A Little Yoga for a Big Benefit

ould you spare 30 minutes a week? I think we could all find the time for a 30-minute yoga session once a week-especially if it could help us lose weight!

In a recent study of over 15,000 men and women in their fifties, researchers found an association between people who practiced yoga and minimal middle-age spread. Beginning at age 45, individuals who devoted just a half an hour to a weekly yoga practice for at least four years were able to lose an average of five pounds if they were overweight. Those at a healthy weight gained just 9.5 pounds over that same time period. People who did not practice yoga at all, but may have done other exercise or none at all, gained an average of 13 pounds over those four years. The yogis also seemed to engage in more physical activity in general than the non-yogis. Furthermore, those who practiced yoga ate almost 50% more fruits and vegetables than the other participants in the study, all of which may help explain why they were generally healthier than nonpractitioners.

Thirty minutes of a gentle yoga practice does not burn enough calories to explain the weight loss or slowed weight gain. Instead, the study seems to demonstrate how yoga can bring mindfulness to all aspects of people's lives. The yogis in the study reported feeling more connected and in tune with their bodies. Perhaps this awareness makes it easier to choose healthier, more nourishing foods, to eat less, and to stop eating when you're full.

Thirty minutes once a week is not a big time commitment, but apparently there are big benefits to be gained. Yoga is a wonderful medium for sedentary people who want to ease into being more active. For those who are already active, more strenuous forms and higher levels of yoga can help you achieve the sense of wellbeing that yoga imparts.