Yoga has many benefits. A regular yoga program can help keep your spine flexible, core strong, and help you maintain balance and poise. It also tones muscles, helps strengthen the immune system, and speeds up metabolism. However, yoga alone cannot help you lose large amounts of weight. However, it’s a good idea to add it to any healthy living plan.
Yoga will help you feel better about yourself and is a great confidence booster. Many find yoga to be an island of calm in a hectic world. While not all yoga is aerobic, there are some types of yoga that can substitute for aerobic activity. Using yoga for weight loss depends on the type you practice and how often you do it. You should choose to participate in 90 minutes of aerobic-style yoga three or more times a week, and by adding another style of yoga on the remaining days of the week you can get all the benefits of most other types of physical activity, such as weight or strength and flexibility training.
To lose weight and keep it off, you need to make lasting changes to your lifestyle permanently. Doing this requires incorporating 5 key elements into your lifestyle. These are adequate rest, drinking enough water, eating a balanced diet, proper types of exercise, and taking care of yourself emotionally. Yoga can help with the exercise and emotional elements. So what is yoga?
Hatha Yoga: exercise for the mind and spirit
Yoga is based on eight principles as a study of all religions. It is not in itself a religion. One of the eight studies deals with physical training and keeping the body in good working order. When people in the West think of yoga, what they have in mind is the branch of Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga itself has many branches or types of physical training systems developed over many years that are based on the same physical postures or postures. Here are a few:
o Hatha – While this is the branch of yoga that deals with physical yoga, here in the west a class called Hatha usually means that it will be slow and gentle and therefore provide a good introduction for beginners learn yoga postures
o Vinyasa: This can also be called sun salutations or breath-synchronized movement. It is only slightly more vigorous than Hatha. Some places use this as a warm-up before other, more vigorous types of yoga begin.
o Ashtanga & Power Yoga: Ashtanga means eight branches and is based on the entire philosophy of yoga. It is a very fast-paced type of yoga that is always done in the same order. It flows and moves without pauses. Power yoga is usually based on Ashtanga, but not always, although it is usually the inspiration for power yoga.
o Iyengar – This is based on the teachings of Yogi BKS Iyengar, which is based on an emphasis on alignment of the body. Precise alignment is effective in maximizing benefits and avoiding injury. In this type of exercise, you typically hold each pose for long periods of time rather than rapidly moving from one to the next. Typically, you will use props such as blankets, blocks, and leashes.
o Kundalini: Emphasizes breathing along with movement. The combination of movement with controlled breathing is intended to move and release energy within the chakras or systems of the body. This type of yoga can be very helpful in promoting regulation of the digestive and adrenal systems.
o Bikram o Hot Yoga – Be prepared to spend time in a hot room that is usually between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of yoga is useful for detoxifying despite profuse sweating and loosening tense muscles. The original Bikram was based on 26 poses. But not all classes follow this.
o Anusara: Founded in 1977 by a man named John Friend, this relatively new style of yoga combines physical alignment with positive energy derived from tantra. The philosophy here is the goodness of all beings. Props are also often used in this class, which is generally open to people of all fitness levels and abilities.
o Jivanukti: David life and Sharon Gannon founded this style in New York in one of the most elite yoga studios. It is inspired by Ashtanga and strongly emphasizes chanting, meditation, and spirituality. Most of the yoga teachers in the United States have been trained by them.
o Forrest: Created by Anna Forrest in California and is based on vigorous Asana postures. It is designed to strengthen, purify, release and heal the body and promote healing both physically and emotionally. You can expect intense aerobic exercise to help develop your core and expand your breathing capacity.
o Integral – Based on the teachings of Yogi Sri Swami Sachinananda, who came to the US in the 1960s. He founded many Institutes that use gentle Hatha practice along with chanting and meditation. You can also find books based on this, such as Richard Hittleman’s 28-day exercise plan, which helps newbies and beginners receive maximum benefits and results through daily practice in their first month.
Yoga is generally based on 5 general principles Proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking. By incorporating Yoga Aerobics or other aerobic exercise for 90 minutes per session 3 or more times per week along with yoga most other days of the week into your exercise plan, you can expect to see results in your first 4-6 weeks. The trick is to stick with it and make a real effort to stay consistent. Yoga along with rest, water, sleep, and other lifestyle changes can help you lose weight and keep it off. Just remember to do it daily and follow it up with a book, video, or audio material if you choose to do it at home, especially if you’re a beginner.
Yoga works by stimulating the adrenal systems and helping to cleanse the lymph and immune system of toxins. The release of pent-up energy, the calming effects emphasize yoga, and by doing aerobic and stretching exercises, such as Hatha yoga, you can gain strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness, all simply by practicing the different types of yoga styles. You’ll firm and tone muscles, burn calories, and boost your immune system and metabolism. Other effects are long-lasting, such as calm, poise, and balance. Most yogis know that regular yoga produces a glow and vibrant energy that tends to draw like-minded people to you. (Anyone who practices yoga regularly is considered a yogi.)
If you’ve ever wanted to lose weight, you may have encountered a wide range of confusing methods and ideologies. You may have wondered if you could lose it through diet, pills, exercise, or some other drastic measure alone. The answer is no! Losing weight requires determined effort, will and patience, and the process of trying and combining methods to achieve what works best for you personally. In addition to lifestyle habits, dietary changes and following the 5 key principles of a good lifestyle, yoga can help you achieve your goals.