The most obvious physical benefits of yoga
practice include loosening of muscles that
have been tightened by inactivity, tension,
and stress. Yoga practice also increases the
range of motion of joints, enhances
flexibility, and can help correct postural
problems that may have resulted from weight
gain.
Any style of yoga helps tone, lengthen, and
strengthen the muscles, which can contribute
to the sculpting of the body, but not
necessarily to weight loss. Remember that
muscle is, after all, denser and therefore
heavier than an equivalent volume of fat
tissue. According to yogic tradition, yoga
practice also gets the prana (vital energy) of
the body moving, which can be helpful for you
if weight gain, decreased energy, and
sluggishness have appeared together.
Yoga also offers psychological benefits.
Weight gain often brings with it a great deal
of harsh self-judgment. Through yoga, we can
counteract this by creating a safe, positive
environment to reconnect with our bodies and
quiet the counterproductive messages that
often arise in our minds. Reengaging in
physical activity through asana practice can
also foster a renewed sense of control over
our lives, a quality that sometimes diminishes
as one's weight refuses to budge!
On a physiological level, certain styles of
yoga could be more appropriate for students
who have weight loss as a primary intention.
Vinyasa-style class, where movement and breath
link poses together, can build heat and
potentially result in greater calorie burn.
This style of practice could supplement other
aerobic exercise that you're involved in, such
as walking, running, biking, or swimming. Take
it slowly, though. Something as intense as the
Primary Ashtanga series may not be the place
to start if you haven't been physically active
for a while. Begin with a good introductory
vinyasa class.
So, will hatha yoga practice help you lose
weight? Maybe. Will it change your
relationship with your body? Most likely, and
probably for the better.
Baxter Bell, M.D., teaches public, corporate,
and specialty back-care yoga classes in
Northern California, and lectures to health
care professionals around the country. A
graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio's Advanced
Studies Program, he integrates the therapeutic
applications of yoga with Western medicine.
