While you might not think of yoga and weight loss as being connected,
the truth is that yoga is actually amazingly effective at promoting
weight loss. Not only is yoga a celebrity health secret, it is also
something you can do in the privacy and comfort of your own home using
only simple tools. Let's take a look at just why yoga is an ideal
addition to a weight loss plan; and why it is an important part of a
healthy lifestyle.
The History of Yoga
You won't find trendy exercises in history books, but yoga has been
practiced for thousands of years. First used as a method for gaining
insight and awareness, it is as much an art form as it is a way of life
and a way to exercise. In Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, the word yoga
means "spiritual discipline." Often associated with postures and
stances alone, it is meant to bring about personal transformations.
The exact origin of yoga is unknown, but the oldest evidence of yoga is found in the Rig-Veda, which is also the oldest existing text with topics that include greater being and diving harmony. Amazingly, something this good for your inner being is also good for the outer you.
Yoga and Weight Loss
A medical study from 2005, conducted by practicing yogi and medical researcher Alan Kristal, DPH, MPH, shows that there is a clear correlation between the practice of yoga and a healthy lifestyle. During a trial that took place at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, 15,500 healthy middle aged people participated in a study that showed that yoga and weight loss are definitely connected, and yoga prevents people who have lost weight from gaining it back. While it burns less calories than some other more intense forms of exercise, it helps to create focus and mindfulness that can be a valuable tool to everyone, especially those carrying the burden of extra pounds. In the end, people who practiced yoga were shown to lose about 5 pounds in the same amount of time those who did not practice it gained fourteen pounds.
Overall, the effects of yoga are subtle and are mainly related to mind-body; allowing participants to observe everything that is happening in their lives and to their bodies in a non-judgmental and non-reactive way. "The buzzword here is mindfulness - the ability to observe what is happening internally," Kristal says. "That is what helps to change the relationship of mind to body, and eventually to food and eating."
The History of Yoga
The exact origin of yoga is unknown, but the oldest evidence of yoga is found in the Rig-Veda, which is also the oldest existing text with topics that include greater being and diving harmony. Amazingly, something this good for your inner being is also good for the outer you.
Yoga and Weight Loss
A medical study from 2005, conducted by practicing yogi and medical researcher Alan Kristal, DPH, MPH, shows that there is a clear correlation between the practice of yoga and a healthy lifestyle. During a trial that took place at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, 15,500 healthy middle aged people participated in a study that showed that yoga and weight loss are definitely connected, and yoga prevents people who have lost weight from gaining it back. While it burns less calories than some other more intense forms of exercise, it helps to create focus and mindfulness that can be a valuable tool to everyone, especially those carrying the burden of extra pounds. In the end, people who practiced yoga were shown to lose about 5 pounds in the same amount of time those who did not practice it gained fourteen pounds.
Overall, the effects of yoga are subtle and are mainly related to mind-body; allowing participants to observe everything that is happening in their lives and to their bodies in a non-judgmental and non-reactive way. "The buzzword here is mindfulness - the ability to observe what is happening internally," Kristal says. "That is what helps to change the relationship of mind to body, and eventually to food and eating."
Yoga and weight loss is a good combination no matter how much weight you
need to lose. Some poses call for a seated position while others call
for a standing position; and while some of the most advanced poses can
be strenuous to achieve and maintain, poses for beginning yoga students
are generally very easy, relaxing, and enjoyable. If you decide that
yoga and weight loss is something you want to try, start with simple
poses and slowly increase your intensity as your strength and
flexibility improve.
And you can get a free 9 part mini course on 7 simple steps to break your addiction to sugar at http://www.healthwellnessconnection.com where expert author Mary Ann MacKay promotes optimal wellness through nutrition, diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.
And you can get a free 9 part mini course on 7 simple steps to break your addiction to sugar at http://www.healthwellnessconnection.com where expert author Mary Ann MacKay promotes optimal wellness through nutrition, diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.
Yoga and weight loss are just two components of a healthy lifestyle. Learn more at http://healthwellnessconnection.com/reviews/yoga/ Click now and learn how you can benefit from adding yoga to your weight loss program.