You have probably seen people practicing yoga, and you felt it could not possibly help a person lose weight. But wait, you can actually do yoga for weight loss and see the results too. Consistent yoga practice has so far been shown to help reduce weight gain, improve posture, gain better balance, and so much more. So, the next time you want to do power yoga, just know there are a lot more benefits to expect.
Yoga for Weight Loss: Poses to Do at Home
Practicing yoga can have many benefits, including losing weight. You can also have restorative yoga classes for improving flexibility and athletic health. This shows that you can achieve different results depending on yoga poses. We look at the most common yoga poses to help with weight loss.
Surya Namaskara – Sun Salutation Pose
This is a common pose in regular yoga practice. Its job is to help warm up the muscles and get the blood flowing. If you practice yoga with this pose, you also notice toned arms, a stimulated digestive system, and improved metabolism to burn calories.
You can see how this pose is the whole package for weight loss and still improving your health.
Dhanurasana – Bow Pose
You can use your body weight to help with burning calories. That is why Health Canal, a health & wellness website, recommends a few yoga poses such as this one for burning calories and losing weight.
It is a common pose in regularly practiced yoga to help lose belly fat. This is because it helps massage the abdominal organs and improves digestion. It also strengthens the back, chest, and thighs.
Parivrtta Utkatasana – Twisted Chair pose
Yoga asanas are known for their many health benefits, including improving mental health and also promoting weight loss. It is the same thing with this pose, as it will tone those abdominal muscles. It also works on the glutes and quads.
You also get to improve the digestive and lymph systems.
Sethu Bandha Sarvangasana – Bridge pose
Any yoga instructor is likely to recommend this pose. The yoga community also loves it for being great for the glutes and thyroid. So, more calorie burning and you still get to practice mindfulness. The pose also helps strengthen the back and relieve pain.
Sarvangasana – Shoulder Stand Pose
A healthier lifestyle coupled with this upper body pose should help you get some weight off while also improving digestion. Sometimes, you may have high-stress levels. The pose can help manage stress and further lead to reducing stress to keep it down. It can also help strengthen the upper body.
Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Dog pose
You may have done a cobra pose before, but it is now time for a dog pose. The pose is good for working out the whole body, just like hot yoga. You get to experience deep breathing and also get a cardiovascular workout important for weight loss.
Trikonasana – Triangle pose
It might not be the fastest way to lose weight in a month, but it can help reduce the fat deposits around the waist and belly. You also experience joint pain relief if you do the pose more often. Just couple it with healthier eating choices.
Virabhadrasana – Warrior Pose
The warrior pose is more than just achieving inner peace. This pose would be great for toning the shoulders and thighs. It can be a challenging pose at first, but you get better at it with time. Many people like how they end up with tighter quads in this position. Also, you can improve the back, legs, and arms toning.
Chaturanga Dandasana – Plank Pose
If you have done planks before, then you know how intense they can be. That is why you may also want to do this one. The pose is all about strengthening the core. As much as it may look simple, there are many benefits to this type of pose.
Besides improving the core, you can lose weight around the waist and belly with the pose.
Is Yoga Good for Weight Loss
Overweight women and men all experience the same problem. However, Yoga might just be what you need to lose weight. Of course, you have to stop emotional eating and now choose healthier food choices. According to Arogya Yoga School, changing your food is the first step to starting to lose weight and improving body composition.
Some might wonder, how does yoga even help with weight loss?
Yoga helps with weight loss in the following ways:
- Burning calories as you get into different poses
- Can help boost metabolism
- Will improve your general well-being
- May help with reducing tension and helping you relax
- Can improve stamina, flexibility, and toning of the body
Conclusion
Though supplements and special foods are trusted by nutritionists as helpful for weight loss, the evidence isn’t always clear. Adding yoga to your routine may help you lose weight and keep it off long-term.
Other than weight loss, you also get muscle tone with yoga. Of course, you should adopt healthier eating to see more weight loss results. So, what are you waiting for? Get your yoga mat and start doing those poses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you lose weight by doing yoga?
It is possible, but you may want to consider doing other things too to boost weight loss, including eating healthier and doing other exercises too.
- Which type of yoga is best for weight loss?
You can consider power yoga since it is better even when you use it over a long time. However, supervision is recommended for those with medical conditions.