Can I Lose Weight With Yoga?

Sometimes people expect to lose weight  with yoga. As a yoga teacher for almost 40 years, I have not found quick weight loss to be the case. There are rare exceptions where people start yoga and lose weight without any other intervention. But usually change takes time. When the full spectrum of yoga practices is combined with  methods of working with food, then deep change can take place. Weight loss is the outcome of these other changes.

First, what do we mean by yoga? Generally people think of yoga as the postures you would do in a yoga class. This is a small part of yoga. The poses themselves help the body tremendously. They make it more flexible, help with muscle relaxation and strength, improve the health of the joints, glands, and organs, help us sleep better, give us more energy, and a host of other benefits.

The other aspects of yoga science and philosophy (outside of posture) help us work with the emotions, mind, and our relationship with ourselves. This is where the real transformation takes place. Breath work is key. In fact, without breath work, anything else we do with yoga practices is not really yoga at all. Breath is the center of all the practices, even the practice of postures.

The other practices that are so helpful in addition to breath work are relaxation, meditation, and the study of yoga psychology and philosophy. Combine all these, and you have a powerful self-therapy at work. Then you can lose weight with yoga.  It will reflect over time in a slimmer and healthier body, and lots more energy and vitality.

Where to start?

You can start with any of the practices —

• take a yoga class and learn the postures
• get instruction in breathing and relaxation
• learn to meditate
• start to delve into yoga philosophy (The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a good starting point).

To lose weight with yoga, think in terms of self-transformation. As you get calmer and more centered, are able to sleep better, take in more oxygen with proper breathing, and have a healthier relationship with yourself the pounds will naturally drop off and you will achieve the weight you were meant to be. Letting go of the need to loss weight quickly and instead focusing on getting to know yourself on all levels will be key in achieving success.

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