If you think that yoga can not help you burn calories, you are mistaken. Some yoga poses are not only effective at toning muscles but also burning calories. You just need to learn the yoga poses that burn calories and do them regularly. Aside from torching those stubborn calories, other benefits come with doing yoga. Many men and women are pleasantly surprised at the changes they see and feel after a few weeks of yoga. These changes are not only physical, but some benefits positively affect mental health. The following poses are great at burning calories.
Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
This posture is often thought of as easy but can be a tad difficult to perfect. Your core strength is necessary for chair pose to be an effective calorie burner. Other benefits of the posture include, but are not limited to, toning the leg muscles, stretching chest and shoulders, as well as stronger ankles, calves, hip flexors, and back. It also stimulates the diaphragm, heart, and other organs in the abdomen.
Kumbhakasana (Plank Pose)
Plank Pose is one of the best for burning calories. One great thing about the Plank pose is that you do not need any equipment to perfect it. The pose heightens your metabolism, which means you burn more calories even after your yoga session. Aside from these, you will have better balance and healthier bones and joints.
Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)
This pose paves the way for advanced postures and is essential for Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Just like the ones above, it develops core strength, lengthens spinal muscles, and increases strength in your arms and wrists.
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
The Downward Facing Dog pose is a widely recognized posture that is quite easy to do. There are several benefits of this pose, including managing stress and mild depression, prevent osteoporosis, improves digestion (increasing metabolism for better calorie burning), and helps relieve menstrual and menopausal issues.
Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose)
This posture is the first of three poses under the Warrior name. It is also one of the more simple yoga poses with a lot of benefits. Warrior I pose helps to burn calories because of the balance that you need to maintain the pose. It opens your hips, chest, and lungs as well as improves your focus, stability, and balance. Circulation and respiration are also vastly improved after doing the Warrior I pose regularly.
Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose)
In continuation of the benefits that you get from the previous pose above, the Warrior II stimulates abdominal organs and builds concentration and stamina. It stretches the hips, groin, and shoulders. You will also notice an improvement in sciatica, flat feet, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoporosis.
Tired limbs will feel energized and pregnant women in their 2nd trimester will notice some relief in back pain after regular practice of this particular yoga pose.
Try out the poses above to experience burned calories and other benefits. The effort that you put in will pay off when you see how healthy you are in a few months. The postures listed above are just a few of the yoga poses that burn calories and help you get fit.
