Top 24 Yoga For Weight Loss Asanas:

1. Setu Bandh (Bridge pose):

For doing this, you have to lie down on your back and bend your knees in such a way that your feet rests on the floor. Now the distance between your feet & buttocks should be the same as your hands. Now, try to lift your body in the upward direction. Try doing this 5-10 times & then release. This asana gives a good massage to your thighs & lower back.

2. Mandukasan:

Sit down on the floor in Vajrasana position. Now make fists with both your hands & place them on your stomach in such a way that the joint touches the navel. Press both the fists against your abdomen. Now try to touch the ground with your forehead. Try bending downwards as much as you can. Hold this position for 20 seconds & then release. Practicing this yoga asanadaily will help in reducing belly fat.

3. Dhanurasana:

This is also known as Bow pose. All you have to do here is to lie down on the floor with your belly touching the ground. Keep your hands besides your chest. Now take a deep breath and lift your legs & thighs up. At the same time, you have to try to catch your legs with your hands. Remain in this position for 30 seconds & release

4. Shalbasana:

Lie on your belly with your hands resting below your thighs while forehead and chin are resting on the floor. Now try to raise your left leg up to 10 inches. Keep your leg straight. Do not bend your knees. After that, try doing the same with your right leg too. At the final stage, do this with both your legs.

5. Chakki Chalan (Grinding pose):

This is again a very effective exercise & asana for reducing belly fat. For this, you have to sit in a comfortable position & spread your legs straight in front of you. Both your legs should touch each other. Do not bend your knees. After that join your hands & move it in circular motion over your legs. This gives a good massage & stretch to your stomach, hands & legs. Do it 10 times in clockwise position & 10 times in anti-clockwise position. Release slowly.

6. Nauka Chalan (Boat pose):

For this, you have to sit down in a straight yet comfortable position. Spread your legs straight in front of you. Your legs need to be joined to each other. Do not bend your knees. Place your hands besides your body. Now try to move your hands forward & backward. Also, move your body in the same manner as you move your hands. They should move as if you are riding a boat. Do it 10 times in clockwise position & 10 times in anti-clockwise position. Release.

7. Pavanmuktasana (Wind-releasing pose):

Lie down on your back in straight position. Now lift up your left leg & bend it from the knee. Now, try to press your left leg towards your stomach. Try to touch your chin to your knee. For this, you will have to lift up your head a little. Try doing the same with right leg as well. Once you successfully do this, try doing the same activity with both the legs at the same time. This gives a good stretch to your stomach & helps in reducing unnecessary fats.

8. Ardha Matsyendrasana:

Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Bend your knees, put your feet on the floor and then slide your left foot under your right leg. Lay the outside of the left leg on the floor. Step the right foot over the left leg and stand it on the floor outside your left hip. Pressing right hand against the floor just behind your right buttock, and set your left upper arm on the outside of your right thigh near the knee. The right knee will point directly up at the ceiling. Here, you have to exhale & turn towards the inner side of your right thigh. Remain in this position for about 30 seconds & then release. Try doing this the other way too.

9. Vakrasana:

For this, you have to sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. Now, keep your right hand on your left hand on your left knee. Try to twist your body in the left direction. Do not forget to keep your posture straight. Try doing this in the right direction too.

10. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose):

In this pose, you have to position yourself into a curved pose which resembles a snake. Sleep on the ground in such a way that your forehead touches the ground. Now place your palms under your shoulders in a manner that it gets tucked close to your body. Stretch your legs in a way that the top of your feet presses down into the mat. Now inhale & slowly press your hands to stretch your arms, sending your chest upwards. This pose looks like a snake & hence it is called the cobra pose or the snake pose.

[ Read: Anusara Yoga Poses ]

11. Padahastasana:

Stand straight with your feet touching each other. Now exhale and bend downwards from your hips to touch your feet with your fingers. Keep your arms stretched in the whole process. Now slowly rise upwards and go back to the first position.

12. Trikonasana:

Stand straight, separate your feet wide apart. Now turn your right foot out to 90 degrees & left foot out to 15 degrees. Ensure that you body’s weight is balanced equally on both feet. Now bend your body to the right side, downward from the hips. Make sure that you keep your waist straight, thus allowing your left hand to come up in the air and your right hand comes down and touches the ground.  Try to keep both the arms in a straight line. Repeat on the other side. Trikonasana stretches the sides of your body. It tones your arms & thighs. It also improves the flexibility of your body.

13. Paschimottanasana:

Sit down on the floor with both legs extended forward in front of you. Stretch your arms and body forward and try to touch your toes. Do not bend your knees & try to reach your toes. This asana gives a good stretch to your hands, arms & your spine. Also, it reduces extra belly fat & keeps your healthy & free from diseases.

14. Shirshasana:

While doing this asana, you have to first sit down on the floor in Vajrasana position. Now place your hands on the ground in such a manner that you will be able to hold your left arm with the right hand & the right arm with the left hand. Now try to place the crown of your head in between your palms. Now try to take your legs slightly upwards. This is known as Ardha Shirshasana. Try balancing it this way. After you successfully learn balancing, then try to move your legs in the upward direction in a straight line with your body. Remain in this position for 30 seconds & release. Always remember, the right way to come out from any asana is the way you enter into it.

