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Can you trust yoga for weight loss? – Starts at 60

Posted: April 24, 2017 at 5:41 pm

Losing weight is one of the most sought after goals by most people. In fact, it ranked among the top searches in the Google search engine. There are many ways to lose weight but recently, people are turning their attention to yoga to shed off some pounds. It has to make you wonder, does it work? Yoga without a doubt comes with a boatload of benefits. The most obvious ones are increased flexibility and stress reduction. But today our focus is on yoga for weight loss. I will be telling you if yoga works for losing weight and most importantly how to get the best results possible. So, before you join that yoga class, I suggest you read on to know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

Many people are increasingly getting concerned about their metabolic disorders and expanding waistlines and have turned to yoga for redemption. But does it work? My answer to this is a resounding yes. Over the years, yoga has proven to be a very effective tool for losing weight despite the common belief that yoga is a regime for only fit people who are looking to increase their flexibility. Yoga comes in handy when losing weight because it has breathing exercises that immensely increase your heart and metabolic rate. Increased heart and metabolic rate mean that you are burning calories using yoga which translates to weight loss. Yoga increases flexibility since it involves poses and twisting of your body hence activating your muscles. This not only promotes fat burning around your muscles but also immense muscle building. In addition to that, it strengthens your core and stamina upping your metabolic rate. Combine yoga with a good diet and in no time, you will notice a change in your weight.

Now that we have established that yoga is great for weight loss, how often should it be done for it to be effective? The amount of weight you lose during yoga depends on the intensity of your sessions and the poses you incorporate. Different types of yoga, burn different amounts of calories with Vinyasa yoga being the most effective in losing weight. However, the rule of thumb is to practice Yoga at least 3 to 4 times a week in order to see any changes. I have to strongly emphasize on maintaining good form while posing as some poses can be quite injurious if done wrong. Also, keep in mind that a good diet is a key to weight loss. No matter how much yoga you do, without a healthy diet, you are wasting your time. It is important to also note that there are different forms of yoga and not all of them redesigned to burn calories. Some of the yoga exercises such as meditative stillness and reclined poses are great for attaining a calm mind and dont do much for weight loss. You can, however, argue that stress is a major contributor to gaining weight and in this case, the above-mentioned poses can be great for combating stress and ultimately, lead to weight loss.

1. The Boat Pose If you are looking to shed some of the stubborn belly fat this pose is highly effective. All you need to do here is basically lie down on your back in a v-shaped position. Hold the position for approximately 10 seconds and watch your belly fat melt. Dont hesitate to increase the period of your poses every time this pose gets too simple for you.

2. The Upward Plank This pose works your wrists, arms, shoulders and back muscles while strengthening your overall body muscles. It may be challenging for a beginner but with time, you will build endurance and master the pose. The upward plank works your core hence you will attain better balance after a few poses. It is also great and very effective for the respiratory system. For this pose, you need to put your hands on your hips while you are seated with your legs stretched. Raise your body from the tailbone and then pull your head back.

3. Crescent This pose is great for firming your thighs, hips, and abs. basically, you need to stand with your toes pointing forward, feet together and your arms at the sides. Reach for fingertips towards the ceiling as you inhale and raise your arms overhead. Next, bring your hand to the floor and bend forward from the hips as you exhale. Inhale and gaze forward with your arms raised overhead then hold and finally return to standing. A repeat of this pose for about 10 to 15 times is enough to tone your body.

4. Willow This pose firms the side of your stomach giving you a smaller waist. With your arms at the sides, stand with your feet together while placing the sole of your left foot on the inside of your right thigh. Next, bend your knee to the side and then place your palms together in front of your chest. Slowly extend your arms up with the fingertips towards the ceiling and inhale. Bend the torso to the left afterward and exhale. Repeat this process 3 to 5 times while switching sides and pressing your foot into your thighs.

5. Hover The hover pose is great for firming your shoulders, abs, arms and your back. You should start by aligning your body from head to your heels in a push up position. Ensure that your hands are below your shoulders and your arms are straight. Put your arms close to your body, bend your elbows back and lower your chest towards the floor when you exhale and tighten your abs.

There you have it, how to use yoga for weight loss. This is a pretty simple and quite frankly fun alternative to vigorous weight lifting and cardio when trying to lose weight. Whats even better is that you stand to gain a lot more than just weight loss. For instance, your muscles are developed and flexibility enhanced. I will say this one more time just in case you missed it. Using yoga to lose weight without adopting a healthy diet is useless. So, get ready to start eating right if you want to change your weight. Thats it for today ladies and gentlemen.

This article was written by Nancy Moore

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Can you trust yoga for weight loss? - Starts at 60


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