Does Yoga help with weight loss?

First things first, you can't out-exercise a bad diet. If you want to loose weight you first need to look at what (and how) you eat. Dietary changes are key! 

Yoga is a very broad term that in today's modern world covers anything from evening meditation styles, to vigorous yoga classes where you sweat and move a lot.

Yoga can help with weight loss, however, if your preferred style of yoga is Yin Yoga (a calm practice, mostly focusing on stretching) you are not going to see results. Calmer yoga styles are super beneficial when it comes to managing stress and becoming more mindful, but they are not fat burning practices. In order to tone the body you need to engage in muscle strengthening yoga styles, such at Vinyasa Flow, Power Yoga, and stronger Hatha Yoga styles. 

Here's how yoga can contribute to weight loss:

Increased Physical Activity: Yoga involves various physical postures, sequences, and flows that can help increase your physical activity levels. Depending on the style and intensity of yoga practiced, it can burn fat and contribute to overall energy expenditure.

Stress Reduction: Yoga is well-known for its stress-reducing benefits. High stress levels can lead to overeating and poor food choices, so by reducing stress, yoga may indirectly help with weight management.

Mindful Eating: Mindfulness is a core component of yoga. Practicing mindfulness can lead to more conscious and mindful eating habits, reducing the tendency to overeat or make unhealthy food choices.

Improved Muscle Tone: Certain yoga poses and flows can help build and tone muscle. Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat, so increasing muscle mass can boost your metabolism and contribute to weight management.

Better Digestion: Some yoga practices, particularly poses that involve twisting and compression of the abdomen, can aid in digestion and alleviate digestive issues. Improved digestion can support weight management.

Awareness of Body: Regular yoga practice can increase your awareness of your body, helping you become more attuned to hunger and fullness cues. This can prevent overeating.

While yoga can be a valuable part of a holistic approach to weight loss and overall health, it's important to note that it's not a high-intensity cardiovascular exercise like running or aerobics, which are more efficient at burning calories. Therefore, for significant weight loss, combining yoga with other forms of exercise and adopting a balanced diet is usually recommended.