It can be strange to think that yoga, which is not exactly a high-intensity exercise, can help with your fitness and weight loss. While it’s not the most conventional method for weight loss, that doesn’t mean it can’t have some surprising benefits. But possibly not in the way you might think.

If you love yoga, or you have been thinking about giving it a try, then you may be surprised to find out about the following.

It Can Help You Burn Calories

Everyone knows that a calorie deficit is essential for weight loss, which is why burning calories and eating less is usually a recipe for success when it comes to weight loss. In the traditional sense, yoga doesn’t often make you burn a lot of calories. However, it can help you burn some.

Active yoga classes, such as power yoga, for example, make you move far more than traditional yoga. Restorative yoga, too, has seen some promising results for overweight women who may struggle with different exercises.

It Helps You Sleep Better

The practice of yoga promotes better and deeper sleep, which is promising if you often run on empty throughout the day. So, how does that relate to weight loss?

If you participate in yoga sessions and achieve better sleep, then you can potentially enjoy weight loss at the same time. There are plenty of studies out there that show those with regular sleep patterns were able to lose more weight than those with less or restricted sleep.

It Makes You More Mindful

Your frame of mind counts for a lot when you are trying to improve your fitness and lose weight. Mindfulness and awareness are significant components of yoga, enhancing your level of consciousness.

Some studies show that those who develop mindfulness can resist unhealthy foods that contribute to weight gain. While it’s not a golden ticket for weight loss, it is providing the correct foundations for it.

Stretching Techniques

Jumping right into exercise and fitness can be an excellent way to put yourself on the path to weight loss, but it can also be risky. Without stretching your muscles, you put yourself at risk of damage that could see you unable to exercise for days. Yoga can teach you the correct stretching techniques to be able to exercise safely.

Yoga may not be able to help you lose weight directly, but indirectly is still beneficial as well. If you have thought about joining a yoga class in the past, then why not now? Enjoy the social environment as well as helpful techniques for self-care in the future. You’ll be on the path to weight loss in the right mindset before long.