Yoga for Weight Loss?

Yoga makes a great supplementary exercise. The significant stretching in this form of exercise aids in increasing flexibility and reducing risk of injury in sports or frequent gym visits. 

As almost all work-out routines (be it aerobics or strength training) involve flexion and contraction of muscle, stretching improves blood flow through your muscles to reduce stiffness and subsequently reduce stiffness in your muscle. This directly affects your Range of Motion and improves your athletic performance.

Yoga on its own can be considered strength training as it’s balancing postures aid in strengthening each individual muscle. 

But does it really aid in weight loss? 

I didn’t believe it. 

I started going for my yoga classes for a good stretch. But of course it was only 2-3 times a week and I saw myself slowly (but surely) gaining flexibility. That was my only goal, flexibility. I would do 2 hours of back to back classes and glance at my heart rate monitor that would display “Total Calories Burnt: 250”. 

But then it all changed when I left for India. I was in Kerala for one month practicing yoga everyday enthusiastically and not going easy on my food, it was carb fest! At that point of time, I thought to myself “it’s just weight. If I gain, I’ll just lose it later”. Not realizing that all that stretching shed pounds off me, although that was not my ultimate goal. I came home from India to find out I had lost a total of 6 kgs when I wasn’t even trying. Traditional yoga doesnt have anything near the calorie-burning power of aerobic or strength training exercises. So how did I lose weight?

There have been studies conducted as to how weight loss is achieved with yoga but there has not been any scientific proof. 

The key word: Mind, Body and Soul. 

The unity of these three elements - ability to observe what is happening internally in a non-reactive fashion, along with mindful breathing and steady postures, changes your relationship with your body (be it exercising or food intake). Your body starts giving you signals and you have to listen to it. It is the connection you have with your physical self that helps your body achieve what’s best for it.

Yoga does aid in weight loss. And it requires immense discipline like any other natural weight loss programs. 

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