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The Link between Yoga, Mindfulness, and Weight Loss - Part 1
Across the Globe, nutritional and fitness experts are baffled at
the results of a study, conducted by researchers at the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dr. Alan R.
Kristal, the lead researcher of this study, remarked, "I was
very surprised with the results. Considering that people gain
about a pound a year during this time, this is pretty
substantial."
Shortly afterward, from nutritional and fitness experts in New
England, the first question I heard right away was, "How can
Yoga burn that many calories?" Soon to be followed by comments
from many fitness experts, across the United States, were
remarks like, "Most Yoga students don't practice vigorous styles
of Yoga."
While this is debatable, my questions to them were as follows,
"How many of you practice Yoga?" Have you ever heard of
Kundalini Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Yoga, Power
Yoga, Bikram Yoga, and more vigorous Hatha Yoga styles?
To make a small comparison, I can't really comment on the game
of Cricket, just because I am familiar with baseball. I can
appreciate the similarity and skill, but never had the
experience of playing the game. Also, just like Yoga, Cricket
requires time, practice, and patience, in order to acquire skill.
Now, instead of jumping to conclusions about Yoga from the
sidelines, my first suggestion is to join a Yoga class. This
would allow the top nutrition and fitness experts to experience
the many benefits that Yoga has to offer.
However, this will not be the case with all the experts. The
lack of male presence in a typical American Yoga class is
visibly apparent and worthy of a study in male insecurity. This
is a subject that I promise to address in a future article, but
let's get back to the point.
So, female fitness, nutrition, and medical experts will confirm
what most of them already know. Yoga is a complete health
maintenance system and has been for around 5,000 years.
When a Yoga student becomes serious about practicing on a
regular basis, this is a lifestyle change. Burning over 200
calories per hour in a gentle or Restorative Yoga class is not
the foundation of weight control. Most Yoga students engage in
some form of cross training.
Many of them walk, take other fitness classes, and are conscious
of what they eat. Being mindful of what you eat is a point that
the masses have lost. Eating nutritionally dense food, in
moderation, and being mindful at the dinner table is a recipe
for a lifetime of weight control.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the author:
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in
RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He
teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a
Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a
Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Written by: Paul M. Jerard Jr.
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