Victoria Hill - Yoga for Weight Loss (with pictures) - 7 Ridiculously Simple Ways to Learn Yoga Poses and Experience the Benefits of Yoga

Introduction

Weve all heard about yoga. Its the not really a sport activity or the thing moms do after they drop their kids off at daycare or the posh peoples thing nobodys got time for. But the truth is, yoga is so much more. Yoga is a way to destress and to nourish and strengthen your body. Its a time set aside for you to take deep breaths, reflect, and reach a point of peace and acceptance. And, if paired with a healthy diet, it can even help you lose weight. Yoga has countless benefits, and the only way you can fathom the benefits is to begin and try it for yourself. No matter what happens, there will be no harm done, only positives! So why not give it a try?

Yoga targets many things we suffer from on a day to day basis. Back pain, bad posture, lack of confidence, tight leg muscles, flat feet, weak upper body strength, lack of flexibility, stress. Yoga is able to help with all of these things and more.

By doing simple poses over a long period of time, youll find yourself stronger, happier, and healthier. There are no limits as to what yoga can do. And its so simple to start, too! All you need is a mat (make sure you get one in order to make sure you dont slip or have painful friction against your hands, knees and feet!), enough space for your mat and for you to stretch out, and either a yoga class, DVD, or guide such as this one.

For inspiration, instead of a plain mat, buy a more interesting one, such as one with a cute design or one with bright colors. It may not seem like it will make a difference, but even the smallest things can boost your motivation! For instance, having a more expensive mat will make you want to use it more rather than waste it, and having a yoga guide on hand and ready to view at any time will also give you less excuses on procrastinating. Begin now! Not tomorrow, not next week, not later, but now! Theres no better time to start than the present.

Personally, yoga has helped me not only embrace my mind and my body, but also gain confidence and better control over my daily life. As a child, I was often hunched over, whether in front of a computer or while wearing my backpack. My parents would chide me for not having good posture, and over the years, I never quite corrected it. After I started yoga a few years back, my posture has gotten much better.

In fact, I can probably safely say that my posture has never been better! I also find myself with less tightness and pain in my lower back and legs, and even my feet look better, since yoga helps with your arches and corrects flat feet. My legs are also a lot more toned thanks to doing poses such as Adho Mukha Svanasana, or Downward Facing Dog. This pose will be taught later on in this book, along with various other poses that will each target different parts of your body, increasing your overall concentration and bodily health.

Dont underestimate the power of yoga! Since I began, Ive found myself getting more and more energetic, and my friends have told me from time to time that I look great, and they ask me what my beauty secrets are. When I tell them its all yoga, theyre often shocked yet not shocked. Everyone knows about yoga; its written about or displayed everywhere. Everyone knows there are multiple benefits. And yet, nobody thinks to apply it to themselves, when in reality, yoga is not expensive or inconvenient at all. Again, the key is to actually begin.

In addition to physical and mental health benefits, yoga simply feels good. Theres not other way to put it. Its like a spa for your muscles, minus the fancy treatments and the expenses. When you practice yoga, youll find yourself enjoying it immensely. Its so soothing to let yourself concentrate on nothing but the poses and the flow of energy through your body. When you do yoga poses, you focus in on yourself and reflect on everything yet nothing.

You reach a point of complete and utter relaxation, and the days worries completely melt away. The slow movements get your blood flowing, but you wont be out of breath or disgustingly covered in sweat if you dont wish to be (though there are hardcore moves!). The best part is that you can go at your own pace, because yoga is an individual, personal experience.

So what are you waiting for? Go out there, buy a mat if you havent already, wear comfortable clothes, and get ready for the experience of a lifetime. Once you get going, theres no looking back; you wont want to. Yoga is just that amazing. I hope that your journey will be as wonderful and enlightening, if not more, than mine. As you go through this book, look at the pictures as guides. Below the pictures, there are simple, easy to follow steps on how to do each pose, along with benefits and modifications. There is also a word of advice per chapter to maximize your benefits. Have fun!