I came across
this article the other day showing a yoga for weight loss sequence.
The sequence, which is basically the second half of a variation on the classical sun salutation, is challenging. If you do a lot of them, you will increase your heart rate and maybe even get sweaty.
And that’s not the only challenging sequence possible in yoga. There are a lot of poses that will build strength as well as flexibility, and depending on the class and how the poses are linked together, you might finish feeling physically tired (in a good way, hopefully).
Which is great! As I’ve written about before, I got started with yoga for the physical reasons. Madonna had amazing arms and she swore by yoga, so I wanted to get in on that. I’ve since learned that there is so much more to yoga, so I don’t care if you come to class for the physical reasons. You’ll feel the other benefits soon enough.
If your main goal (right now) is weight loss, you’re going to get farther with cardio, weightlifting, and, most importantly, what you eat. However, you can include yoga for weight loss, too. This is why.
Yoga for Weight Loss
Yoga works on your mind. Your self-acceptance. It helps you lower your stress. It helps you tune into your body and how it’s feeling, what it needs.
When we know how to handle stress, when we understand our body’s signals, when we love ourselves, we naturally take action that supports our health and well-being, and those are the habits that tend to lead to weight loss.
At the same time, as we become more accepting of ourselves, weight loss may stop being the be-all, end-all. There are so many interesting things that happen as we get to know our bodies, and the rewards just keep coming.
In my own life, I’ve noticed over the years that when my yoga practice is consistent I sleep better. I don’t crave junk food as much. I’m also a lot more level-headed in my approach to the common inconveniences of every day life (and the bigger stuff, too). That includes frustrations about my how quickly (or not) I might be progressing with fitness goals.
So, Does It Work?
You can do yoga for weight loss, but it’s a long game, and it’s different for everyone. Just like anything else. And this is important:
There’s just no magic sequence of poses that’s going to make it happen.
All poses (a complete practice) will be beneficial in this journey, because they all work toward teaching us more patience and awareness along with strength and flexibility.
