Can You Lose Weight Practicing Yoga?

For those who aren’t familiar with yoga, it has the reputation of being a calming and relaxing activity that does not burn any calories; and thus, won’t result in any weight loss. However, that is not the case: there is a wide spectrum of many different kinds of yoga all of which vary in intensity and difficulty. While it is true that there are specific kinds of yoga that are only meant to calm and relax the mind, regular practice of other forms of yoga can burn calories and help you lose weight especially when combined with a balanced diet that is low in calories.

The formula for losing body fat is rather simple: you have to burn more calories than you are consuming. Yoga classes typically range from 60 to 90 minutes, and depending on the intensity of the class, can burn 3-6 calories per minute for the average individual which means that 180 up to 360 calories can be burned during a regular yoga practice. Yoga burns significantly fewer calories when compared to traditional kinds of exercises such as cardio workouts, running, or circuit training. However, yoga can help practitioners tune in to their bodies more effectively and help them become more mindful of their calorie intake.

Here are other ways that yoga can help with weight loss:

1.       Stress reduction: Many people tend to gain weight because of stress eating, and yoga can help fight the stress that causes them to make unhealthy food choices. Stress is a primary culprit for weight gain, an issue that yoga can help to address. Regular practice of yoga is an effective way to prevent stress and bring your body toward a more relaxed state. Being more calm and relaxed will decrease stress in your life and help you lose weight naturally and easily.

2.       Detoxification: A body that is overweight also means that there is a high toxicity level in the internal organs. Undergoing detoxification can help the body get rid of unwanted fat effectively. The toxins brought about by excess fat can prevent the internal organs from functioning optimally, which can result in weight gain because the body will have a difficult time getting rid of excess fat. Yoga is a great way to detoxify the body. No other workout tones the internal organs and helps them work more effectively than ever before. Breathing exercises used in yoga classes also aid in detoxification. These breathing exercises referred to as pranayama, work to cleanse and rejuvenate the internal organs and make them more efficient with their functions. Breathing exercises and pranayamas can increase heart rate and speed up metabolism, all of which can promote weight loss. Some yoga classes also incorporate self-massage, which in the East is acknowledged for its ability to effectively detoxify the body.

3.       Release emotions:  Most people don’t realize that being overweight is also caused by emotional factors, such as holding on to negative feelings. Oftentimes we are too busy to realize that we are eating our feelings; some people turn to food as a way to suppress feelings. Yoga is a great way to release these emotions. Practicing yoga is a great way to get in touch with your feelings and address them in a healthy manner.

4.       Stimulates the liver: Yoga is a powerful exercise that stimulates the liver; which is an organ in the body that aids in detoxification and purifies the blood. The liver is responsible for processing good and bad fat. When the liver is strong and healthy, it works by eliminating bad fat while helping store the good fat and making it work for you. The liver also gives you energy by producing coenzyme Q10, which provides energy for the muscles. Certain yoga poses are designed to stimulate the liver’s functioning more effectively so that it can function more optimally. The best yoga poses for targeting the liver include dhanurasana, bhujangasana, chakrasana, and matsyendrasana.

5.       Activate internal heat: Some people think that heated yoga classes are the most effective way to lose weight. The truth is that there is no need for an external source of heat; ancient yogis were able to activate their internal heat sources which make the body feel warmer from the inside out. This kind of heat is effective in burning visceral and subcutaneous fat. The best postures for activating internal heat are anjaneyasana and paschimottanasana.

6.       Encourages you to be active: Any kind of activity that encourages you to be active whether in short or long amounts of time will help you lose weight. Muscles rely on fat as fuel, and activity will help build up muscles in the body. When you have strong muscles, it will continue to burn fat even when you are sleeping or resting which is why the strength work that comes with yoga is beneficial for weight loss. Arm balancing poses in particular are good for shedding calories because they make use of every muscle, even those in the legs and abdominals. The best postures for increasing strength in the body are the bakasana, tolasana, and the pincha mayurasana.

7.       Increases heart rate: While other kinds of exercises like running or jogging can increase the heart rate needed for weight loss, for certain people these workouts can actually stress out the nervous system and even cause adrenal fatigue. Increasing the heart rate for short spurts and then dropping it gradually is a more effective way to do so, which can be achieved through yoga.

8.       Colon cleansing: It’s not uncommon for food to become stuck in the colon, which leads to weight gain. If nothing is done to eliminate the food that is stuck in the colon, it can become toxic over time and lead to illnesses, especially for those who have a diet that is heavy in meats. Many yoga postures are effective in cleansing the colon, particularly Agnisara Mudra and Utks\'epa Mudra.