By Stephenie Zagorski

Yoga, meaning union, is an incredible system unifying the body and mind through breath. It is the blend of specific postures (asanas) for your body while focusing your mind with breathing techniques. Filled with simple movements, some pay attention to balance while others invite one to move about with the sounds and sights in the atmosphere creating a flow. Yoga serves both individually and universally having no expectations or comparisons, rather that you be honest with yourself.  This art of personal discipline helps to connect to one’s roots.

Ensuring all parts are recognized, respected and healthy. Yoga naturally calms each component of a person and encourages a tranquil state. Capturing the flow of breath, good intentions are felt by the most important person in the room…you!

The loyalty of daily yoga as a general overall health aid is ideal.  However, for this composition the focus will be on weight loss as the end result. Although it is primarily a physical goal of the outside body, take into consideration the mind reins the approval and overall satisfaction of oneself.

Yoga’s postures help to build lean muscle which is a healthy long-term weight loss solution versus a strictly cardio regiment. Examples include The Eagle Posture. In this posture the benefits are on the abdominal muscles and internal organs, as well on the sex glands. Warrior’s posture helps to strengthen the legs and hips while firming the muscles of one’s back, chest and arms, not to forget toning your nervous system. The classic Wheelbarrow Posture stimulates circulation and improves posture promoting the toning of the arms, shoulders, back, legs and feet.

Moving into the triangle pose, this posture removes superfluous fat from the waistline and expands your chest while stretching your upper body. All the while, your spinal nerves are nourished. Twisting postures are slowly controlled by one’s breath and a twisting motion from right to center, then left. Twists help to release toxins from the kidneys and aid in digestion.

The last posture of all practice sessions is Savasana or Corpse Pose. Lying on your back with hands and legs limp at your side. A towel or blanket is placed under one’s knees or neck for added comfort. This lets the body and mind soak up all the benefits that the practice provided, and rewarding it with much desired revitalization.  Overall, these postures are clear examples of the added effects of yoga. Though each stretch feels good, they also improve one’s inner being.

Next, nutritionally, Yogis eat a natural diet consisting of fruits, legumes vegetables and water. Some decide to be vegan, while others will incorporate protein with animal meat. It is a personal decision along with respecting one’s personal and cultural beliefs. Yoga next to a natural diet balances brilliantly. Together they provide the desired nourishment for the body to perform well and the ease of digesting natural foods. This harmony creates a smooth current for the body to flow with simplicity and efficiency.

Yoga’s relationship with weight loss is not about losing anything, rather gaining the natural state of the body. The postures and stretches support individual goals in a compassionate way as opposed to more competitive health exercises. Yoga maintains the minds focus on the end purpose, yet appreciating the journey that yoga keeps a priority. This in particular supports the theory of “Yoga as a system of techniques and disciplines to reach the end goal.” in this case, weight loss (The complete Yoga Book, James Hewitt, pg 1).

In conclusion, yoga serves one’s intentions clearly within the journey in all areas of one’s life, including weight loss. When you begin any regiment with the end goal being weight loss, be mindful that personal discipline is important, physical effort is a must and also the much-needed balance of relaxation is essential. Consider the all around transformation for a better lifestyle rather than only a physical change.

© Copyright 2010 – Stephenie Zagorski