by Clarissa Hartley

Is the concept of weight loss through yoga alien to you? Modern findings reveal yoga can assist in weight management. If a healthier weight is your desire, discover how yoga might be the key…
The perspectives on effective weight loss have undergone a radical shift recently. Earlier, intensive workouts were advocated for weight reduction, but recent research emphasizes effectiveness in shorter, lighter workouts. This is where yoga emerges as a helpful player.
Yoga beautifully fits into our bustling lives. A 10-minute yoga routine can revitalize, tone and recharge you. The uplifting effects make it hard to resist daily yoga circuits. Let’s delve deeper into understanding how yoga can guide you towards a fitter life and healthy weight loss.

Does Yoga Promote Weight Loss?

The answer is, without a doubt, yes. Yoga can enhance your metabolism and foster weight loss. While yoga is not merely a calories-burner, selecting the right class can help you burn fat and amp your metabolic rate.
According to yoga expert Amanda Knox, both doctors and fitness coaches concur that yoga can significantly shape and tone your body and also boost your mental and spiritual health for an overall healthier you.
Different yoga classes cause different calorie burns, ranging from approximately 180 to 360 per class. Certain classes focus on stress relief and provide a relaxing effect than a cardiovascular workout, which could indirectly counter stress-related binge-eating. The best classes for fat burn are discussed below.

Best Yoga Trainings for Weight Loss

Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Power yoga are ideal for torching calories; they emphasize strength, stamina, and flexibility.
Knox explains, “Such exercises can parallel others in accelerating calorie burning. Vinyasa or the ‘flow yoga’ comprising sun salutation sequences, if quickly performed, can spike your heart rate, burn calories, and aid weight reduction. Regardless, all yoga forms stimulate the endocrine glands, regulating your metabolic rate.”

Is Bikram Yoga Effective for Weight Reduction?

The sauna-like warmth of Bikram yoga is also excellent for weight loss. Personal trainer, Max Hastings, explains, “Your heart rate increases as your body circulates more blood to cool your body down, which escalates your calorie burn.”

Impact of Yoga on Water Retention

If you feel lighter after Bikram yoga, it’s likely due to water loss. Yoga can be beneficial in countering water retention. Some poses augment your circulation and system performance, reducing fluid retention.

Muscle Building and Weight Loss Through Yoga

Yoga aids weight loss as its weight-bearing postures demand strength, developing lean muscle mass. The more lean muscle tissues you have, the better your metabolism, leading to a higher resting calorie burn rate.
“Post intense sessions involving held poses, recovery takes time. Your heart and lungs labor harder afterwards to replenish muscles with lost fuel. Yoga might not be as physically taxing as boxing or cycling but can get your heart rate up, especially post-workout,” explains Hastings.

Can Yoga Control Appetite and Cravings?

Research indicates regular yoga practitioners tend to have enhanced appetite control and fewer cravings. Even softer versions like Hatha yoga can indirectly boost weight loss.
In a recent healthcare and yoga study, expert Julian Lester, MD affirmed that gentle yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system regulating breathing, digestion, and hormones, thereby rebalancing your hormones and normalizing digestion for weight loss. Positive mental health and a heightened sense of happiness can tangentially impact achieving weight loss goals. This could prove beneficial in circumstances of overeating when feeling low or depressed.
A separate study examining yoga effects on obesity reduction unravelled that after 14 weeks of regular yoga, the participants had lost weight, reduced body fat, and reported lower stress levels and healthier eating habits