Using Yoga to Lose Weight

By the vTeam, Kamau Austin, Publisher

When most people think of yoga they consider it to be more of a relaxation exercise than a weight loss exercise. However, if you are struggling to lose weight and have never tried yoga, you might want to give it a try because it can have some weight loss benefits. You may find that yoga is quite relaxing but can also help to promote weight loss. In fact the weight loss which results from practicing yoga may be a result of both the physical activity as well as the relaxation benefits. This article will provide information on the weight loss benefits of yoga and how yoga can help you to lose weight through its cardiovascular benefits as well as its relaxation benefits. Before you begin a yoga routine or taking supplements in an effort to lose weight you should consult your doctor.

Yoga as Cardiovascular Exercise

Some types of yoga known as power yoga or ashtanga yoga are quite rigorous and can be effective as part of an exercise routine designed to lose weight, but most types of yoga are not as beneficial for weight loss. This is because other types of yoga typically do not elevate your heart rate enough to stimulate weight loss. You will likely gain greater muscle tone and some calorie expenditure from yoga, but the results will not be as pronounced as other types of more strenuous exercise such as running or biking.

However, if you have not previously been exercising, the minimal calorie expenditure associated with a moderate yoga routine will result in some weight loss when combined with a healthy diet. This is because although yoga does not cause you to expend a lot of calories, it is still an increase in heart rate for those who have not been exercising regularly. This makes yoga an excellent starting point for those looking to shake a passive lifestyle. You will likely quickly become accustomed to the calorie expenditure though and will have to result to more strenuous forms of yoga or other types of exercise to keep your body challenged.

Yoga as a Relaxation Technique

One of the unique benefits of incorporating yoga into your exercise regime is the relaxation benefits you will gain from this type of exercise. Yoga is a more spiritual type of exercise that focuses on controlling your breathing and helping you to become more in tune with your body. This can help you to feel more relaxed which will have a twofold effect on weight loss.

Stress can result in weight gain or difficulty losing weight for a number of reasons. First of all, many women tend to overeat or make poor nutritional choices when under the influence of stress. This means you are likely to consume more calories and to eat foods with less nutritional value if you are feeling stressed. Yoga can help by offering you the opportunity to feel more relaxed and that relaxation minimizes the desire to consume foods high in calories or fat.

The other negative effect stress can have on your weight is the introduction of elevated levels of the hormone cortisol in your body. Cortisol is released in stressful situations to help your body by providing additional energy to deal with the stress. However, when stress is chronic, the body is continuously being inundated with cortisol, and as a result, the excess energy is stored as fat because your body is not able to use it all. Practicing yoga or meditation to reduce your stress level can help your weight loss efforts by reducing the amount of cortisol in your system. When this level subsides, your body will not be storing as much energy as fat on a regular basis.

Weight Loss Expectations with Yoga

While there are a many benefits that may result from incorporating yoga into your exercise regime, it is important to have realistic expectations about the weight loss you can expect from practicing yoga. Most types of yoga are quite mild when compared with other types of exercise such as running, biking and swimming. As a result, these types of activities are likely to burn more calories than yoga, and those who participate in these activities may lose weight more quickly than those who rely on yoga as their primary form of exercise. While yoga does burn some calories and helps to tone muscles, weight loss from yoga is likely to be slower than weight loss from other more intense activities.

However, yoga participants can increase the amount of weight they can lose through yoga by combining their exercise regime with metabolism boosting supplements. Meltorin is one such product that can help you to increase your metabolism. More information about Meltorin can be found at: www.Meltorin.com.