Yoga Promotes Weight Loss

If you’re looking for new ways to lose weight and hate the idea of going for a run every day, you might want to consider taking a yoga class. Yes, yoga. While many people associate yoga with deep breathing, flexibility and stress relief, it can also help promote weight loss.

A study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center looked at overweight people ages 45 to 55 years old. People who practiced yoga on a regular basis lost an average of five pounds over ten years. Normal weight people in the same age group who practiced yoga gained less weight than people who didn’t practice at all. While weight maintenance or a 5 pound loss over 10 years may not seem significant, most adults gain an average of one pound per year in their 40s and 50s.

It’s not exactly clear why yoga encourages weight loss, but it’s believed that the emphasis on body awareness may play a role. Yoga also teaches physical discipline, which may make it easier for practitioners to stick with healthy diets. Of course, engaging in various yoga poses does burn a few extra calories as well.

If you’re interested in adding yoga to your weight loss plan, experts suggest sun salutation A and B and lotus poses for best results.