Yoga For Weight Loss?

The mantra for weight loss is so so simple: eat right and exercise. But there’s another factor to factor into the equation. Namely, mindfulness and the practice of Yoga. The word Yoga comes from Sanskrit, meaning the union of mind, body, and emotions. And even though this does not add or subtract calories, it can actually be a powerful peripheral factor in managing overall weight control.

A Chemical Cascade

Zero-calorie chronic stress can lead to an increase in the hormone cortisol. Once this stress hormone floods your system, it can increase abdominal fat, reduce muscle mass (muscle has a high metabolism and burns a lot of calories even while you’re resting), causes cravings for fat and sugar (which amps up the empty calories).

This is where yoga comes in. Daily practice can actually decrease those stress and cortisol levels. Even better, it will enhance mood, decrease anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and even conditions like hypertension and diabetes (NOTE: some medications prescribed for these conditions are associated with causing weight gain. If you move off those medications, that unintended side effect goes away too.)

In other words, yoga doesn’t “burn belly fat” as you might see on quick-fix fad diet commercials. This isn’t a short term fix, but a long term solution that can help with the underlying causes. That means its benefits extend well beyond the calories-in-versus-calories-out equation.