1) Practice yoga in a quiet room without mirrors or reflection for you to see yourself in. It is not important for you to know what your movements look like and you should not be thinking about the imperfections of your body, but do remain attentive to the inner feelings and thoughts you are experiencing. This allows you to enter your own mind and let go of the outside world during your session. A peaceful mind leads to a positive experience during and after yoga.
2) As you change positions from one asana to the next, tune in to the movements you are making, especially the minor ones. By recognizing small movements, you are training your mind to observe details that you normally disregard. The reason why so many people overeat is because they forget to pay attention to the details of food: the calories, the amount they are consuming, and whether the ingredients of a certain food are helpful or harmful to weight loss.
3) While you are holding the postures, come to a point in your workout where you can challenge your body without hurting yourself. Yoga is not a competitive sport, it is a science to follow so one can improve their life. In order to increase your build and endurance you must push yourself, but not to the point of exhaustion or pain. The goal is to feel great after your yoga session, and overexertion during your workout will not result in this. As you make improvements in yoga by reaching goals - conquering difficult asanas, meditating for a longer amount of time - you will realize that weight loss may be easier if you set goals for yourself with your eating habits.
4) Yoga teaches yogi to respect their bodies by paying attention to the signals it gives them. When you become tired, allow yourself to rest. A few minutes of relaxation or a water break may be all that you need, but give your body what it asks of you.
5) Speak quietly or silently to yourself when you practice yoga. Learn to positively acknowledge your endeavors. Encourage your body to pull forward, and be grateful when it does. Yoga should not be taken for granted, nor should anything else you have in your life. Show yourself that this practice is good for you by recognizing your strength and positive thoughts.
6) When taking an instructional yoga class, mingle with others before yoga begins. When you are comfortable being around certain people, you learn not to hold back or feel self-conscious in any way. Attend your yoga class with enthusiasm, and try to clear all thoughts from your mind before beginning. Some people prefer to practice their pranayama before entering the yoga studio.
7) Purchase a yoga mat and comfortable attire to wear while doing yoga, whether it be with a class or alone. There are varying degrees of thickness in mats, and it is best to choose one that suits your individual needs. Wearing comfortable clothing enables you to feel great about your body while moving and sets the tone for a proper workout. If your clothing becomes a distraction to you, it takes away from the yoga experience.
8) Choose only to learn from a highly motivated yoga instructor that offers you insight and constructive criticism during class. If you are ever uncomfortable in a yoga class, attend a class at a different time or with another instructor, or practice yoga at home.
9) Look into the types of yoga that give you a vigorous workout, such as Power Yoga and Cy-Yo which combines yoga with cycling techniques. Focus on poses that boost the metabolism, including back bending poses, forward bend poses, inversions, and twisting poses. Often times, thyroid issues or hormonal imbalances are the reasons behind stubborn weight that seems impossible to rid the body of. The poses that promote hormone balance and a healthy thyroid are the Camel Pose, the Rabbit Pose, the Bridge Pose, the Plow Pose, and the Shoulder Stand.
10) Yoga is most effective as a tool for weight loss when one eats a yogic diet. Traditional yogi abstain from eating meat and consume raw fruits and vegetables, plenty of water, and nutritional low calorie foods. It is difficult to give up tasty foods that we often eat, but if they are unhealthy you are doing your body a disservice. You can do a search on my website for a yogic diet or yoga recipes that may help you onto the right path for eating healthier foods.
