Obesity And Yoga
Ideally, Yoga should be performed everyday; however, for people suffering from obesity, a minimum of two to three times a week is recommended. This is because initially, the body will take time to adapt to the Asanas (Postures), and hence, doing Yoga everyday might be detrimental, especially for beginners. For those who are unable to practice Yoga every day, increasing the number of repetitions for each exercise might be able to compensate for the days when Yoga is not performed. To lose weight more effectively, one could practice Yoga three times a week and combine it with some form of cardiovascular or aerobic exercises on the other days.
Once there has been some weight loss and the body muscles have become more flexible, Yoga should be performed every day. You can start by increasing a day, every week. Yoga exercises can also be performed at faster speeds, similar to exercises, ensuring that weight loss occurs quickly without the stress injuries that are incurred when doing other forms of exercise.
Yoga postures for obesity management
One of the most effective Yogic postures for obesity management is the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation). A good regime could include practicing the Sun Salutation every day, beginning at ten repetitions and gradually increasing the number to twenty four. The speed at which this exercise is performed could also be gradually increased. On the days when you perform the Sun Salutation, you could also practice Yogic breathing techniques, collectively known as the Pranayama (Breath of Life). All the remaining exercises in your weight loss regime could be practiced three times a week. In this manner, by spreading your Yoga exercises over the week, you will be able to achieve good results, even if you are unable to do a complete Yoga session every day.
If you want to see any benefits of Yoga, the minimum number of days is one. However, I recommend that you begin by practicing Yoga at least twice a week in order to really begin to benefit from your practice. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that Yoga is meant to be a daily practice and everyone is encouraged to make a little time in their day, preferably early mornings, to practice it in addition to their extra classes.
Regardless, eventually, the number of times Yoga should be performed depends on the individual and his or her present health conditions. It is advisable to consult a doctor as well as a Yoga instructor in order to come up with a schedule that is most suited to you and your body.
