Yoga for weight loss

It is well known that yoga has many benefits for body, mind and spirit. Another positive benefit of yoga that many people do not know is that it can promote and aid in weight loss. While it may seem a bit puzzling as to how doing something so calming and low key as yoga can help you lose weight, it has been discovered by the many people who practice this form of exercise on a regular basis that it can help.

While it is easy to see that practicing any form of yoga on a regular basis will build strength, some forms will not get your heart rate high enough to make them the only type of exercise you will need for weight loss. It totally depends on the form of yoga you are doing and how often you do it. You may need to either change the form of yoga you practice, or incorporate some other physical activity into your regimen.

If you are trying to lose weight, it is necessary for you to eat healthy and use exercises that will raise your heart rate. These exercises must be performed on a regular basis for them to be effective in burning calories. For example, the form of yoga known as Ivengar requires that you hold yoga poses for several minutes with a period of rest between each pose. While this will help you build muscles and make your posture better, it is not going to provide the cardiovascular workout that is needed to lose weight.

If you have decided to use yoga as your primary type of exercise, it is necessary to do a vigorous 90 minute yoga class at least 3 times a week. A lot of people who practice yoga also incorporate other activities such as walking, running or some other form of aerobic exercise to help them in reaching weight loss goals.

There are some forms of yoga that will help you in losing weight, however. One such form is called vinyasa or flow yoga. This yoga style requires a series of poses call Sun Salutations to be performed, and includes several athletic and popular styles which are guaranteed to make you sweat.

Another form of yoga that can promote weight loss is called Ashtanga. This yoga style is quite vigorous and carries a few benefits for people who want to lose weight. People who practice Ashtanga yoga are some of the most dedicated of this style. A lot of times beginning yoga students are encouraged to take a series of these classes due to the motivation it offers. In addition, once you have mastered the poses of Ashtanga Yoga, it is perfect to practice at home.

Other yoga forms that encourage a lot of movement and provide a great cardiovascular workout are Power Yoga and Hot Yoga. Power Yoga is very popular because of its highly rigorous workout that pushes up the heart rate. Hot Yoga is Vinyasa yoga performed in a very hot room. This is great for weight loss not only from the rigorous workout it provides, but the heat of the room causes you to sweat out all those calories.

One thing that beginning practitioners of yoga need to understand is that it’s important to honestly assess just how out of shape your body is. You don’t want to start something that is going to hurt you. If you are not in the best of shape, or have not been exercising, you will need to choose a class offering beginning level yoga instruction.

While the most effective yoga workouts are usually done in a class setting, it is very possible to do your workouts at home as well. If you cannot make your class at certain time, you can use a video or audio recording. These are especially helpful if you are just starting out. When planning your workouts at home, there are yoga sequences available for you to follow. These will help you to plan and set up yoga sessions of different lengths that will meet your needs for the day.

As with all exercise routines, including yoga, the key to being successful is self discipline and dedication. If you must miss a work out, don’t let that discourage you. It’s just a matter of picking up where you left off and starting again.