How can you (get rid of) decrease belly fat by yoga postures?
You may have noticed, that when you are trying to shed extra flab that with some amount of effort this is achievable. But one area where it takes longest to disappear and is the most difficult to get rid of, is in the region around the belly. The reason is that this fat is not like that in other areas of the body. Abdominal fat forms because of stress. The abdominal region receives a higher blood supply and thus receives more of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. When a person is continuously under stress, the levels of cortisol increases, and larger quantities of fat are deposited in the abdominal area.
However, while standard exercises may work in reducing belly fat, yoga works the best, because it works at a deeper level, first reducing stress levels. This causes levels of cortisol to decrease. Hence not only does the existing belly fat get burned up, but less stress also causes less cortisol, which in turn causes less fat to be deposited.
Many yoga exercises are helpful for getting rid of belly fat. However, remember that it is not an overnight miracle. You need dedication, patience and perseverance. You must perform these sets of postures almost daily, for them to be truly effective.
The yoga asanas (poses) which are advised for reducing belly fat, have many other benefits too. They tone up the entire body, strengthen the back and abdominal muscles, and improve the elasticity of the spine. This leads to healing of any existing back pain. Since the exercises also incorporate breathing techniques of Pranayama, they encourage intake of more oxygen, which aids better circulation. This in turn improves the metabolic rate and more fat cells are burned up, especially near the abdominal region. Extra oxygen also raises the stamina and energy levels of the body.
These postures are very helpful for reducing belly fat:
- Wind Release Pose (Pavan muktasana)
- Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
- Sitting Spinal Twist (Matsyendrasana)
- Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
- Seated Forward Bend (Pashchimottanasana)
- Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana)
- Half Plough Pose (Ardha Halasana)
- Prone Cycling (Dwichkrikasan)
- Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)
- Lunging Salute Pose (Namaskarparsvakonasana)
Diet to reduce belly fat: A healthy and suitable diet is equally important to supplement the effort put in for the exercises. Eating large quantities of rich, oily and fatty food while you are exercising rigorously makes no sense. Try to cut out as much fat as possible from your food. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Try to eat them raw or slightly steamed.
