Yoga - Yoga for Weight Loss?

Author

Yoga for Weight Loss?

jesirose

2006-04-24, 11:27 am

Hi all. I recently bought a book called Yoga for Weight Loss, which has
a routine of postures to do each day, meditations, etc, and a "detox
diet" in it as well. As someone who is technically obese, and tried
many diets and exercise plans with no success, it seems like a too good
to be true kind of deal.

Is Yoga really an effective way to lose weight and keep it off like the
book says? Has anyone had any personal experience with this they could
share? I'd appreciate any advice or comments, thanks

howdydave

2006-04-24, 6:25 pm

Howdy!

The title of the book is VERY misleading...
Perhaps "Yogic EXERCISES for Weight Loss"

Yoga focuses on the entire being. Any attempt to use it
as a quick fix method for something isn't really yoga at all!

Dave

vasilijepetkovic@yahoo.com

2006-04-25, 1:27 am

>Yoga focuses on the entire being.
>Any attempt to use it
>as a quick fix method for something
>isn't really yoga at all!

100% agree. You gotta be in for a long run, it's not gonna patch the
problem.

-v

==================
Random Link:
http://dev.cuj.net/yoga/core/dictionary/Matsyendra.html
==================

Paul H

2006-04-25, 11:24 am

> Hi all. I recently bought a book called Yoga for Weight Loss, which has
> a routine of postures to do each day, meditations, etc, and a "detox
> diet" in it as well. As someone who is technically obese, and tried
> many diets and exercise plans with no success, it seems like a too good
> to be true kind of deal.
>
> Is Yoga really an effective way to lose weight and keep it off like the
> book says? Has anyone had any personal experience with this they could
> share? I'd appreciate any advice or comments, thanks

>

There is no silver bullet for any vice, be it weight, smoking, drugs,
whatever..

You need to be in it for the long haul, you need to be truly committed. Yoga
will help you achieve so much more than just weight loss. I have only been
practicing Yoga for one year, it has turned my life around. I am not a
weirdo, or a religious nut, just a normal bloke who stumbled on a wonderful
secret that can not be explained, only experienced.

Do the best thing you have ever done and take up Yoga, you will lose weight
and gain so many other things..

Obesity is not a problem, it is a symptom, Yoga will address both the
problem and the symptom with integrity. No quick fix book or sun tanned TV
star will do that for you.

Good luck.

Believe in yourself.

Paul

NBennett

2006-04-25, 11:24 am

i agree with paul. yoga used as an exercise wont necessarily make you lose
weight. what it will do is give you new appreciation and respect for your
body. out of that comes altered patterns in lots of areas of your life -
exercise, relationships, thought process, priorities.
a recent study showed that people who did yoga tended to lose weight and to
keep weight loss off, where as dieters and exercisers tend to yo-yo. this
has been true for me.
i'm like paul except that i am a bit of a weirdo and not a bloke, but
otherwise i've been into a yoga for a short time (3 yrs), its changed a lot
of areas of my life.....oh yeah, and i lost 50 lb in the first year and have
not yo-yo'd.
nancy
>
> There is no silver bullet for any vice, be it weight, smoking, drugs,
> whatever..
>
> You need to be in it for the long haul, you need to be truly committed.
> Yoga will help you achieve so much more than just weight loss. I have only
> been practicing Yoga for one year, it has turned my life around. I am not
> a weirdo, or a religious nut, just a normal bloke who stumbled on a
> wonderful secret that can not be explained, only experienced.
>
> Do the best thing you have ever done and take up Yoga, you will lose
> weight and gain so many other things..
>
> Obesity is not a problem, it is a symptom, Yoga will address both the
> problem and the symptom with integrity. No quick fix book or sun tanned TV
> star will do that for you.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Believe in yourself.
>
> Paul
>

LawsonE

2006-04-26, 11:25 am

"jesirose" <jesirose@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1145887129.271117.327360@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all. I recently bought a book called Yoga for Weight Loss, which has
> a routine of postures to do each day, meditations, etc, and a "detox
> diet" in it as well. As someone who is technically obese, and tried
> many diets and exercise plans with no success, it seems like a too good
> to be true kind of deal.
>
> Is Yoga really an effective way to lose weight and keep it off like the
> book says? Has anyone had any personal experience with this they could
> share? I'd appreciate any advice or comments, thanks

>

http://mapi.com/en/ask/question-weightloss.html

question: What is the Ayurvedic view of the body's appestat or appetite
control? Which fresh juices and whole fruits or vegetables will help me lose
weight? What about exercise? I'm 5'8", 210 pounds and my consittution is
predominantly Pitta.
-- from J.W. from Minnesota

answer:
According to Ayurvedic medicine, a combination of four different factors
regulate the appetite.
Sadhaka Pitta regulates desire, emotion and feeling of fulfillment.
Prana Vata governs the brain and mental activity.
Pachaka Pitta controls the stomach acids that break down and digest food.
Samana Vata relates to peristalsis, the movement of food through the stomach
and intestines.

If any of these factors is to too strong or too weak, the imbalance can
disrupt the appetite.
The key to weight loss is balance. When the mind, emotions, diet, digestion,
metabolism and appetite are in balance, then your weight will naturally come
into balance too.

Diet & Lifestyle Tips

In general, favor light, fresh foods.

Drink Fresh juice: pomegranate and pineapple.

Make soup of split barley and mung beans.

Use turmeric and cumin in seasoning your meals.

A medium amount of exercise is good for Pitta constitutions.

In general, yoga postures are the ayurvedic approach to exercise.

Therre's a yoga posture called Bajarasana that's good for digestion.
Basically it's kneeling down and then sitting back on your heels. The ideal
is to close the eyes and sit in this postion for about 10 minutes after your
main meal. It helps balance digestion and appetite through the breakdown
(Pachaka Pitta) and movement (Samana Vata) of food.

Maharishi Ayurveda Blissful Joy helps balance Sakhaka Pitta.

See the Maharishi Ayurveda self-Care System - Digestion for more
information.

http://mapi.com/en/self_care/system-digestion.html

DIET & LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

To balance digestion:

Eat your biggest meal at mid-day, when the digestive fire is strongest.

Favor fresh foods. Don't eat leftovers.

Eat only when hungry, after the previous meal is digested.

Maintain regular meal times.

Take your time, chew slowly, and sit quietly for five minutes after each
meal.

Don't divide your attention by reading, working or watching TV while you are
eating. Savor your meals.

Avoid cold or iced drinks -- they decrease the digestive fire.

Eat only until you're about three-quarters full.

Boil milk with ginger or cinnamon. Then, drink it warm or cool.

To balance stomach acid:

Cut down on dry, spicy and salty foods.

Drink a little cool milk, but not with meals.

Eat sweet, juicy fruits, such as plums and pears.

Minimize alcohol consumption.

Eat promptly when you're hungry. Don't skip meals.

Get proper rest. Try to go to bed before 10 p.m. when digestion becomes
active again.