Staying in shape with Yoga Articles | Yoga

By: Darren Williger

The twin benefits of yoga on the mind and body can be utilized to remain in good shape and lose those extra pounds. Yoga essentially promotes a healthier life style and when you combine this with your regular weight-reducing workouts, the result can be quite astounding. Yoga affects your metabolism positively; it burns the calories faster. But his does to mean that you can expect overnight results of weight reduction with yoga. Try to look at it as a long-term proposal of staying healthy both in mind and body. In fact, weight loss is only a small part of the overall benefits of yoga. As an added bonus, it trains you to focus and concentrate, relax in times of stress and helps you cope various life situations in a far more calm and composed way.

Metabolism is a complex biochemical process which works incessantly in our body even when we are sleeping. Thyroid is an important gland, part of our endocrine system, which helps in this biochemical process by transforming food into energy. There are some ‘twisting’ postures in yoga which stimulate these chemical reactions within the internal organs which lends a boost to the metabolic process and burns more calorie which directly impacts your body weight. Yoga also improves blood circulation through out the body, which results in a healthier and good looking body. When you calorie intake is lower than your calorie output, the body will adopt the natural process of burning the fat cells for gathering the energy it requires to function. Thus yoga, by improving the metabolic process, yields better results than your usual weight-loss programs.

How does yoga stimulate metabolism? There are various forward and back bending exercises which do this with ease. Postures which affect the neck area, stimulates the thyroid and rectifies its functioning, in case weight gain is due to hormonal problems. Functioning of the thyroid can be improved by postures like camel, rabbit, plow, bridge and shoulder stand. The process can further be accelerated by quick movements during a series of poses. For people who are overweight, some of the poses might be difficult to perform; they ought to proceed with the program in a structured way, so that they become proficient in simpler poses before taking on more complex postures.

Standing poses like the warrior can be done to strengthen muscles. These poses are excellent to increase endurance and burning of excess calories. Kapalabhati and Ujjayi Pranayama are two famous yoga exercises which add energy to the body and increases metabolism.

Yoga programs will not yield the desired goal of weight loss unless you follow it up with a regulated diet. Consuming diet rich in fiber, vegetables, whole grains and less in fat content can help in weight loss over and above your yoga program. Giving up processed food also helps. Giving up all your favorite food also has a negative impact on the mind – just keep everything in moderation.

If you are under the impression that yoga can help in immediate weight loss then you might be disappointed. Yoga works on the body and mind, in slow and steady steps and benefits show gradually. However yoga can be one of your constant partners in your weight loss program, as it is extremely beneficial in the long run. What a good feeling, to feel good inside and look good outside! Yoga helps you achieve this by keeping your mind and body in good health.