A ‘spare tire’ seems to be unavoidable as we age, but that is NOT the case. The truth is that if we understand the changes in our metabolism and hormones due to aging, we can stop accumulating kilos around our waist.
Stubborn belly fat isn’t just ugly, it can be dangerous, too. Doctors refer to it as “roundness of the waist” and it has been linked to prediabetes and diabetes.
Other studies have linked belly fat to a variety of other serious diseases, including:
• cancer
• High blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• heart disease
• dementia
and more.
What can you do to lose belly fat and start losing weight? Yoga can help you with both.
Yoga uses your own body weight to give you a good workout. You can develop great abs and a solid core in around 15 minutes of practice every day, and best of all, without having to do endless sit-ups.
Here are the main ways that yoga can help eliminate belly fat:
Position
Good posture is essential for strong muscles. Good abdominal muscles remove belly fat. Whenever you are sitting, walking or standing, check your abs. Engage your core and tighten your stomach muscles and see the difference it can make to your abdomen and back. Yoga poses that can help and that you can do almost anywhere include Mountain and Tree, if you don’t raise your arms.
Yoga poses for abs
Focus on poses that are great for your abs. Try Boat, Plank and Chaturanga.
Yoga poses for the core
Pay particular attention to yoga poses that are good for developing a strong core, such as the dolphin plank, side plank, and donkey kick.
Calories burned with yoga
All exercise will burn calories. With yoga, you can burn 500 to 800 calories per hour, up to 1,300 calories for each 90-minute Bikram class (although this is not recommended for seniors or anyone with a serious health problem).
Muscles instead of fat
As you work your abs, you will build long, lean muscles and shed belly fat.
Faster metabolism
Long, lean muscles burn calories more efficiently than fat, to help you lose weight quickly.
If you’re tired of looking in the mirror for a spare tire, give yoga a try and see how quickly you can shed belly fat for good.
There are many other benefits of practicing yoga regularly. Not only will it give you a stronger and better looking body, It can also improve your concentration and other mental abilities.
Yoga is an excellent form of strength training, so it can be used as part of an overall exercise program that balances strength development with cardiovascular exercise so that the heart beats faster for more exercise, since the heart is the most important muscle in the body.
In addition to a stronger body, you will also gain a strong mind. Yoga requires concentration and mental focus to achieve the postures and maintain them or to practice the different types of breathing in yoga, which are known as pranayama.
Good breathing can lead to less stress and anxiety and better overall health and vitality, which in turn can lead to better decision-making and better relationships. After all, it is difficult to do something right when you are sick.
Other valuable benefits of yoga include:
• Slow down the aging process by effectively detoxifying your body
• Reduce fatigue
• Increase energy throughout the day after morning practice.
• Boost your metabolism to burn calories more efficiently.
• Build long, lean muscles that can help you maintain a healthy weight.
• Improved quality and duration of sleep.
• Give more control over your body and mind
• Increased body awareness, for better workouts
• Increased self-confidence
• Offer greater relaxation and less stress in life.
and more.
With so many benefits of yoga, what are you waiting for?