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Total Health

Yoga and Weight Loss


Question :

Is yoga a really good exercise for losing weight?

Em

Answer :

Em, yoga isn't the best exercise as far as losing weight is concerned, but that shouldn't stop you from practicing it. Yoga is an excellent discipline, and regular practice helps maintain flexibility, improve coordination and eliminate stress.

Keeping to a diet based on yoga principles would help almost all of us lose weight. The yoga diet is vegetarian -- free of meat, fish and eggs. Fried and spicy foods and all caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, cocoa and cola are also prohibited. I've followed this diet before and have lost weight, but I also almost died of boredom.

The best calorie-burning exercises are aerobic and require the large muscle groups (primarily in the legs) to work continuously for periods of half an hour or longer. Walking, running, cycling, in-line skating and swimming burn the most calories, provided that you do them often enough (three to five times per week) and long enough (30 to 60 minutes per session). Lose fat by weight training. This will also increase your resting metabolism by adding lean muscle tissue to your frame.

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