10 Reasons Why Yoga Is Good If You Are Overweight

If you are reading this article, it may be because you are interested in yoga, but think that yoga is not for you as you are overweight. Well, guess what? You are wrong! Yoga is actually good if you are overweight. It helps you both burn fat and control anxiety.

Yoga is generally good for everyone’s health. There are many who can sign on. For example, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, says that yoga is good for society and that everyone in that country enjoys it in their daily lives.

The Prime Minister has even shared some videos of an animated version of himself practicing and demonstrating yoga. In these videos, he emphasizes that yoga is a healthy form of exercise, for everyone.

Below we will highlight several reasons to motivate you to take a yoga class. This also applies – or especially – if you are overweight.

The wonderful benefits of yoga and why yoga is good if you are overweight

1. Yoga improves your breathing

Yoga can improve your breathing and help you be more aware of it. If you follow better how you breathe and live an otherwise healthy life, then it will make nutrition reach your organs more efficiently. In this way, the organs will function better and you will help your body to protect itself against diseases, which come due to poor nutrition.

2. It gives you better self-confidence and quality of life

Yoga is a great way to start a healthier lifestyle. Yoga is good if you are overweight, because it can help you gain better self-confidence and overall quality of life

Yoga will strengthen you physically and mentally, which is important so you can see yourself better, and change the way you live, for the better. You will then have more control over yourself, and can increase your overall quality of life through physical activity.

3. It fights depression

Many people struggle with low self-esteem. This also increases the risk of becoming depressed. Low self-esteem can come from things like uncertainty about how you look, personality traits, or things you have experienced.

Either way, yoga will help fight mild depression and boost your self-esteem. It is a way to meditate, reflect and regain your self-confidence, as well as maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

4. Yoga reduces stress

Yoga has a lot of focus on breathing exercises, meditation and posture, which will help you relax and lower stress. It will also make you more focused both mentally and physically.

Setting aside a time a day to meditate and breathe deeply makes a big difference in reducing your levels of cortisone, which is the stress hormone. When you fill your lungs with fresh air, you will find that you calm down and are better able to make choices and meet the challenges of daily life.

5. It reduces physical discomfort

When you practice yoga regularly, you can reduce headaches and blood pressure. It will also help you not to be so tired or have trouble sleeping. All of this is something that happens because you get more oxygen to the brain and because you release toxins by breathing deeply.

This will also help you have more energy throughout the day, and it will motivate you to eat healthier and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

6. You will notice the changes

Weight does not affect your ability to practice yoga. That said, in yoga classes it is important not to demand more from your body than it can provide. In any case, you will become more flexible and confident after a while of yoga, and you will notice that you get to the more complicated positions that you did not get in the beginning.

Yoga is therefore great for those who are overweight, as it allows you to take it at your own pace, and you do not have to stretch your body too far. Little by little you will notice a change in how stretchy you are, your strength, your balance and your posture. So do not let yourself be overwhelmed by it all before you get started, but take it slow but sure.

7. It is a form of exercise with low intensity (which is good if you are overweight)

Yoga is a great addition to a healthy lifestyle, and it does not require any drastic changes in the lifestyle you already have. As you move forward with your own yoga journey, you will cope with more and more difficult positions.

There are positions for beginners, and most instructors will adapt the training to the students’ level and skills. Then you will not be frustrated that you do not get to the more complicated positions and it allows you to start at your own level that is best for you. Yoga is also quite flexible when it comes to how much time it takes, as you can regulate it according to your own schedule.

8. It brings many benefits to the endocrine system

Each yoga position affects a specific part of the body on a muscular level, the nervous system, and the hormonal plane. For example, some positions are intended for those who are struggling and have problems with the thyroid gland. If you are overweight due to a hormonal problem, you can look at yoga as a good form of exercise that can help with this as well. If this is the case, we recommend that you look for, or ask an instructor, what positions are best for the thyroid gland and other hormonal challenges.

9. Yoga fights anxiety

We have already mentioned some of the spiritual and relaxing benefits that come with yoga. This is because it is considered an activity that helps reduce anxiety.

The meditations and breathing exercises will not only help reduce stress, but the effect that yoga has on your nervous system can also give you better concentration. It can also affect your eating habits and cravings for sweets.

10. It helps you reach your goals

If you are interested in physical activity to live a healthier life, or to lose weight, then yoga is perfect for you! Besides being a great form of exercise, it is also a spiritual activity that strengthens your relationship with yourself, and your willpower.

There will be moments of concentration and meditation, which you can encourage yourself to stand on and improve. It will also make you more patient so you can wait to see the results of the effort you have put in.

What yoga postures are good if you are overweight?

Yoga can help you strengthen muscles, increase movement, give you better breathing, and generally make you feel better in general. This practice is especially beneficial for those who are overweight because one can achieve good results, without training with high intensity.

Help your body lose weight by doing these exercises:

• Dead man’s position / relaxation position (Savansana) : This is good for relaxing and calming body and soul
• Shoulder (Sarvangasana) : This regulates the metabolism and stimulates the thyroid gland.

• Feet up against the wall (Viparita Karani Mudra) : This position also helps the thyroid gland to function better as well as helping with circulatory problems. It also gives you more self-control.
• Pisces (Matsyasana) : This position helps to regulate the function of the thyroid gland. It is also beneficial for the pituitary gland, adrenal glands and epiphysis.
• Plow (Halasana) : This helps to reduce belly fat. It also helps the thyroid gland, spleen and liver.
• Cobra (Bhujanghasana) : This position also regulates the adrenal glands and thyroid gland. Plus it stimulates and helps tighten abdominal muscles. It also strengthens the spine as well as the gluteal muscles.

What positions are not good if you are overweight?

In general , you should not try on any position that your body is not ready for physically. It can be such as those where the entire body weight is supported by only one body part. Other positions such as padahastasana and balasana where you lean forward as much as possible should also be avoided, as they can give you difficulty breathing.

Regular physical activity will help you lead a healthy lifestyle. Yoga is especially helpful for those who are overweight and who want to start a healthier or active lifestyle. It is especially effective as it not only gives you better physical health but also better mental and spiritual health.