Ways in Which Yoga Helps Keep Slim and Fit

Yoga has been one of the most effective ancient art and science to have benefitted innumerable lives in all times. It was brought out by a great Indian Rishi---Patanjali Maharishi, who laid its framework. This age-old practice has been adopted globally and its results have always been obvious.

 In today’s fast-paced life, people look up to Yoga as something that not only helps them maintain a lean, healthy body but also mind. The inter-link between mind and body have never been denied, a healthy body has a healthy mind and vice-versa. Because of the same reason, the effects of yoga have been far reaching and beyond comprehension at times.

Practicing yoga not only helps people lose but those who seek for gaining weight can also take its refuge as it works to bring the body at an optimal functioning and corrects whatever is not in line with its optimal functioning. 

Yoga has enormous benefits. It does not need any equipment and can be practiced by anyone of any age. It can be practiced in the privacy of your own home on daily basis. It is the best and simplest of option for those who wish to lose weight or stay fit. It has no side effects and its results are long lasting. In this article, let us discuss how yoga helps in weight loss.

Yoga involves enormous minor—major asanas (postures) in standing, sitting and/or lying positions. For convenience, let us segregate them under 3 headings: stretching; bending; and twisting poses and find how yoga for weight loss works.  

Stretching Postures

There are various postures that include stretching of various parts of the body and hence not just provide strength to them but also burn the fat in those portions and tone them.

The top standing postures that help stretching are Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Veerabhadrasana (Warrior Pose), and Garudasana (Eagle Pose). Tadasana not only helps in stretching of overall body but also helps in increasing height. Veerabhadrasana helps stretching of arms and torso. It not only helps keep the back healthy, but helps the stretching of belly, chest, and arms. On the other hand, Garudasana helps in stretching and toning of arms and thighs.

Top sitting postures that help stretching are Gomukhasana (Cow Pose), Singhasana (Lion Pose), and Kaagasana (Pigeon Pose). While Gomukhasana helps in the stretching and toning of shoulder muscles, arms and upper back, Singhasana helps in toning of thigh muscles as well and Kaagasana helps maintaining balance. Singhasana also helps in improving focus and confidence that indirectly affects the person’s overall attitude.

The lying posture is Naukasana (Boat Pose). It helps in stretching the arms, torso, thighs and calf muscles.

Bending Postures

 A number of bending postures are there as well that help in more stretching and toning of various muscles. All bending postures involve stretching, however, for convenience, let us discuss them separately.

Some important bending postures in standing position are side-bend asana,  trikonasana, and padahastasana. The former helps in reducing the fats on the sides of the waist and the latter helps not only in reducing the fat but also in toning and stretching the waist line and thighs. Padahastasana helps in stretching of arms and reducing the fat on the belly.

In the sitting position, some bending posture includes pashchimottanasana. It works wonders in stretching arms, spine and legs and hence helps in their good exercise. This asana also helps greatly in reducing the extra fats of the belly.

The bending postures in lying position are setu-bandh asana (Bridge Pose), Mandukasana (Frog Pose), Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Pavanmuktasana (Wind-releasing Pose), Halasana and Sarvangasana.  Setu-bandh asana gives an excellent massage to the thighs and lower back. Manduasana and Dhanurasana help greatly in getting rid of extra belly fat quickly. They also improve digestion which further helps in proper regulation of food and hence reduced weight gain. Pavanamuktasana helps in healing of gastritis and proves to be a great asana for saying good bye to belly and thigh fats. Halasana and Sarvangasana help in overall toning of the body and increase the circulation of blood in it. It quickens the metabolism and hence leads to better health as well.

Twisting Postures

Not many asanas include twisting which is another important part of yoga that helps in getting rid of belly fat and improving digestion.

In the standing postures, the most important twisting posture is Kati-chakrasana. This asana makes sure that the waist bends in a way that churns the stomach properly and improves digestion. It keeps the waist flexible and supple and helps removing extra fat.

In the sitting postures, the most important one that involves twisting in Ardhamatsyendrasana. It is another most wonderful asana to increase flexibility of the spine and waist and remove extra fat from belly and thighs.

All these asanas in yoga for weight loss, however, may require guidance from a professional yoga practitioner at least initially. Their effects remain visible within short duration and their success guaranteed. Yoga is the simplest, most effective and natural way to the body in shape and health.