The benefits of Yoga and Weight loss are becoming more and more known, as it is an activity that helps a lot to relax and requires physical activity, which allows us to lose weight. Like Pilates exercises, those performed in yoga are responsible for seeking balance in our body and mind while helping us to be more flexible, resistant, strong, and energetic.
Without needing to do a lot of exercise or weights, yoga will help us improve our balance, posture, and stress control, something that is reflected in our body and where blood pressure is reduced. Regular yoga practice tones the muscles and joints, improve flexibility, and keep us strong. Also, at the same time, it relaxes us and helps calm our thoughts. In short, practicing yoga has many benefits.
There are a lot of people who search for Yoga and Weight loss in different specific parts of the body, where the abdomen, arms, belly, or legs stand out. Some postures indeed help to work and tone some parts of the body more precisely.
Yoga and Weight Loss
First of all, we should know how yoga works and what it triggers in our body to see if it is a perfect ally when it comes to losing weight with its practice. To be honest, it is an activity that puts our muscles and joints to work. The only variation is the intensity, and that makes it different.
We must keep in mind that yoga perfectly alternates contracting and stretching the muscles throughout the different postures or asanas. This causes the blood flow to increase considerably, and with it, the heart rate accelerates.
What we have described above is multiplied if we practice yoga in a room at 42 degrees Celsius, since the heart rate will be higher. But despite this increase in the pumping of the heart, always keeps us in a medium pulse range, but never intense, much less maximum.
Activates the thyroid gland
Another reason why yoga loses weight is that it helps regulate the thyroid glands, which are so crucial to our metabolism.
Twists, forward bend, inverts, and especially sun salutations, massage the endocrine system and abdominal organs. This increases the flow of oxygen in the body, which promotes fat burning.
Yoga is a heart activity that will activate circulation.
Yoga is a cardiac activity, but a moderate one that starts the blood circulation and the heart at the same time. But the question is whether this activation is enough to achieve a good calorie burn and a considerable metabolic acceleration.
As we said before, there are several types of yoga. We can traditionally perform yoga, or instead perform the one known as hot yoga or Bikram, which is performed in rooms that are at about 42 degrees Celsius. This second alternative is what most people consider suitable for losing weight. Through the deep breaths that yoga practice gives us, we increase the capacity of our hearts. This results in more oxygenated cells, an essential aspect of maintaining an active and strong metabolism. In this way, the metabolism is gaining an even more significant role in our weight loss plan
Speeds up metabolism
Unquestionably you have come out sweating on more than one occasion in your yoga classes. From the beginning of the session, the breathing techniques (Pranayama) help us to warm up the body before starting with the physical practice. During yoga classes, dynamic yoga sequences such as vinyasas or sun salutations are often mixed with the maintenance of deeper asanas that work the muscle and tone it. All this activates the metabolism. Not only during the time we are practicing yoga but throughout the day. With a strong and activated metabolism, the body consumes more energy, helping to lose weight more quickly
Stimulates the liver
Now we know that with yoga, we can achieve a strong digestive system and a clean colon. In this way, we are taking work from the liver, thereby purifying the body of toxins even more. So our liver gets more time to process all kinds of fats more optimally. In this way, we retain less, helping to eliminate more fat.
Can everyone lose weight with yoga?
Anyone can lose weight by practicing yoga as long as they commit to their goals. Although we can notice changes from the first week, if we want to lose weight, we will have to practice frequently and regularly. Also, we must not forget the enormous importance of maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough sleep. There is no other effective way to lose weight than that.
Yoga poses to lose weight.
There are a few particular asanas that can help you to lose weight and contribute more to a healthy weight.
Bikram
it is a posture that takes place in a heated room for 90 minutes. A series of 26 demanding postures are done that increase the heart rate and demand strength and physical demand. Burns as many calories as running.
Iyengar yoga
they are less intense, but they help to lose weight in the long term because they increase muscle mass, and that causes the body to burn more calories, even at rest.
Vinyasa yoga
in this pose, everything moves with enough intensity and speed, with which the practice of this style is practically like going for a run in terms of calories consumed.
This style of yoga allows for great creativity, but will almost always include sun salutations or some other type of salutation. Many times, movements from posture to posture are vigorous and require effort.
Ashtanga yoga
Ashtanga is a style of yoga not recommended for beginners. It is best to practice and master other, more straightforward techniques, work on strength and flexibility before entering this demanding practice. Of course, in ashtanga, no part of the body is not required.
Conclusion
Now you know everything that yoga can contribute to your health and how it can help you lose weight. Yoga can help you in your goal of regaining your ideal weight.
Of course, as with everything, you must be constant. We recommend you practice yoga two or three times a week or, if possible, then daily to activate the metabolism and create a good habit. The results? You get a slimmer, younger, and more toned body.