Can practicing yoga help with weight loss?
Disease description:
I have recently been considering losing weight and thought about many methods, but ended up rejecting them all, finally choosing yoga. I would like to ask, can practicing yoga help with weight loss?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Bai Hongmei
Yoga can help with weight loss, although its effects may not be as pronounced as those achieved through high-intensity aerobic exercises or strength training.
As a physical activity requiring muscular strength, yoga primarily burns calories through a combination of aerobic exercise and endurance, thus achieving fitness and weight-loss effects. Various yoga postures can enhance the body's flexibility, balance, and core strength. Practicing yoga regularly can improve muscular endurance and increase the basal metabolic rate, enabling the body to burn more calories even at rest. Additionally, yoga breathing techniques help regulate breathing rhythms, allowing the body to absorb oxygen more efficiently and promote metabolism, which benefits fat burning and consumption.
Yoga also helps regulate emotions and reduce stress. When emotions are well managed, individuals can approach eating more rationally and avoid weight gain caused by emotional eating. Moreover, the sense of inner calm and balance achieved through yoga can enhance one's confidence and motivation to stick to weight-loss goals.
Yoga should be practiced under the guidance of an instructor to avoid physical injury. At the same time, combining yoga with a balanced diet will yield better weight-loss results.
