Yoga for Weight Loss

Bend those unwanted pounds away

No matter what kind of yoga you're practicing, you will soon notice how the exercise relieves stress, strengthens your muscles, tones your body, loosens any tension and reshapes your figure. Although yoga is not a quick method to sculpt the body, it's a beneficial long-term approach to weight loss – especially Ashtanga and power yoga.

Yoga exercise improves the overall function of the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and hormonal systems. For example, some Ashtanga yoga postures increase hormonal secretions by stimulating sluggish glands. Meanwhile, the Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) and the Matsyasana (fish) poses affect the thyroid glands; which control the body weight effectively enhancing metabolism to burn extra calories.

Overall, yoga postures encourage blood circulation. This effects the endocrine glands, which include the pancreas and thyroid, so that your moods, appetite and even sleep patterns can be changed. In addition, yoga postures like chakki chalana (mill churning), gatyatmak meru vakrasana (dynamic spinal twist) and nauka sanchalana (boat rowing) massage the abdominal area and help mobilize any excess fat tissue that stored around it.

Yoga's controlled breathing exercises can also increase the body's oxygen intake. As a result, deeper oxidation will burn up more fat cells. Keeping steady control of a pose causes you to breathe deeper - thus calories burn continuously.

The overall result of yoga practice is the balance of the inner body. In combination with other sports - such as jogging, swimming or cycling - yoga can be a significant way for individuals to manage their weight. In general, yoga can boost your performance in other physically activities - so you get your best results.