Yoga and Weight Loss

Benefits of Yoga - Permanent and Easy Weight Loss »

Jul 08 2008

Posted at 2:39 pm under Yoga

Yoga is a centuries-old system of personal development and health cultivation originating in India. Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means ‘to unite’ or ‘to harmonize’, The essence of Yoga is the achievement of harmony, within oneself and in relation to others and one’s environment.

Holistic Health

It is now becoming common knowledge worldwide that health is not only physical. Emotional, mental and spiritual factors also play their part. This is something the Yogis have known for centuries. Yoga provides a structure for exploring the relationship between the physical and spiritual and encouraging the integration of these aspects. This is achieved through guidance in exercising the physical body thoroughly and, through this, deepening awareness of the emotional and spiritual dimensions of your life.

The Yogic View On Body Weight

Body weight is a physical expression of good health. Conversely, the condition of being over or underweight is viewed as one of many signs of imbalance or ‘disease’ in the human system. The cause of over weight is generally attributed to lifestyle choices, which in turn are influenced by physical and psychological factors. For this reason, achieving an ideal weight is essentially a process of recovering health. And for this ideal weight to be sustainable, the process of recovery needs to take physical and psychological factors into account.

When Weight Loss May Be Unhealthy

There are people who struggle to gain weight, or at times may lose excessive amounts of weight unintentionally. Both can be signs of imbalance or ill-health. The Yoga practices offered on this site can also benefit these people by cultivating health and toning the body systems involved in regulating and maintaining healthy body weight.

In the case of an Eating Disorder, where a person may intentionally lose more weight than is healthy, the info on this site can also be a valuable tool with which to increase body awareness. Yoga practice also promotes a healthy relationship with your appetite and eating patterns, while encouraging a kind and caring attitude towards your body and, by extension, your experience of life