Yoga For Weight Loss
By Kelli Calabrese MS, CSCS, ACE
Obesity continues to grow in our country in epidemic proportions. One
of the latest guidelines for weight loss is for 60 minutes of physical
activity, however the intensity does not have to be vigorous or
continuous. If heading to the gym is more frightening than public
speaking, is beyond your budget or is simply inconvenient, a yoga video
may be just the prescription to help you meet your weight loss goals and
so much more.
When you think of yoga, images of zoned-out new-agers in pretzel-like
positions chanting mantras, may come to mind, but consider this; Yoga is
an ancient practice that can help you deal with the stress of modern life
including being over weight. You don't need to be fit to reap the rewards
of this discipline that is thousands of years old.
Yoga was invented in India and means to yoke or unite. It is the
practice of uniting all aspects of a person - body, mind and spirit -
through physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation.
Flexibility, strength and muscle tone improve quickly as the mind and
body work together in harmony and unison.
Yoga is more than strengthening and stretching. It goes well beyond
the physical and incorporates the mental and emotional components of
well-being. For those of you who have attempted weight loss, you know it
is so much more than calories in and calories out - especially if you
want to enjoy the process and get healthy along the way.
The mindful practice of yoga takes you on a psychological and
emotional journey. Yoga releases physical toxins as well as toxic
thoughts and feelings about yourself. Your thoughts, feelings and body
all become connected and when you are united with your whole self you
make better and more positive choices. Those choices include the foods
you eat, the activities you participate in and the people you choose to
surround yourself with.
Practicing yoga can introduce spiritual awareness, tranquility,
serenity and a meditative state. Some of the physical and emotional
health benefits of yoga include: improved physical balance, joint
movement, muscular strengthening and coordination; improved joint range
of motion, flexibility and extensibility of connective tissue; improved
posture which allows internal organs to function properly and improves
breathing; stimulation of the nervous system; improved circulation and
pulmonary function; enhanced immune system; enhanced self awareness;
decreased risk of injury; promotion of relaxation and stress reduction;
and ultimately weight loss.
Regular aerobic exercise and strength training are productive, but
aren't the complete answer. Yoga may be just the piece you need to
complete the puzzle of keeping both the body and the mind fit. Yoga
exercises are performed with very few, but extremely precise, repetitions
in several planes of motion. In yoga, one focuses on breathing, and
therein lies its healing. Breathing itself has extraordinary healing
capabilities on physical and emotional levels. Current research indicates
that stress-related diseases respond favorably to yoga.
Yoga can help you develop long, strong muscles, a flat stomach and a
strong back, and improve posture. Of course, these physical changes are
dependent upon other lifestyle factors, such as a well-balanced diet and
regular physical activity.
If you are looking for a place to start I highly recommend the Yoga
for Weight Loss Solution. The complete kit provides you with a mat, 2
blocks, stretching strap and most importantly a 48 minute video that
takes you on a journey to well being. The instructor has personally lost
60 pounds in the past year engaging in yoga and eating wholesome and
nutritious foods. The cues used during the video will heighten your
awareness on many levels and leave you feeling like you exerted yourself
to a comfortable limit and are both energized and relaxed.
As mind/body exercise continues to take hold in the present, the
practice of yoga has moved from the alternative to the mainstream. People
are starting yoga because it is less intimidating than other forms of
exercise. They are sticking to it because they see and feel the physical
and emotional improvements in their daily lives.
Kelli Calabrese – MS, CSCS, 2004 Personal Trainer of the Year. Kelli is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist
and 20 year fitness industry leader. She is the author of Feminine,
Firm & Fit – Building
A Lean Strong Body in 12 Weeks. She has 23 fitness, nutrition and lifestyle
related certifications and is available for personal
training, online
training,
iPod
workouts, phone coaching, grocery
shopping tours, seminars and media
appearances.
Kelli’s personal mission is to provide individuals with the tools to
make health, fitness and wellness a permanent part of their lives.
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