When it comes to losing weight, you don’t always need to deprive yourself of delicious food or workout non-stop around the clock. Some simple yoga exercises for weight loss, coupled with a healthy diet, and a positive mindset can actually improve yoga weight loss results. You can shed off fat in a healthy way, and here in this article, we’re going to show you five different ways of doing it.
Weight loss on a diet
One of the most common things that people ask is, does yoga help with weight loss when combined with a diet? The fact is that yoga and diet for weight loss go hand in hand. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. It is important to maintain a diet where your calorie intake is less than the calories you’ll burn. Breathing exercises and proper exercise will definitely help your body take in more oxygen and burn calories more efficiently, leading to weight loss.
1. The Bhastrika Pranayama
This is a brilliant technique in yoga breathing for weight loss that increases the amount of oxygen to your body, helping to exacerbate weight loss processes. Start by sitting down on the floor and then going into ‘padmasana’ by putting your legs over each other in a crosswise position. After this, touch the tips of your ring fingers with the thumbs. Next, it’s all about breathing and relaxing normally, taking deep breaths with all of your strength. Let air in and out of your nose by forcefully making a hissing sound and repeat the procedure for 10 minutes or so.
2. Kapalbhati Pranayama method
This method, otherwise known as the “breath of fire” method, is a brilliant way to shed the pounds. Start by getting your legs crossed over. Put your chin up, keep your neck straight, and close your eyes with your hands on your knees. Relax your abdominals and take a deep breath, pulling all of your abdominals inwards towards the spine and exhaling through your nose. As you loosen your abdominals, you automatically inhale. You can repeat this around 40 times and increase your pace as you start to get more comfortable with it over time.
3. Anulom Vilom Pranayama
You may have heard of this exercise with the name “alternate nostril breathing”. It’s great to practice it in the fresh morning air on an empty stomach. Sit cross-legged on the floor and keep your eyes closed. By using your thumb to close one nostril, inhale through the other. Hold your breath for five seconds, move your thumb to the other nostril and exhale from the nostril that your thumb initially covered. Repeat this over and over again at least 15 times to have enough effect.
4. The Bhramari Pranayama
This exercise really accentuates the benefits of yoga for weight loss. Sit in padmasana and have your legs over one another whilst having the spinal-cord direct, and all of your muscles relaxed. Cover both of your ears and close your eyes. Place your index fingers on your temples and apply a little pressure, whilst also putting your ring fingers on the bridge of your nose. After this, take a deep inhale and exhale through both nostrils. A lot of people like to make a humming sound as they think that this helps too. Repeat around 15 to 20 times.
5. Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath or Ocean Breath)
This is a classic pose, also known as “Ocean breath”. It comes from the soft and healing sound that is similar to breaking waves. Focus your attention on the breath by inhaling through your nose and then open your mouth to exhale slowly, making a “haaa” sound. Do this a few times and then close the mouth. You should notice that it really helps you relax while you breathe in and out.
Final thoughts
We hope that these five exercises have inspired you to go on a yoga journey and experience fantastic weight loss. Keep in touch with the body and your breathing – you’ll feel fit and healthy in no time. All the best! Have you ever had trouble with weight loss? Tell us in the comment section below.
Author’s bio: A passionate fitness instructor, lover of vegetarian food, and a digital marketing professional – this is what describes Adam Reeve in Keto Supplement Reviewed. He is seriously in touch with the world and loves nature first and foremost.
