Yoga for Weight Loss

Yoga is well-known for doing a world of good on various fronts, so much so that today we even have an International Yoga Day celebrated on June 21 each year. But does Yoga help with weight loss as well? Is it a substitute or a supplement to ayurvedic medicine for weight loss? Well, that is what we will find out in this article!

Looking at a variety of different asanas as well as some of the principles behind Yoga, it is amply clear that it does indeed contribute incrementally towards weight loss. Below we look at some of these asanas and principles in greater detail.

Asanas (or poses)

Don’t get intimidated by the word Asana in case you are not aware of it – it is a Sanskrit word that refers to pose. With respect to weight loss, a number of these poses play a positive role.

Bhekasana or frog pose

The Bhekasana is one where you lie flat on your belly while grabbing your feet with your hands. The advantage of this pose is the way it stretches out your chest and abdomen while invigorating internal organs to the extent that excess body fat is easily shed.

Nauka Chalan or boat pose

This is a pose where you remain seated in a V shape, with your upper torso as well as lower limbs raised halfway up at about 45 degrees, thus placing your entire body weight on your hips. This pose is well known for stimulating digestion and strengthening critical internal organs such as the intestines and kidneys; in doing so, loss of excess body weight is but a given.

Bhujangasana or cobra pose

In this pose, you lie on your stomach and then raise yourself such that your body weight is on your toes. Then using your hands, you lift your shoulders and raise your head straight up, while arcing your back. Like with the other poses, this one is also known to do a world of good to your internal organs, while facilitating digestion.

Principles

Besides poses like the ones mentioned above, there are a number of principles associated with Yoga that also serve to make a world of difference as far as shedding body weight is concerned.

Increasing heart rate

Yoga is known to increase heart rate, the same way physical exercise does. Now, with this stimulated heart rate, metabolism is improved which in turn ensures optimal body weight.

Keeping the thyroid gland active

It is well-known that an inactive thyroid gland is one of the major reasons for excess body weight; being inactive, it is unable to secrete the critical hormones required by the system to ensure optimal metabolism. Now, with Yoga ensuring that the thyroid gland functions seamlessly without any hindrance, of course it contributes towards weight loss as well.

Liver stimulation

One of the most important organs in the human body as far as optimal digestion and overall smooth functioning of the system is the liver; any damage to the liver implies that the body as a whole is unable to function properly. Now, in this context, the liver is in turn stimulated by Yoga to function as flawlessly as possible. Naturally, this in turn means that from a weight loss perspective, there is a direct impact.

Conclusion

Clearly, yoga plays a very important part as far as weight loss is concerned, whether through asanas (postures or poses) or through its principles.