“Will yoga help me loose weight?”
I get it a lot. You’re not the only one asking. I have many thoughts on body size and image and our culture’s whacked-out experience of it. And also, I’m asked frequently enough about weight loss that it’s important to respond.
If you’re looking at the question through a calories-in-calories-out lens, the short answer is: maybe. If yoga is increasing the physical movement in your life, you’ll likely see improvement. Also, high-impact modalities will probably have a greater effectiveness. Running, HIIT, spinning – these are awesome. You should try/do them.
AND.
If you’re looking at weight loss through a lens of your overall sense of wellbeing: Probably.
When a person practices yoga, he is working with more than just muscle groups; he’s changing his nervous system and it’s stress response. She re-orients herself to her body in a loving and compassionate way. He gets in touch with sensations such as hunger and satiation. She learns about the power of habit and begins to question hers.
And when those things begin to happen, how we eat changes. What we eat often changes. And because our bodies are more adept at using both sides of the nervous system, our digestion changes.
And when those things begin to happen, people can and do loose weight. Beyond that, they FEEL better. They learn to love and not punish the body. The benefits exceed pounds and inches.
I’m not going to tell you it’s good or bad to loose weight – consult a medical professional. (Preferably one that is familiar with the Health At Every Size movement or one of its counterparts, focusing more on all health indicators.)
And also, the question gets asked, so I know it matters. Yes, yoga can help with weight. But if that’s all you’re wanting, then other modalities might be just as effective. If you’re wanting more from a movement practice, something that goes a little deeper, then yoga is certainly the way I recommend.