There are many people in America today who are trying to lose weight.  You’ve seen all the commercials about this pill or that pill that is supposed to help you lose x number of pounds – all you have to do is take six of these pills a day.  There are the celebrity diets, the cabbage soup diet, the grapefruit diet, etc. etc.  Look on the cover of any magazine in the checkout aisle at the grocery store and nearly every single one of them has a headline about how to lose weight.

What you (and I) need to remember is that in order to lose weight, we have to do two things – increase activity and cut down on calories.  We all know that exercise is beneficial, but the thought of getting involved in an hour class that might leave you sweaty and exhausted is a bit of deterrent.  Don’t feel that you have to sign up for a miserable exercise program.   Try yoga!

Despite your preconception or misconception about yoga, it is exercise.  Although some forms of yoga may look easy and relaxing, it does involve some work on your part.  However, the good news is, as exercise, yoga can elevate your mood, reduce the occurance and/or the effects of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.  I will also be writing an article later on about how yoga may reduce the risk and/or effects of cancer on the body.  Yoga, as exercise, may help maintain a healthy skeletal system  and delay the effects of aging.  Ok, I know you’re thinking, exercise in general is said to do that, so why are you all excited about yoga for weight loss?

Here are my reasons as to why I think yoga is good for weight loss.  Yoga is relaxing, it relieves stress and clears your mind.  A lot of us eat because we are stressed or feeling overwhelmed.  A relaxing yoga session may keep you from snacking.

A large part of yoga depends on the breath and proper breathing.  Learning yoga breathing and practicing it in your everyday life will also help you burn more calories.

Practicing the yoga poses will help you gain more control over your body and become more aware of your physicality and inner power.  This may help you take better control of your eating.

Don’t be put off by the fact that you may not be able to achieve or hold every pose that you see.  The point is attempting to achieve the pose and to keep trying until you are able to do so.   It’s acceptable to modify a position to make it more comfortable or even to release a pose early because it’s a little too much for right now.  Great yoga doesn’t happen overnight – it takes regular practice.  Think of all the calories you are burning in that downward dog pose.

Lastly, if you are not able to take a class with a certified instructor, there are many yoga for weight loss DVDs that are out there for you use.  Try renting a few from NetFlix or Blockbuster to find the one that works best for you.  Or pick up a beginner’s yoga book from the book store, grab a towel and get started.