Yoga is a natural therapy to one’s body and soul. It is followed by people across the globe. It consists of physical exercises, asanas, meditation which help in attaining good health and pleasant peace of mind.
It makes your body flexible, controls the fluctuation of mind, boosts positive energy and improves the quality of life. In one word it just illuminates your life from pain and suffering. A person practicing yoga can stay healthy and happy throughout their life and it is not that hard as everyone thinks. Practice it daily and see the results.
Yoga is the best way to lose your weight in a healthy manner. Here are the top 7 poses to shred those extra kilos from your beautiful body.
1. Crow Pose
Crow pose or Bakasana helps in flexibility and strengthens your forearms and shoulder. Start with squatting position on your heels with your hands out in front of you. Come up onto your toes, and place your knees on your upper arms as close to your armpits as possible. Slowly shift your weight forward until your feet come off the ground and your arms are supporting your weight. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat this pose.
2. Boat Pose
Boat pose or Navasana reduces excess body weight and fat around abdomen and thighs. This pose outwardly resembles a boat, hence the name. We will start doing this by sitting in front of the wall and placing your feet on it. Fix a strap on the wall about 3 feet above and hold the strap, stretch your legs and hands, straighten your spine and balance on your sit bone. Stay steady with even breathing. Do this for 30 seconds and repeat it.This pose also helps in strengthening hips, pelvis, and abdomen.
3. Plank Pose
Plank pose or Phalakasana tones your body from head to toe and doing this pose will help in losing your belly fat too. Start doing this pose by clasping your forearms together and place them on the ground, make sure your elbows are aligned below the shoulders and arms parallel to the body at shoulder width distance. Raise your knees and ground the toes against the floor. Adjust your body so that your head is in line with your back. Look at a spot on the floor. Hold for about 20 seconds in the beginning and increase the time as you get comfortable. This pose reduces even back pain.
4. Tree Pose
Tree pose or Vrikshasana helps in toning the abdominal muscle and strengthens ankle and calves. Will start doing this pose by standing erect and fixing the eyes on a focal point, will carry the weight of the body on the right leg. While inhaling, lift the left leg with the sole of the foot placed on the inner thigh or calf muscle of the standing leg. Once you get the balance clasp the hand in the middle of the chest. Do this for 8 to 10 breaths and repeat this with your other leg.
5. Chair Pose
Chair Pose or Utkatasana strengthens the shoulder, lower back, abdominals, ankles, and calves. Start doing this pose by standing straight with your feet together, heels apart. Keep your palms closed and slowly bend your legs, bending your thighs inwards, taking it nearly parallel to the floor. Keep your back straight. Now extend your hands above, to the side of your head and stay in this position for a few seconds. Beginners can take the support of the wall. Repeat the pose.
6. Cobra Pose
Cobra pose or Bhujangasana is a great pose for firming the buttocks and toning abs. Start doing this by first putting your palms on the sides of your chest and lift your upper body and stretch, then hold your palms together and stretch it above your back and as you lift your body up, bring the knotted hands down and stretch. Hold this position for few seconds.
7. Half Moon Pose
Half moon pose or Ardha Chandrasana requires immense abdominal and leg strength in order to support the body for balance. Try to stack the hips so that body is open and pointing outwards, not down towards the mat. Point your right foot out to the side as well. If you don’t have the flexibility to reach the floor while keeping your left leg straight, bend the left knee slightly to allow your hand to touch the floor. If you can’t reach the floor, keep a block. Hold for 30 seconds and perform on both the sides.
So let’s shed all the extra kilos with these Yoga poses and will embrace a toned and healthy body.
