7 Different Types Of Yoga For Weight Loss

If you’re looking to find the best type of yoga for weight loss, you’ll want to know that the answer to this question isn’t so simple. Yoga has so many different benefits – from stress relief and mood boosting to improved flexibility and better sleep – that it can actually be good for your health no matter which style you choose. However, certain styles of yoga might be more effective at weight loss than others, so here are 7 different types of yoga for weight loss in case you’re wondering which one will work best.

 

Understanding Why Yoga Can Help With Weight Loss

Before we jump into different types of yoga to lose weight, it’s important to understand why yoga is so effective. First and foremost, being physically active in general can help with weight loss efforts. It increases metabolism and burns calories, which is crucial for people who are trying to shed extra pounds. However, yoga is more than just physical activity—it’s a method of exercising that helps you reach a state called mindfulness.

 

1) What Type Of Yogi Are You?

You don’t have to be a dancer or flexible to practice yoga. Many people begin as yoga novices, which simply means you’re new to a particular style. So what type of yogi are you? Do you thrive in hot, crowded rooms or prefer a more solitary workout? Explore different types of yoga and find what fits best with your personality and lifestyle. Here are seven common styles

 

2) Vinyasa Flow And Power Flow Workout

You'll have to be flexible in order to do these types of yoga, but they are a great workout. During Vinyasa Flow you will move from one pose to another, one breath at a time. Vinyasa Power Flow adds strength-building moves and is thus a good option if you want yoga combined with weights. In both cases it's important that you push yourself and breathe deeply (through your nose) as you flow from pose to pose.

 

3) Restorative And Yin

Restorative yoga is gentle and slow-paced, encouraging students to yield to postures. The poses are held longer than in other styles of yoga, which allows time for muscle relaxation, rejuvenation and digestion. Studies have shown that restorative yoga has a calming effect on mental health, lowering cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and promoting alpha brain waves (experiencing a state of calm alertness). A study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that it can be effective in relieving symptoms related to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Restorative yoga is especially effective at lowering anxiety after childbirth or surgery because it puts less pressure on healing joints and muscles than more dynamic forms of yoga.

 

4) Kundalini, Bhakti, Meditation, Tantra

While Kundalini, Bhakti, and Tantra yoga help us harness spiritual energy, meditation yoga helps to quiet our minds. Patanjali's ashtanga yoga balances physical postures and breathing with relaxation. Hatha is probably one of most well-known styles of yoga – it’s a traditional style that focuses on flexibility. There are more than 200 different styles of yoga, but many focus on weight loss or stress relief in some capacity. How do you choose? Start by looking at what kind of workout you’re interested in and pick a style that caters to your goal; stay away from inflexible instructors who force students into strict poses like Lotus or half lotus.

 

5) Hatha Flow And Hatha Power

The majority of yoga teachers will suggest a hatha flow and hatha power yoga practice if you're looking to lose weight. Hatha flow yoga focuses on postures (asanas) designed to build strength, endurance, and flexibility. Some classes may include a dynamic warm-up that’s followed by a steady flow from one pose to another with focused breathing in between. The goal is usually to create harmony between mind and body while strengthening your muscles without straining or causing injury. The Ashtanga Vinyasa series is an example of such a class, as are Yin Flow and Power Vinyasa at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts.

 

6) Ashtanga Yoga

Patanjali’s system or yoga philosophy is Ashtanga. It is a practice of eight limbs. The first limb is Yama and Niyama, then comes Asana and Pranayama, then Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Patanjali’s eight-limbed path has been covered by BKS Iyengar in his book Light on Yoga. You can try out his book which has detailed descriptions about all aspects to give you complete knowledge about Ashtanga yoga. For weight loss and toning purpose, it will be better if you take help from your expert teacher because it is quite difficult to do it on your own.