This week we are starting a new series — “Weight loss and Yoga” — in which I will discuss and debunk many misunderstandings and myths related to yoga with the help of scientific facts.
Yoga is a 5000-year-old science which originated in the Himalayas in India and it has come to be accepted as a transforming practice worldwide. However, its role in achieving weight loss is still questioned and doubted. Each week, we will focus on an asana flow that works on weight reduction and body sculpting.
Weight reduction occurs when a person’s calorie intake is less than that expended through the day. The first thing that any person trying to lose weight needs to do is to set right this intake-outflow balance.
Yoga is traditionally known for burning fewer calories than other fitness programmes so why would anyone choose yoga to shed those extra pounds and inches? Here’s why.
YOGA IS AN ANCIENT SCIENCE THAT TAKES YOU STRAIGHT TO THE HEART OF WEIGHT LOSS
Yoga zooms straight into your internal system through your breath and blood circulation — the carriers of good health — to your internal organs as well as your muscles and bones. Oxygenated blood and Prana or life force is released by the asana practice, flooding your entire system. This conscious movement and breathing helps in giving your body a better shape and keeping your heart and brain healthier.
YOGA ENHANCES WEIGHT LOSS BEYOND CALORIE BURN
Number of calories burnt is not the only thing that determines weight loss. Your calorie intake and where you store it is far more crucial. If intake and storage is healthy, calorie burning is redundant.
Yoga takes you beyond superficial calorie burning movements and into this life-changing aspect.
New findings show that yoga increases the number of brain cells in the areas that control stress, increases focus and self-awareness. This helps you make changes that last, including, healthier food choices, less cravings, eating only when hungry and enjoying smaller portions. This is a significant change that translates into weight loss. In a stressed out environment, calories end up getting stored around the stomach area because the stress hormone cortisol shoots up. Yoga reduces cortisol levels which makes it easier to shed the frustrating belly fat.
YOGA’S MASTERY OVER HORMONES IS KEY TO WEIGHT LOSS
Yoga postures and breathing techniques work on the endocrine or hormone releasing glands. Metabolism, appetite, food choices and, even, sleep is controlled by hormones. Yoga brings the mind and the body together to trigger the release of feel good hormones, calming the central nervous system, bringing down blood pressure, allowing the system to take rest, increasing blood flow to the digestive system, healing injuries — all leading to weight loss.
YOGA MAY NOT BE A HIGH IMPACT ACTIVITY BUT IT IS HIGH INTENSITY
Yoga “burns” fat by igniting the fire inside you. An intense asana practice puts your whole body into sweat or diaphoresis which makes fire course through your system scorching it off impurities and cleansing internal organs and allowing qualities such as intense commitment, determination, willpower, hard work and courage shine through. This inner fire purges you of the toxic build-up of thoughts, habits and stuck emotions. And as you let them go, so does your weight go.
YOGA’S SUBTLER EFFECTS
It makes you mindful to your present moment. You start relishing your food with the result that your portions become less and satiety levels higher. Unlike other fitness activities, yoga is the only practice which makes you introspect while you sweat it out on the mat. It brings upon a body awareness which helps you break the cycle of inadvertent negative behaviour patterns. Yoga is a pure mirror. It shows you what lies inside, unearths hidden problems and brings them out thus freeing you from them permanently and leaving you happier, healthier and lighter.
YOGA MAKES YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF
When you work with your body and breath, you begin to appreciate yourself and your body for all that it can do. As you drop your animosity towards your body, the weight drops off too. Your body shape changes as does your attitude. Yoga sensitises you to your own needs and that of others. In such a scenario, it is difficult for you to think unhealthy. So weight gain becomes a thing of the past.
THE DAILY YOGA PRACTICE
The ancient yoga texts mention 8,400,000 yoga postures. From this ocean of knowledge creating an effective practice is important. This process needs to be guided by a knowledgeable source. There is a perfect balance and mix of active postures, pranayama and relaxation which works together to help you lose wight. Equal emphasis on all these aspects is the secret to weight loss with yoga.
For yoga to do its work your practice has to be regular, uninterrupted and dedicated.
Every issue: Look out for our practice of the week and unravel one more lesser-known aspect of how yoga works on weight loss.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Always begin your yoga practice with a 10 minute warm-up, followed by 12 sun salutations and end your practice with 10 to 15 minutes of relaxation in Shavasana.
Next week: Asana flow for the perfect abs
This is an interactive series, in which we will bring you practical tips that you want to get on daily living, inspired by the vision of yoga. Write in to tabloid@gulfnews.com with your questions and doubts about how to enhance your lifestyle through yoga. For more information, call 800-YOGA (9642) or log on to artisticyoga.com
