Yoga’s Effects Promoting Healthy Weight
It’s no news that yoga has an extensive amount of health benefits. From supporting healthy blood pressure levels to relieving anxiousness and stress, yoga seems to be beneficial for everyone. Yoga, in combination with good eating habits and proper internal balance, can promote healthy weight. Here are a few areas of the body that yoga targets to promote weight management:
Liver
The liver is an important detoxifying agent, processing fats. The liver uses good fats for your benefit and rids the body of bad fats. It makes coenzyme Q10, which is essential for basic cell function used in powering your muscles.
Thyroid
The thyroid is essential for metabolism in the body, with its hormones helping cells with breaking down lipids and carbohydrates. When our thyroid is active, our metabolism is higher and promotes weight management.
Colon
When food matter doesn’t move through the colon efficiently, bloating occurs. Therefore, cleansing the colon is essential to flush the waste.
pH
Body fat can be stored and used as protection against acidic pH within the body. Not only does this add to weight gain, but visceral fat (fat inside organs and blood vessels) may accumulate in this attempt to protect the body, which may impact cardiovascular health.
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
When the body and mind are under too much stress, neurotransmitter levels may be altered, decreasing mood and increasing fatigue. Stress also increases the release of cortisol. When cortisol is continuously elevated, it can contribute to the aging process, suppress the immune system, promote insulin resistance, and disrupt weight management.
The NeuroWellness Program™ from Sanesco in addition to clinician care has been proven to promote healthy weight even when weight was not the focus of care. The NeuroWellness Program assesses neurotransmitters, provides a personalized analysis, and includes targeted nutritional therapies to promote nervous system health. Find a Sanesco provider to learn how the NeuroWellness Program can help you manage your weight.
Body temperature
Exercise generates internal body health, which helps burn up and purify visceral and superficial fat.
Muscles
Activating muscles consume fat stores to use as fuel during physical activity. If muscles are built up enough, they may melt away this fat even when the body is resting.
Heart rate
Contrary to the popular belief that sustained increased heart rate is the best way to manage weight, research has found that fluctuations between fast and slow heart rates during exercise are more beneficial. Many yoga sequences are perfect for this type of heart rate manipulation.
Did you know? Connections between Yoga and the Body
Bone Density
A 2009 pilot study found that practicing yoga supports healthy bone density among older adults.
Focus and Memory
Hatha yoga – an ancient form which emphasizes physical postures – can improve cognitive function, boosting focus and memory.
Flexibility
Bikram yoga – a form of yoga performed in a heated room – has been found to be effective in increasing shoulder back and hamstring flexibility.
Sexual Function
Regular yoga practice could improve multiple sexual functions among women, including arousal, desire, orgasm, and general satisfaction.
Low Mood and Anxiousness
Some yoga programs have been found to reduce anxiousness and heighten brain chemicals that combat low mood and worry.
Discomfort
Yoga has been found effective in reducing physical discomfort.
Kick start your journey to weight loss and a more balanced you by adding yoga into your lifestyle.
References
Felicetti, M. J. (2012). 8 Ways Yoga Can Promote Weight Loss. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5118/8-Ways-Yoga-Can-Promote-Weight-Loss.html
Gregoire C. How Yoga Changes Your Body, Starting The Day You Begin (INFOGRAPHIC). Huffington Post 2013. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/body-on-yoga_n_4109595.html. Accessed February 24, 2016.
Clinical Contributor
Annabelle Bennett
Clinical Support Specialist at Sanesco International, Inc.
Annabelle Bennett is a Clinical Support Specialist at Sanesco. She is a recent Clemson University alumnus with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. She enjoys getting her dopamine boosts from coffee, the beach, and her two little dogs.
