There is a lot of interest these days in yoga for weight loss, and in this article I will give a broad view of the various ways in which yoga can be beneficial in a weight loss program.
First of all, many people know yoga as exotic stretches that are performed by fit and beautiful women you look healthy and happy. So while there is a public image of what yoga is, and what it can do, there is also a whole system of yoga that often goes un-noticed. I mention this because if yoga is to be used in a weight loss program, it is helpful to understand the many facets of it that can be useful for losing weight.
In most weight loss programs there is an emphasis on diet and exercise. After all, what we eat, and how we move our bodies, are the physical foundations of good health and trim figures. However, there are other factors that are important in considering as one attempts to lose those excess rolls. (Were those dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls?) Anyway, besides the physical factors of food and exercise, one must also consider the role that the mind and emotions play in having a tubby figure. At the mental-emotional level we can talk about emotional attachments to food, the raw desire for chocolate and sweets, mental fixations on eating, etc.
When we take the time to consider these mental-emotional factors, we find that they are often the root cause of many patterns of obesity. The emotional desire and attachments to food, or the seeking to find fulfillment through food, are more common than most people know, or at least are willing to admit. So while yoga offers much in terms of a physical routine to stretch and activate our muscles, it also offers numerous practices that can assist us in overcoming our mental-emotional attachments to food.
As for hatha yoga (stretching) one thing that makes it a viable routine for weight loss, is that it has a special ability to make us more aware of the mind-body connection. When the mind and body are united through awareness exercises a deep state of peace and relaxation can be found. And this is what yoga is ultimately pointing towards. Inner peace and contentment. If one has a deep and profound connection with their innermost being joy, peace, and fulfillment are natural outcomes. Yoga also teaches that through awareness, conscious breathing, and meditation anyone can tap into the deep reservoir of unconditioned happiness.
By rediscovering the natural state of inner happiness, which does not depend on external stimulation, one will not be so inclined to seek fulfillment through food. On the contrary, through yoga and meditation one can discover the real source of joy.
Since yoga has the capacity to energize and vitalize our muscles, de-condition our minds from ill patterns, and assist us in remembering our natural state of joy and peace, it offers much to those seeking to lose weight from a holistic perspective.