Yoga may be intended as a way to calm the mind, but it also is a great way to get in shape and drop some weight. Here are a few postures that can help lower your anxiety and the number on the scale. Hold each posture as long as you can, that may be 15-20 seconds at first, but each time you practice, hold the posture for a few seconds longer and make your way up to a minute if you can. Where appropriate do one side and repeat on the opposite side.

1. Plank

Holding a plank may be one of the best ways to strengthen your core. It may not look like much, but drop into plank and it won’t take long to feel it in your abs. Subtle adjustments can increase the intensity even more.

Energetically draw your heels and the top of your head in opposite directions and keep your chest moving forward between your arms. Do this daily for develop rock-hard abs.

2. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana B)

Like a powerful warrior, you too can tone the muscles in your thighs and shoulders with Warrior II. To get the most out of the posture, try to bend your front knee so your thigh is parallel to the floor. The longer you can hold this position, the tighter your quads will get.

The secret is to calm the mind and just breathe. Remind yourself, you are a warrior! Now, mighty warrior, switch sides.

3. Warrior III (Virabhadrasana C)

For a more toned butt, Warrior III is the way to go. In addition to toning your back end, it’s also a great way to strengthen your back, legs and arms.

To get even more out of it, contract your abs while you hold the position. Not only will it help you balance, but it’ll flatten your belly too. The longer you can hold Warrior III, the more your butt will benefit.

4. Triangle (Trikonasana)

Trikonasana may not make your muscles shake like some other postures, but do it often and your abs will thank you! The twisting motion of transnational helps to improve digestion and reduce fat deposits in the belly.

On top of that, by engaging the muscles of the legs and arms, you can build more muscle and burn more fat.

5. Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Looking for a way to tone your total body? Then Downward Dog it. With a little extra attention to certain muscles, this asana goes from a resting pose to a radical way to strengthen your arms, back and thighs.

To get the most muscle-toning benefits, engage your thigh muscles as you rotate them inward, and do the same with your upper arms. Continue to press down through your hands and heels. Hold it—and don’t forget to breathe!

6. Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)

From improving digestion to therapy for the thyroid and even increasing strength, shoulder stand does it all.

This inversion works to balance thyroid levels which boosts metabolism, improves the respiratory system, strengthens the upper body, legs and abs, and helps you sleep better. Add this to your practice daily and you’ll feel like a whole new person.

7. Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)

Bridge pose is great for the thyroid, glues, and great for weight loss. The action of reaching your chest toward your chin gently massages the thyroid gland to produce this all important metabolism-regulating hormone.

Pressing down with your feet engages your thighs and back end to help tone those muscles too. And if you need one more reason to practice Bridge, it also helps stimulate the abdominal organs to keep your digestion happy.

8. Twisted Chair (Parivrtta Utkatasana)

Call it yoga’s version of a squat—but made just a little bit more intense. Parivritta Utkatasana, or Chair pose, works the quads, the gluts, and the abs. And that’s just the muscles.

The twisting also helps the digestive system and the lymph system. Combine all these into one move and you’ve got a great way to lose weight.

9. Bow (Dhanurasana)

Looking for a way to burn belly fat fast? Bow pose can help. You can get deeper into the pose by pulling your hands and feet in opposite directions until only your abdomen and pelvis are touching the floor.

Not only does Bow pose help massage the abdominal organs to improve digestion, but it’s also an amazing way to strengthen the thighs, chest and back.

10. Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara)

You may think of Sun Salutations as a way to ease into your practice. It slowly stretches and warms up the muscles, gets the blood flowing and all that good stuff. But it does so much more.

Sun Salutations build internal heat while at the same time stretching and toning most of the major muscles. They can help trim your waist, tone your arms, balance your metabolism and stimulate your digestive system.

These are just some of the yoga postures that can aid in weight loss. However, as you all probably know already, the best way to achieve your desired, healthy weight is still through proper diet and a healthy lifestyle in which yoga may just be one aspect. Which among these poses are your favorite? Let us know below!

A five-thousand-year-old transcription by the Indus valley civilisation on fragile palm leaves has paved way to an innovative weight loss therapy. Yoga was mentioned in the Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns, the Rigged. Researchers have traced yoga to over a thousand years ago, and its rich history is divided into periods of innovation, practice, and development.

Yoga was refined and developed by the Rishis and Brahmans who documented their training in the Upanishads. This practice was later developed over several years to what now is practised as Yoga. The discipline has 5 basic principles:

• Exercise
• Diet
• Breathing
• Relaxation
• Meditation

Table of Contents

• Is Yoga good for Weight Loss?
• Yoga Asanas for Weight Loss
• Power Yoga for Weight Loss
• Summary
• Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Is Yoga good for Weight Loss?

The development of yoga has benefited many people in losing weight in a healthy way. Yoga for weight loss is a debatable topic. Many people believe that Yoga alone does not promote weight loss. Yoga, when combined with healthy eating, has proven beneficial as it helps to lose weight along with keeping your mind and body healthy. Yoga increases your mindfulness and how you relate to your body. You will start seeking out to food that is healthy instead of binging on food that can increase your fat accumulation.

Losing weight has two important aspects, healthy eating, and exercise. Yoga poses for weight loss demand these aspects. Yoga is not just about a few poses that strengthen you. It has more benefits to offer such as

• Increased flexibility
• Improved respiration
• Improved energy and vitality
• Balanced metabolism
• Improved athletic health
• Increased muscle tone
• Improved cardio health
• Weight reduction
• Stress management

Stress can have a devastating effect on your body and mind. Stress can reveal itself in the form of pain, anxiety, insomnia, and the inability to concentrate. Most times, stress is the main cause of weight gain. Yoga can help you cope with stress. Physical benefits of Yoga, combined with stress management, helps a person to lose weight and maintain good physical and mental health.

Yoga Asanas for Weight Loss

Yoga does not always result in weight loss immediately as these poses are simple. This Yoga poses for focus mostly on building body flexibility, improving concentration and building your muscle tone. Once your body gets used to these asanas, you will begin to practice Yoga asanas for weight loss.

Some of the Yoga asanas and yoga tips for weight loss are as given below.

Yoga for weight loss is the new mantra and talk of the town. Yoga is an ancient and one of the most effective ways of losing weight. The best part of practising yoga for weight loss regularly is that it looks after not only your physical well-being but also uplifts you mentally and spiritually. Weight loss is just a by-product, which happens naturally by practising yoga regularly. The better part is the internal healing that comes free with yoga. The specific madras in yoga given by our ancestors involve deeper science behind them, which work towards the targeted results. In this article, we bring to you 25 basic as well as advanced poses of yoga for weight loss.