7 Effective Yoga Poses for Shedding Pounds

When practicing yoga for weight loss, it’s essential to keep in mind that less is often more. Instead of trying to master hundreds of poses, focus on perfecting the key ones that enhance strength, flexibility, balance, and aid in weight loss. Many people doubt the effectiveness of yoga for shedding pounds, but the truth is that yoga can burn calories at a rate comparable to jogging while also reducing cortisol levels in the body. With the right poses and consistent practice, you can definitely lose excess weight.

In this article, we’ve compiled some of the most effective yoga poses for weight loss. Give them a try today and see how they make you feel.

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One of the best poses for working the core is this one. The challenge lies in maintaining straight legs and back to form a “V” shape, which requires significant core strength. Beginners might want to start with bent legs before progressing, as it also demands some flexibility.

Lunges are fantastic because of their many variations. You can either bend the back knee or keep it straight. The deeper you sink, the more you stretch your hips, making it one of the best poses for hip flexibility and preparing for splits. Tilting your arms and hands back will also stretch your back.

This pose, known as the “yogi pushup” (or Chaturanga), deserves a spot on the list. Doing 20 in a row from plank position will definitely make you feel the burn. If you want more of a challenge, try holding the position for 10-30 seconds, ensuring your back stays straight and aligned with your upper arms.

What the image doesn’t convey is that this pose requires a lot of core strength and flexibility in the legs and hips. Holding the back leg up is tougher than it seems. Have someone take a picture of your form; it can be quite challenging to maintain a straight line with your body while balancing on one leg. Aim to hold it for 30 seconds.

If you’re tired of the plank (which is still one of the best poses for heating up the core), try this variation! This pose engages the core and shoulders. Shoulder strength is crucial for all inversions and most advanced poses. Keeping your butt lifted makes this pose harder than it appears. You’ll feel it in your obliques, hamstrings, core, and chest! It’s one of the key yoga poses for weight loss that targets multiple muscle groups.

Alternate sides or switch to the revolved triangle pose (rotate your body so the opposite hand touches the same foot that is forward in the triangle). This pose is a bit more challenging for beginners. The more difficult yoga poses for weight loss will push you, help you grow, and burn more fat!

Be sure to warm up your back with poses like cobra, upward-facing dog, and camel pose before attempting the wheel pose.

If you enjoyed these poses for weight loss and want more tips along with a workout plan, our Yoga Fat Loss Bible for Beginners is an excellent resource. It includes everything you need to get started, such as a complete 6-week workout plan, a flexibility guide, and a beginner’s meditation guide! It’s a fantastic option for those looking to lose weight, increase flexibility, and relieve aches and pains through a calming yoga practice. It will guide you on how to effectively reduce stubborn body fat with a regular yoga routine and features the top 50 fat-burning yoga poses every beginner should learn.

Click here to explore the Yoga Fat Loss Bible.

Always remember, the hardest part of yoga is simply getting yourself on the mat! Feel free to leave a comment below if you enjoyed this article or have any questions!