“Yoga” for weight loss: Benefits beyond burning calories

Obesity is a complex condition with many causes, so if you're having problems reducing weight despite your best efforts, it's because it's a complex disease with many reasons. If you have a family history of weight problems, you're more likely to have the same problems managing your weight. Sedentary behavior and a diet high in ultra-processed foods, sugar, and fat contribute to weight gain. Stress and mental health issues, such as the use of drugs to address certain mental health illnesses, lack of sleep, and hormonal changes, all contribute to weight gain.

There are many strategies to lose weight, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Yoga may be beneficial if you are attempting to shed or maintain your weight. Yoga has been shown to help people manage stress, boost their mood, reduce emotional eating, and build a supportive group, all of which can aid weight loss and maintenance.

Yoga can help you burn calories and tone your muscles while also increasing your muscle mass. Yoga may help to relieve joint pain, allowing you to move more and participate in more activities on a regular basis. These are just a few of the numerous advantages of yoga.

Yoga can help you manage stress that can impact weight gain

Yoga derives its name from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means "to integrate the body, mind, and emotions." It's a mind-body exercise that helps with many of the factors that contribute to weight gain.

Some people experience stress as physical discomfort or lack of sleep, while others experience it as psychological anxiety and agitation. Cortisol, a stress hormone, rises in response to stress. Cortisol raises abdominal fat, lowers muscle mass, and increases desires for fatty and sugary foods, all of which can lead to obesity.

Yoga has been shown to lower stress and cortisol levels, increase mood, reduce anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and treat chronic illnesses including hypertension and diabetes, minimizing the need for weight-gaining medicines. Yoga is not a quick fix for obesity, but it may help with the underlying problems. Its advantages go beyond the calories-in-to-calories-out calculation.

Yoga can improve mindfulness related to eating behaviors

Most of us who crave ice cream after 9 p.m. or can't stop eating potato chips are aware that these habits jeopardize our weight-loss efforts. We're all aware that eating veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and other healthy foods is beneficial to our health and weight. While this knowledge is important, it does not appear to be adequate to assist us in sticking to our healthy eating goals.

One of the advantages of yoga is that it develops body mindfulness and awareness of bodily sensations. Yoga is known as "moving meditation" for this reason. According to research, you don't need to conduct any formal sitting meditation to reap the benefits of yoga's mindfulness.

Yoga reduces emotional eating, stress eating, and binge eating through boosting attention. These habits hinder our weight-loss efforts and can lead to a vicious cycle of guilt and humiliation, which typically leads to failure.

According to a 2015 study, practicing yoga led to healthier eating habits, such as reduced fat intake and increased consumption of veggies and whole grains.

The bottom line is that the greatest diet plan is one that you can stick to over time, and yoga can help you make healthier eating choices by enhancing mindfulness.

A yoga community can provide acceptance and support

Going to the gym can be scary, and some people with larger bodies may feel as if they don't belong. Yoga culture, on the other hand, embodies love, support, and self-acceptance.

Yoga teachers and advanced practitioners can act as role models for newer pupils, encouraging them to live a better lifestyle. According to research, social networks have an impact on weight-related behaviors. Being a part of a yoga community supports healthy health behaviors, and being a part of one can help you lose weight. Other sorts of exercise can make it difficult to find this type of community.

Practitioners should seek out a secure, comfortable setting. A friendly yoga group could be able to assist you boost your self-esteem and confidence. Find a nearby studio that is caring but not overpowering, and has other practitioners who are at your level. By adjusting positions, teachers can assist novices and individuals with physical restrictions. It's possible that you'll have to take a few different lessons before finding an instructor or a program that you enjoy. After the first one, don't give up!

If you can't find a studio in your area, there are always online choices on YouTube and Instagram, where you can discover classes for all levels. There are yoga instructors that understand what it's like to be a plus-size person, and their inclusive, body-affirming approach demonstrates that yoga isn't just for "thin people." Some people share motivational stories about how yoga helped them overcome weight issues, despair, and binge eating. If you're new to the practice, consider joining up for a brief challenge to help you commit to it.

Yoga has numerous health benefits for people of all shapes and sizes. Establishing a yoga practice can take weeks or months, and consistent practice is essential for long-term benefits.