body while enhancing everything from digestion, circulation, respiratory health and even skin quality! 

The key to achieving all of the benefits yoga has to offer, including weight loss, is to maintain a regular practice.

 

It absolutely can. Just as any physical activity, yoga increases caloric expenditure thus causing weight loss. There are many different types and intensities of yoga, with the most vigorous forms will result in more weight loss. Yoga has a strong emphasis on body awareness and that attentiveness to the body will also help with weight loss. 

It absolutely can! BUT it depends on the yoga that you do. As with any fitness program, we are all individual bodies and we must figure out what we respond best to when working out. Restorative yoga, though awesome for dousing cortisol levels which helps control belly fat, is more for relaxing the outer body than strengthening and toning. I believe in an ALL YOGA approach, and I allow my most physical practices to be balanced by more restorative ones.

The human body is always seeking balance, and weight loss is no different. Many forms of yoga have a cardio component to them as they change the level (think of the ups and downs of sun salutations) and use large muscle groups. This effect is then balanced by the strengthening of holding postures and the stress relief of moving with fluidity and meditation. Yoga is also a wonderful way to re-learn how to breathe properly. The breath is also a key component to weight loss as the body is more apt to let go of what it does not need (excess body fat) when it is cared for by receiving those cleansing breaths.

Yoga also makes each of us more aware of what we fuel our bodies with. While not every yogi is a strict vegan or vegetarian, yoga does promote a kinder approach to the diet. Yoga can bring you more in touch with the inner workings of your body and keep you in tune with the balanced diet that works for you.

In order to get the most weight loss out of yoga, you may choose a style that is just a bit more physically challenging (without the joint strains and competitiveness of other athletics) such as Ashtanga, Core Yoga, Baptiste Power Yoga, hot Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Kundalini yoga, etc.

Feel free to look into these sites for more info:

www.sadienardini.com

www.tarastiles.com

www.yogajournal.com

www.yogatoday.com

www.michellecarlson.com

Preliminary research does not provide clear answers. Yoga in addition to healthy eating habits may reduce weight. Better studies are necessary to form conclusions about the potential benefits of yoga alone.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.