Before you say Yoga is definitely not for you, hear me out…I’m not sure if I have mentioned it before, but over the last several months I have started to practice yoga. When I thought of yoga, I pictured people doing crazy poses, but that’s not what it’s all about. Sure, there ARE “crazy” poses, but there’s so much more to Yoga and it’s really something everybody can do.  As I’ve been doing it, not only have I noticed mental benefits, I’ve also started to notice some of the physical benefits from it and how it’s helping to shape and tone my muscles. It’s really quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to challenge myself and keep me fit!

So with that, I thought we’d take a look at 5 ways that yoga keeps you fit and healthy. My list comes from a larger list of 38 ways yoga keeps you fit written by Timothy McCall, M.D., and was posted on Yoga Journal, so let’s take a look!

1. Strong Bones – Certain positions in Yoga like downward facing dog and upward facing dog really up strengthen the bones in your arms.  Other positions as Dr McCall mentions, require that you lift your own weight which is strength training all over! The image below shows you what downward facing dog looks like – notice how there’s a straight line going from the feet all the way up, and then a straight line going down through the torso and the arms to the floor.
   
2. Eliminating Drugs – We know that being overweight or obese increases chances for heart problems among other things. It can also eventually lead to Type 2 diabetes. Studies have found that practicing yoga can help those diagnosed with diabetes to decrease the amount of medication and drugs taken.
3. Worry Warts – Yoga helps lower cortisol which may not sound like much, but Dr. McCall says “In rats, high cortisol levels lead to what researchers call “food-seeking behavior” (the kind that drives you to eat when you’re upset, angry, or stressed).” If you’re an emotional eater, practicing yoga regularly can certainly help.
4. Keep Movin’ – Yoga keeps you moving, and when you’re moving, you’re burning fat! “A regular practice gets you moving and burns calories, and the spiritual and emotional dimensions of your practice may encourage you to address any eating and weight problems on a deeper level.  Yoga may also inspire you to become a more conscious eater.”
5. It’s what you do for yourself -  I love this advice. In Yoga it’s all about what you do for yourself that matters. “Yoga gives you the tools to help you change, and you might start to feel better the first time you try practicing.”

I am one of those that tends to be an emotional eater. This emotional eating comes from any variety of emotions; happy, sad, anxious, bored, lonely, etc. And usually, the foods that I eat are considered comfort foods that aren’t so healthy. There’s definitely a connection between mood and food. For example, when you’re down and depressed, food can be a way to distract yourself from thinking about your problems. Another connection comes from certain foods like chocolate, which release small amounts of mood and satisfaction elevating opiates.

The Mayo Clinic has put together a very helpful list of ways that you can regain control of your eating habits so that you’re able to stop your emotional eating. They’re all easier said than done, but with work and effort, would be possible.

1. Learn to recognize true hunger: Is your stomach rumblin’ and grumblin’? If not, you’re probably really not hungry.
2. Know your triggers: The important thing here is to recognize you eating patterns so that you can avoid negative ones.
3. Look elsewhere for comfort: Instead of eating those comfort foods, take a walk, listen to music, exercise, call a friend.
4. Don’t keep unhealthy food around: Simply put… keep the junk at the store! This is much easier said than done. But, it’s true. If unhealthy foods are around, you’ll likely go for them when you’re stressed.
5. Snack healthy: Find healthy snack options that also satisfy you so that you won’t be craving potato chips and ice cream. One of my favorite snacks is veggies and dip with a fat-free dip, or apples with a little bit of low-fat peanut-putter for some protein.
6. Eat a balanced diet: This is important. If you’re eating a balanced diet and getting enough calories, chances are that you’ll feel fuller for a longer period of time.
7. Exercise regularly and get adequate rest: I think getting adequate rest is something that a lot of us have a hard time with. We have to be doing 50 different things in 50 different places which makes it difficult to adequate time for rest.

Like I said, all of those things are so much easier said than done. It might be best to focus on just one or two of those components instead of trying to do them all at once. One of the things that I have learned to do best is to recognize true hunger. When I stopped to think about what I was eating and when, there were many times throughout my week that I ate simply because I was bored. Emotional eating can really take you off track when you’re trying to lose weight, but using the suggestions above will help you to meet your weight loss goals, and change your lifestyle.

Source: Mayo Clinic [Via Yahoo Health!]