| Let's face it: a lot of people have a severe | | | | will burn about 300 calories per hour and Vinyasa |
| misunderstanding of yoga. For every one person who | | | | Yoga (also known as flow yoga) can burn even more. |
| knows how effective yoga can be in maintaining a | | | | If you are just starting out with Yoga and plan to keep |
| positive outlook, improving posture and digestion, | | | | your routine slow and steady to start, the quickest |
| staying in good health, and maintaining a high level | | | | way you are going to see weight loss results is to |
| energy just to get you through the day, there are | | | | combine your yoga practice with a healthy diet plan |
| probably a dozen skeptics who think it is all just new | | | | and an aerobic exercise. |
| age baloney. | | | | Still, it's important to understand that weight loss is |
| Maybe we can't convince everybody that yoga is | | | | about a lot more than calories. Yoga can really give |
| much more than ineffective hippie stuff, but if we can | | | | you a better relationship with your body, which can |
| summarize the concept of the traditional yoga culture | | | | really help you on the weight loss journey. As you |
| real quick, it might just be a start. | | | | deepen your understanding of the way the mind and |
| A Brief History of Yoga | | | | body relate to one another through a dedicated Yoga |
| It's not clear exactly when the practice of Yoga first | | | | practice, don't be surprised if your mindset and habits |
| began in India, but it may have been as early as 3300 | | | | begin to change, which, in turn, can make it much |
| BC. | | | | easier for to make healthy changes in your body. |
| There are five major branches in yoga: Raja, Hatha, | | | | Why ARE Yogis so Thin? |
| Jnana, Bhakti and Karma, but Hatha yoga is probably | | | | One of the reasons yoga masters are so thin is |
| the only one we really need to discuss in relation to | | | | generally because of their diet. |
| health and fitness. | | | | The traditional yogi diet is strictly vegetarian and free |
| Yogi Swatmarama, a fifteenth century Indian sage, | | | | of caffeine, however, you can still learn how to eat |
| developed Hatha yoga as a way to prepare oneself | | | | well from yoga without becoming a monk. Here are |
| for intense meditation, by first subjecting oneself to | | | | some simple rules for those of us not willing to give up |
| intensive physical training. Whether or not a person's | | | | on hamburgers and coffee just yet: |
| end goal is enlightenment, the physical benefits of the | | | | The Yoga Diet for the Everyday Yogi |
| practice have proven to be effective. | | | | - Drink lots of water |
| Yoga for Weight Loss | | | | - Eat lots of vegetables and fruit |
| Even if you believe in the potential yoga has to keep | | | | - Eat spicy foods and red meat only in moderation |
| your body healthy, you may still be asking "Is yoga | | | | And that's it. A healthier diet plus intensive Hatha |
| really all that effective in helping one to lose weight?" | | | | workout sessions, and you are sure to see results, |
| Let's start by saying that Hatha yoga is an intensive, | | | | both in your body and your mind. If you want to ramp |
| low impact exercise, involving lots of stretching and | | | | up your weight loss and calorie burning, try Power |
| conditioning that helps the blood flow more smoothly, | | | | Yoga, which can give you an aerobic exercise, too. |
| and which aids in healthy digestion. | | | | Starting your Yoga Routine |
| One of the main goals of yoga is to maintain the | | | | What you'll need to start yoga will be some |
| intestinal organs in order to improve digestion and | | | | comfortable clothes (nothing fancy, just some old |
| minimize the amount of undigested food or waste in | | | | sweats will do), and a mat. (Some yoga schools |
| our bodies without having to resort to invasive | | | | provide yoga mats.) |
| cleansing routines. | | | | You can easily take a couple lessons and just practice |
| A low-intensity yoga session will not burn as many | | | | yoga at home, but one of the greatest motivators for |
| calories as other workouts. An average woman may | | | | any exercise program is to be a part of a group, |
| burn 150 calories in a one-hour Hatha yoga session | | | | sharing knowledge with one another and pushing each |
| and 300 calories from walking briskly for one hour. | | | | other to really dedicate the time and energy it takes. |
| Ashtanga Yoga and Power Yoga, on the other hand, | | | | |