If you are like me, you probably made a New Year’s resolution to either lose weight or get in shape. It is probably one of the most common resolutions people make in the New Year. I have been using yoga and various yoga accessories to help me stay in shape over the years, but until now I didn’t really think of it as a way to lose weight.
Recently I read several articles online about research being done on how and why people lose weight. One of these articles was on research recently conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center on mindful eating. Mindful eating is when you are aware, in a non judgmental way, of what you are eating. Apparently yoga practitioners are more mindful of what they eat and this leads to less weight gain and easier weight loss. Since yoga teaches a person to be calm and observant, these traits are beneficial when applied to weight loss regimes. My weight has been more stable the last 3 or 4 years since I ve been more regular about my yoga, says Nancy Press, who gained about 20 pounds when she was in her 40s and now swims and does yoga twice a week.
Of course, once you start thinking about something it seems to show up everywhere on the web! No sooner had I read this research, when I also saw an interview with Drew Barrymore giving credit to yoga for her recent weight loss in preparation for a film role.
Another aspect of yoga that is helpful in regaining control of your weight is the fact that many of the more restful poses (asanas) are helpful because they stimulate the thyroid gland. You probably don’t think about your thyroid much, but this little gland in your throat is essential for many important things in your body – especially with anything having to do with your weight. One of the reasons I focus on staying on top of my practice is that, like one out of every five women, I have a problem thyroid. In fact – I had to have it removed several years ago. So for me, yoga helps me maintain a balance in both my weight and my well being. Doing a simple twenty minute routine every day is a giant first step in keeping your thyroid a happy and fully functioning part of you.
Of course, essential to any change is the need to change your way of thinking. I find that when I have been doing my yoga on a regular daily basis, my whole way of moving changes. I hold my body straighter, feel less tired when I exercise and I want to get up and walk that extra mile! So whether you enroll in a nearby studio, rent a video from the library or go online and finally order the yoga accessories that will keep you focused on the your practice – now is the time to make that change. Yoga will be the best resolution you can make, and your body will thank you for it for years to come.
Author Resource:-
Deni Loubert is a twenty year practitioner of yoga and a published author. She became a big supporter of yoga when attending a friends class for strength building after an auto accident.Her website http://my-yoga-accessories.com/ is a portal to a number of both public and private sites she has used.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.newworldproducts.org/Articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites