10 Powerful Yoga Poses to Help You Lose Weight

Yoga is an art of living and it is now getting universally adopted as fitness regime to attain flexible body and bring relaxing to your mind at the same time. Some of the benefits of yoga are:

• It helps to keep your brain focused
• Yoga helps to ease out physical and mental stress
• Improves blood circulation
• Increases flexibility
• Strengthens your muscles

Another amazing benefit of yoga is that helps to lose weight and ward off fats from your body. Some of the yoga poses that help to melt the fat are tree pose, downward dog facing pose and many such other poses.

1. Half Boat Pose

Image: Source This pose helps to strengthen your abs and brings balance in your body. Sit straight on the floor with your legs in front of you. Keep your hands behind your hips on the floor with fingers pointing towards your toes. Engage your arms and lift your legs off the floor, with your thighs forming 45 degree angle from the floor and lean your back slightly. Balance your pelvic bones and raise your arms slowly and extend them in front of you. You will that you core is engaged. Hold the pose for 30 to 40 seconds and release.

2. Tree Pose

Image: Source This pose is also called as Vrikshasana and it improves your concentration and balance. Tree pose helps to strengthen your spine and legs. To do this pose, stand straight with your arms on your sides and look straight in front of yourself. Shift the weight of your body on your left leg and raise your right foot and bring it up to your thigh. Let your right foot rest on your left thigh and raise your arms over your head and let your palms touch each other. Hold the pose for 30 seconds and release. To increase the resistance, you can hold the pose for 1 minute. In case you find it difficult in the beginning to bring your palms above your head, you can bring them in front of your chest.

3. Standing Forward Bend

Image: Source This pose gives your body a good stretch and improves blood circulation. Stand straight on the floor and breathe in. Bend your body at the waist and breathe out. Bring your arms parallel to each other and hold your toes. Hold the pose for 20 seconds and release.

4. Upward Facing Dog

Image: Source This pose requires your body to come in plank position with your palms facing down. Stretch your legs out and bring your elbows by your side. Lift your upper body and bring your body weight on to your elbows. Arch your back and make sure your knees remain above the ground level. Inhale in and hold the pose for 30 seconds and release.

5. Warrior Pose

Image: Source This pose helps to open up your chest and strengthens your back and legs. Stand straight on the floor with your hands on your sides and feet hip width apart. Stretch your left backward and turn your feet 45 degree angle and bring your right foot forward with your knee bent. Lower your body as you would do while doing a lunge move. Raise your arms over your head and allow the palms to touch other. Hold the pose for 10 to 20 seconds, release and repeat on the other leg.

6. Cat Pose

Image: Source This pose helps to tone your abs and burns the fats in tummy. To do this pose, come on to your fours and breathe in. lift your spine, bring your chin on chest. Breathe out and bring your chin to look up. Hold the pose for few seconds and release.

7. Downward Dog Facing Pose

Image: Source This yoga pose is also called Adho Mukh Svanasana, it helps to reduce stress and tension. This pose strengthens your hamstrings and legs. This pose energises and rejuvenates your body. To do this pose, get onto your fours with your hands in line with shoulders. Keep your feet flat on the ground. Step backwards and move your hands forward and try to form a “V” with your body. Make sure your hips are higher than your heart, bend your knees and lower your head. Hold the pose for few seconds and release.

8. Corpse Pose

Image: Source This pose boosts up your energy and relaxes your mind. Lie flat on the floor on your back with your arms resting on your sides. Keep your toes apart and engage your core as breathe in and breathe out. Follow this pose for 2 to 5 minutes to release the stress and energise your body.

9. Half Moon Pose

Image: Source This pose allows healthy breathing pattern and opens air channels in your body. Stand straight on the floor with your toes touching each other and heels half an inch apart. Raise your arms over your head and clasp them together. Stretch your arms up and bend your body on your left side keeping your arms as straight as possible. Feel the stretch on your arms and abs and hold the pose for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

10. Mountain Pose

Image: Source This pose targets your abs, legs, spine and thighs. To do this pose stand straight on the floor with your feet slightly apart and arms on your sides. Firm your thigh muscles and engage your lower abdomen. Strengthen your ankles and look up and breathe in. feel the stretch in your core, hold the pose for 10 to 15 seconds and release.