15. Sarvangasana:

This is also known as shoulder stand. Here, you have to first lie on a mat & rest your back on the floor. Then you have to try lifting your legs in the upward direction. You can even take the support of your hands for the same. Try to rest your hands on your back so that they can help you remain steady in the position. Now, once your legs are up in the air, try to bring them in a straight alignment with your body & stretch it as much as you can. Stay in this position for 30 seconds & then release.

16. Halasana:

When you are steady in the Sarvangasana pose, try and bring your legs downwards from over your head. Again here, rest the palm of your hands on your back in order to support your position.

17. Tadasana(Mountain pose):

This is popularly known as mountain pose. Here you have to stand straight on a mat. Now, you have to put your hands up & stretch it as much as you can. Try to keep your hands straight. This gives a good massage to your hands, back, your spine and the whole body. This is the most recommended asana for increasing height as well.

18. Warrior pose:

This asana is popularly known as ‘Virbhadrasana’. For this, you need to stand straight and then move your feet about 4 inches apart from each other.  Raise your arms up in the air & stretch them. Now turn your right leg to 90 degrees on the right side & accordingly turn your left leg in the same direction & stretch it. Keep your back straight. Look upwards towards your hands facing the sky. Repeat this asana 10 times daily. It is an effective weight loss technique.

19. Uttitha Hasta Padangustana:

Stand straight in Tadasana position. Now try to lift up your left leg in the upward direction. Now try to touch the ankle of your left leg with your left hand. Try it the other way too. Do not stretch beyond your capacity. This asana gives a good massage to your spine, lower back, hips, legs & hands. It also helps in reducing the fats in these areas of the body.

20. Garudasana:

Stand straight in Tadasana position. Bend your knees a little. Now try to lift up your left leg & wrap it around your right leg. Do the same with your hands. Now try balancing in this position. Remain steady for 10-15 seconds & release. This asana helps in reducing extra fats in the thighs & your arms.

21. Vasisthasana:

Stand in the Ardha Mukha Shvanasana position. Now try to lift up your right leg in the air. Try to touch your right leg with your right hand. The left hand & the left leg should touch the ground. Your face should be in the upward direction facing the sky. Repeat 10 times every day.

22. Ardha Chandrasana:

Stand in a straight position. Spread your legs wide apart. Now turn your right foot outside in a 90 degree position. Try to touch your hands, palm to the ground in a straight line with your feet. Now, lift up your left leg & try to stretch it up in the air as much as you can. Do not stretch beyond your capacity. Now lift up your right hand & stretch it up in the air. Remain steady for 30 seconds & release.

23. Utkatasana (Chair pose):

Stand in Tadasana position. Stretch your hands up in the air. Now bend your knees & try to keep your thighs in a parallel line with the floor in the same manner in which you sit on a chair. Stay in this position for 30 seconds & release. This will help you in reducing fats in the arms & thighs.

24. Side-bend asana:

Stand in a straight position. Keep your hands beside your body & leave it loose. Now simply turn towards your right side. Do not put any pressure on your body or your hands. Just stretch from your side as much as you can. Try it in both the directions. This will help you get rid of the unnecessary fat on your side.

These yoga postures for weight loss can undeniably help in reducing your extra fat & make you look slimmer. But it is more effective when done along with pranayama. Pranayama is a breathing exercise which involves controlling your breath. While practicing pranayama, follow the below mentioned steps:

Take a deep breath. Now close your right nostril with the thumb of the right hand. Inhale with the left nostril & exhale with the same. Try breathing with both the nostrils one by one. Always inhale slowly. This helps in clearing the nasal passage. Those having breathing problems have to consult a doctor before practicing this. One can also practice anulom-vilom which means alternate breathing exercise.

Yoga is considered as an effective weight loss option as it is a mixture of warm-up exercises, asanas & breathing techniques. Pranayama increases metabolic rate and hence, burns your calories at a much faster rate. It generates heat in your body & also increases blood circulation.

Also, diet is an important component while practicing asanas & pranayam for weight loss. One of the best aspects of yoga is that, diet is an ingredient of it. After you have lunch, you can practice yoga after a gap of 4 hours. One needs to have control on his/her food intake. One has to follow a specific diet plan which will help in reducing unnecessary calories. Yoga & breathing exercises should always be performed on empty stomach.

After you finish with the weight loss yoga session, always chant ‘Aum’ or ‘OM’ 11 times loudly. The vibration that it creates gives you a pleasant feeling & keeps your body rejuvenated throughout the day. Also, this chanting can be done in the beginning of a yoga class along with prayers & mantras. It gives a spiritual touch to your yoga session.

Do try these above mentioned tips, asanas & breathing exercises for weight loss. Practicing few of these asanas & breathing exercises daily can help you stay fit & free from illness. Happy practicing! Do leave us a comment too.