YOGA FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Time and time again, you choose a different workout routine and a different diet, yet nothing seems to be working. It seems as if you are NEVER going to lose weight. Okay, so you think you’ve tried everything to lose weight? Have you tried yoga? That’s why you’ve been failing … there are so many different yoga poses for weight loss you can use and you’ll never get bored!
Honestly, yoga is one of the best ways to lose weight, as long as you practice it on a regular basis and use the right form. With yoga, there are few chances of injury and it is light on the joint. Moreover, you will no longer have to waste money on expensive equipment and diets just to see if you can manage to shed a couple of pounds. You can easily practice yoga in the comfort of your own home … isn’t that good news?
All you need is a space set aside for your yoga mat and some comfortable clothes and you will be ready to go. To give you a kick start, check out these yoga poses for weight loss …
1. The Half Moon Pose
half-moon-pose this one right here is known as the Ardha Chandraasana, but it’s often referred to as the half-moon pose. This pose is useful for toning your upper and inner thighs, as well as your buttocks. If you have love handles, the added stretch that you do on your tummy will help you shed that love handles.
Mind you, if you have high blood pressure, digestive disorders or a spine injury, you should avoid doing this pose.
Step 1: Strand straight with your feet touching each other.
Step 2: Take your hands and reach above your head. Now, put your palms together. Try reaching for the ceiling.
Step 3: As you are slowly bending sideways from your hips, exhale and keep your hands together. Make sure you keep your elbows straight and don’t just bend forward. If you’re doing the pose properly, you will feel a stretch from your fingertips to your thigh.
Step 4: As you come back up and return to the standing position, slowly inhale. Using the other side, repeat the process.
2. The Cobbler’s Pose
cobbler-pose many of you may know this pose as the Badhakonasana, but we like to refer to it as the cobble pose because it’s easier to say and remember. There are many benefits to this pose, but one of the biggest would be the fact that it helps reduce fat on the inner thighs. It can also help strengthen the muscles of the groin, lower back, and knees. On a side note, some women do it in order to get relief from menstrual discomfort. It also helps improve digestion.
Step 1: With this pose, you will start out sitting on your yoga mat. Stretch your legs out in front of you.
Step 2: Now, you need to bend your legs at the knees and keep your spine erect. The soles of your feet will need to be facing each other.
Step 3: Take your hands and adjust your legs so that your heels can touch each other. Get your heels as close to your pelvis as you can, without feeling pain.
Step 4: As you are holding your legs around your ankles, picture the wings of a butterfly and move your thighs up and down.
Do this as many times as possible. Again, you shouldn’t feel any pain.
3. Kapal Bhati Pranayam
Kapalbhati-PranayamaKapal Bhati Pranayam is another good yoga pose for weight loss. It is a breathing exercise that many are currently using in order to oxygenate their body, while they are strengthening the muscles in their abdomen and stomach. This pose right here will help you get that toned stomach you have been dreaming of – plus, it will eliminate those love handles and helps digestion.
Take note, that if you have a hernia, high blood pressure, or heart disease, you should avoid this yoga pose for beginners.
Step 1: As you are sitting on your yoga mat, put your palms on your knees, facing downwards. Make sure you keep your spine erect
Step 2: As you are exhaling through your nose, push your tummy towards the spine.
Step 3: As you are loosening your stomach muscles, you are naturally going to breathe in.
Step 4: Contract your stomach muscles quickly again, then breathe out. You shouldn’t be doing the work – your muscles should naturally be doing the work of pushing out and pulling the air in.
If you came to us for yoga for beginners, we recommend you start out doing this one 50 times. As time passes by, you can increase your number of repetitions and do as many as you feel comfortable with.
Note: After you do this yoga pose for weight loss, you may feel sore around your abdomen and stomach. Don’t worry, this is normal.
4. The Plough Pose
Plough-pose plough pose is often referred to as the Halasana. It is a great pose for office workers who have a tendency to sit for long hours. It can be used to strengthen the thigh muscles, as well as the shoulder muscles and it will help tone the muscles of your buttocks. Not to mention the fact that it will also stimulate the functioning of the parathyroid glands, thyroid glands, abdominal organs, and lungs. It keeps your hormonal levels in check and improves digestion.
Note: if you are currently menstruating, have spleen or liver disorders, hypertension, or have suffered a neck injury, you should avoid this yoga pose for beginners.
Step 1: Start out lying flat on your back on your yoga mat. Your feet should be flat on the floor.
Step 2: Your arms should be placed at your side. Take your knees and bend them so that you have your feet placed flat on the floor.
