Yoga's Sneaky Fat Loss Benefit

Yoga has become mainstream now, and it seems like everyone I know has tried it.

Many people do yoga for the fitness aspect of it while others continue to think of yoga more traditionally as a way to reflect upon oneself, meditate, and relieve stress.

I recently noticed that many celebrities, including Victoria's Secret super models, practice yoga as their main form of fitness.

So, if so many slender people are practicing yoga, can yoga really keep the pounds off?

A typical yoga workout may burn anywhere from 50 to 250 calories, on average. If you were to ride a bike or to go for a run for an hour, that could burn, on average, closer to 600 calories.

So, it is not the calorie burn in yoga that leads to fat loss, it is something else.

Perhaps the number one way yoga can help to slenderize is its ability to reduce stress. Yoga works on controlled breathing techniques.High intensity asanas (positions) are followed by periods of stretching. This helps the body relieve tension.Yoga is quietly concentrated which helps you to remove yourself from the stresses of everyday life.We often think so much about the needs of others, but yoga helps with centering (looking deeply within). Yoga ends in meditation to help calm and clear the mind.All of this helps to reduce cortisol levels. High cortisol levels are linked to an increase in belly fat. Maintaining lower cortisol levels can help to reduce fat, maintain good health and metabolism.

I believe the main reason yoga helps with fat loss is because it makes you more mindful in everything you do. Mindful eating is the key to a healthy weight, and yoga can help us get there.

Research shows that people are more likely to lose weight when starting a yoga routine. In my own experience, I feel more content, leaner, taller, calmer, confident, and more mindful when practicing yoga weekly.

Do you practice yoga, and if so, do you feel it helps you stay closer to your fat loss goals?

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