Poses and Exercises in Yoga for Weight Loss

Yoga has originated from India many years ago. The word 'Yoga' is derived from Sanskrit which means union. It is the union of the mind and body to achieve a well balanced life. Practicing yoga not only helps in toning your body, improving the physical and mental well being, but also helps in fat loss. Yoga for weight loss is very commonly used by most of the people as the awareness is spreading. Many celebrities are using yoga for weight loss nowadays.


Yoga is an effective way to maintain healthy body without any negative side effects. It helps in reducing the fat and increasing the metabolism of the body. There are various school and styles of yoga which depict different ways of practicing yoga. Some of the styles are: Bikram, Kundalini, Astanga and Iyengar. They all aim towards the same goal but in slightly different ways. There are many poses or asanas in yoga for weight loss. Deep breathing in yoga increases the intake of oxygen in the body. Some of the poses and exercises in yoga for weight loss are as below:

1. Pranayam: Pranayam is a set of breathing exercises that have an effective impact on weight loss. Deep breathing done in the proper way helps in reducing the abdominal fat. There are different breathing techniques which can be practiced like kapalbhati, bhastrika, anulom vilom, bharamari and ujjayi pranayam. Kapalbhati is said to be very effective since it involves forceful exhalation of air. Care should be taken that this should be done on an empty stomach only. This is not only good for obesity but also for indigestion and acidity. In Anulom Vilom, one has to close one nostril with the thumb and breathe deeply from the other. This has to be repeated alternating the nostrils. These deep breathing exercises are very helpful and should be done under guidance.

 2. Sun Salutations: Sun Salutations or Surya Namaskar is a series of 12 poses which help in weight loss and tone up the whole body. These poses along with sequenced breathing provide a lot of benefits to the body and mind. One should start with 1 or 2 rounds and slowly increase to at least 10 to 12 rounds. People with high blood pressure and pregnant women are advised not to perform this.

3. Bhujanga Asana: This is also called the Cobra Pose. It works on the shoulders, back, arms and other internal organs.

4. Yoga Spinal Twists: This works on your abdominal region and your entire digestive system. Spinal Twists help in burning calories and toning the abs. This is a good yoga for weight loss. Likewise there are many other poses which help in weight loss. One has to learn under guidance and perform slowly.

Yoga for weight loss will be effective only if combined with a proper diet. Eliminate the junk food and carbonated drinks from your diet. Include lot of greens, pulses, sprout, salads and fruits in your food intake to provide the body with the necessary proteins and vitamins. Do not break your yoga routine; do it regularly with dedication. The results may not be very quick but be patient and keep practicing yoga for weight loss. It is important to do yoga under an expert's guidance. Yoga for weight loss will also result in a toned body, flexible body, less stress and anxiety, increase in concentration, strengthening of physical and mental health.