Of the many medical conditions that we face due to our stressful lifestyles, obesity is perhaps one of the most harmful one. Defined as a condition where excessive fat is accumulated and stored in the body, obesity is known to increase health risks like heart attacks.
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What is Obesity?
According to a factsheet available on the WHO website, worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980. In 2008, 300 million women and 200 million men were obese. Do these figures have you worrying about your own health? Before you start sweating, understand that you may not even be obese. Technically speaking, being obese is different from being overweight. To put it in simpler terms, a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25 classifies as being overweight. However, a BMI greater than or equal to 30 falls under the obese category.
What’s the Way Out?
Regardless of the category you fall under, both situations call for some serious action on your part. If you are unsure about how to get a grip on obesity, you are at the right place. To work on reducing your obesity, it is important to cut out things that are harming you and pick up things that are good for your health. For starters, make sure that you are following a healthy diet plan and are doing some physical exercise. If hitting the gym isn’t your ideal idea of workout, then lean onto the natural alternative – yoga.
Rebuilding Health Naturally
Yoga is an ancient technique that has always aimed at promoting holistic living through better lifestyle, improved food habits and a physical regime. Being a natural technique that focuses on controlled breathing through various postures, yoga is a completely harm free and perfect alternate for allopathic weight-loss pills. Whether your BMI is abysmally high or you just believe in staying fit, yoga caters to all. Here are a few yoga techniques that you can start with on the path to shedding your weight:
Kapal Bhati pranayama
This breathing technique increases the rate of metabolism and thus helps in reducing weight. It also improves digestive tract functioning, absorption and assimilation of nutrients.
Paschimottanasana
This pose massages and tones the abdominal and pelvic organs. It also improves digestion and is highly effective in reducing obesity.
Veerbhadrasana
This pose improves balance in the body and builds up stamina. The abdominal organs are also stimulated by practicing this pose.
Dandasana
This pose is an excellent abdomen toner. It is good for the upper body as it strengthens the wrists and arms.
Poorvottanasana
This pose stretches the intestine and abdominal organs. It also helps in toning the abdomen.
Naukasana
This pose strengthens the abdominal muscles, improves digestion, and stimulates the intestine.
Shalabhasana
This pose massages and tones the abdominal organs. It also improves digestion and flexibility in the body.
Halasana
This pose strengthens and stimulates the abdominal muscles. It also alleviates stress and fatigue.
Changing Lifestyle
The effect of every effort that you put in for reducing obesity can be significantly improved if an overall good lifestyle is adopted. Apart from practicing yoga, your weight loss efforts can be accelerated by following an ayurvedic lifestyle. Often referred to as the sister of yoga, ayurveda has been around for as long as yoga itself. Ayurveda is an ancient system of natural and holistic medicine that also provides guidance on adjusting the lifestyle for greater health benefits. Further, turning to ayurvedic cooking ensures that shedding weight does not turn into a sour experience for your taste buds.
Respect Your Limits
Yoga may seem intimidating at first, but is really an easy-to-approach alternate for overpowering obesity. While it may seem difficult to bend into some poses initially, being consistent in practice will help you stretch further with every passing day. It is also important to remember that your body has its own limits and it would be unwise to stretch beyond those limits just to lose weight quickly. Stretch until where your body permits and then rest in that pose, while breathing consciously.
Lose Your Weight, Not Your Mind
Yoga does not offer quick weight loss. However, it does offer long lasting effects. Initially, you may feel that you aren’t making any progress with weight loss but you’ll start feeling more active and alive inside. Eventually, the body will start responding and come back in good shape. Always remember that patience is of the essence. Don’t lose hope and be regular with your practice. Talk to your yoga instructor and chalk out a custom-made regime to help you lose weight.
A healthy body can be a home to calm and receptive mind. It not only makes you look good but also adds confidence. It also takes you away from health risks so that you can enjoy life more freely. Yoga helps you gain all this by losing what harms your body. It’s a perfect win-win situation where you lose weight and gain back control of your body. So, roll out your yoga mat and take the natural route to fighting obesity today.
Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits yet is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga postures under the supervision of a trained Art of Living Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting a doctor and a Art of Living Yoga teacher. Find a Art of Living Yoga program at an Art of Living Center near you. Do you need information on programs or share feedback? Write to us [email protected]
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