A yoga guru has shared insights on the most effective yoga styles and poses for those aiming to shed weight without overhauling their fitness regimen. Yoga, with its millennia of history, is celebrated for its broad accessibility, enhancing both physical health and mental wellness.
Its rising popularity is partly due to the ease of practicing without specialized equipment or costly gym memberships. As more individuals seek ways to lose weight, yoga emerges as an excellent method to enhance fitness and support weight reduction efforts.
Nevertheless, not all yoga types are created equal in terms of facilitating weight loss. Alexandra Baldi, the founder of Compass Chelsea, suggests that engaging in dynamic forms of yoga such as Ashtanga and Power Vinyasa can be particularly effective for burning calories.
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Speaking to Women's Health, Baldi highlighted: "Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic and physically demanding practice that follows a set sequence of 26 poses designed to purify the body by generating heat."
Typically, Ashtanga yoga sessions start with five rounds each of Sun Salutation A and B, followed by a series of standing poses, also performed in five repetitions, and then seated poses. Mastery of these leads to progression to more advanced postures, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Baldi suggests trying Power Vinyasa as an alternative, saying: "A fast-moving practice that creates deep internal heat whilst paying close attention to proper alignment with thoughtful and creative sequencing. The continuous aerobic flow and pace of the practice are what creates more calorie burn."
Yoga not only enhances strength and flexibility but also, particularly these types which focus on generating thermogenesis (heat), can significantly aid in weight loss. According to Baldi, yoga "creates mindfulness and a greater intuition with your body," which she believes are crucial for shedding weight.
Studies have shown that yoga can lower cortisol levels, which is known to be a significant barrier to losing excess weight. However, it's important to remember that weight loss occurs only when you maintain a calorie deficit, meaning you need to burn more calories than you consume.