5 weight loss Yoga poses that work!
All you need are some comfortable clothes and a yoga mat and you are good to go. So to start you off on your weight loss journey, here are 5 yoga poses:
Standing asanas
1. Ardha Chandraasana or the half moon pose
Benefits: This pose is great to tone your buttocks, upper and inner thighs. The added stretch on the sides of your tummy, help burn off those unsightly love handles and strengthen your core, helps with weight loss. Calculate how much weight you can lose in a month here.
Avoid this pose if you have digestive disorders, a spine injury or high blood pressure, avoid doing this pose.
Steps
Stand with your feet together.
Raise your hands above your head and clasp your palms together, extend the stretch by trying to reach for the ceiling.
Exhale, and slowly bend sideways from your hips, keeping your hands together. Remember not to bend forward and keep your elbows straight. You should feel a stretch from your fingertips to your thighs.
Inhale and come back to the standing position. Repeat this pose on the other side.
2. Veerbhadrasana 1 or warrior pose
Benefits: This aasana stretches your back, strengthens your thighs, buttock and tummy and helps you lose weight.
Avoid this pose if you have high blood pressure, shoulder, knee or back trouble, please perform this pose under the guidance of a trained teacher.
Steps
Stand with your feet together and hands by your side.
Now extend your right leg forward and keep your left leg extended backwards.
Gently bend your right knee so that you get into the lunge position.
Twist your torso to face your bent right leg.
Slightly turn your left foot sideways (about 400-600) to give you that extra support.
Exhale, straighten your arms and raise your body up and away from your bent knee.
Stretch your arms upwards and slowly tilt your torso backwards so your back forms and arch.
To get out of this pose exhale and straighten your right knee. Now push off your right leg and come back to your original position. You can use your hands to support you. Do not rush out of this pose; you might injure your back or legs. Repeat this aasana for the other leg as well.
Veerbhadrasana 2 or warrior pose 2:
Avoid this pose if you suffer from diarrhea or high blood pressure.
Steps to do this pose:
Follow the same steps as Veerbhadrasana I, but instead of raising your hands above your head twist your torso so you face sideways and raise your hands to either side (so your fingers are extended and are parallel to your extended right and left leg).
Now, turn your head so your eyes are facing in the same direction as your right hand. Repeat this posture for the other leg as well.
3. Utkatasana or the chair pose
Benefits: It strengthens the core muscles, thighs and tones the buttocks.
Avoid this pose if you have a knee or back injury.
Steps
Stand straight on your yoga mat with your hands in namaste in front of you.
Now raise your hands above your head and bend at the knee such that your thighs are parallel to the floor.
Bend your torso slightly forward and breathe.
Stay in this position for as long as you can. Gently go back to the standing position.
4. Vrksasana or tree pose
Benefits: This aasana is great for the muscles of your abdomen and tones the thighs and arms.
If you have injured your knee or back please do this aasana under the supervision of a trained expert.
Steps
Stand with your legs together.
Now put most of your weight on one leg and a little weight on the other leg.
Now raise the leg with the least weight such that your foot is facing inwards, towards your opposite knee.
You can hold your ankle to help you pull up the leg.
Place the heel of your foot on your inner thigh of the other leg, as close to the pelvis as possible.
Now gently raise your hands above your head making sure your fingers are pointing towards the ceiling.
Make sure you focus your mind and try to maintain your balance.
Breathing steadily and focusing on one spot in front of your eyes helps in maintaining the pose and not falling over. Do not try to hold a chair or wall for support while doing this pose. It will only reduce the intensity of the aasana.
5. Uttanasana or forward bending pose
Benefits: This aasana stretches the hamstrings and puts pressure on the muscles of the abdomen. It also makes the blood rush to your head, helping your body switch from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you relax.
Steps
To perform this pose, stand straight.
Raise your hands from the front to above your head as you inhale slowly.
Then bend forward completely pushing your buttocks back till your palms touch the floor and your forehead touches your knees. Come up slowly to the standing position.
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