How a Yoga Practice can Help with Weight Loss (it’s not what you think)

Most people in the west (for good reason) when they hear the word “yoga” they think it is synonymous with “stretching.”

Yes! And, this is not what I will be writing about in this article. 

I will be writing about the spiritual aspect of yoga alongside your fitness journey! Before you roll your eyes at the word “spiritual” just hear me out…

Many of my clients come to me with similar stories. A big event happens (divorce, a break up, a move, getting fired, a car accident). Life gets busy, or the person cannot get themselves out of a certain mindset; they may even get stuck in a negative thought loop. Years go by, and the weight begins to add on. Before they know it, they are 30-50lbs overweight or even more. 

What happened here? When I think of this scenario, the first thing that pops up in my mind is the resistance to change. The downward spiral never bounced back up! These clients went to the dark place, but never collected the lessons needed from there to spiral back up. Instead, they got caught in the current of a loop instead of a spiral! 

When we have tools in our spiritual tool box, we can withstand, feel, and ride out the ups and downs of life. When we are able to release control, even if it is just for a little bit, we can see the lessons and nourishment that reside before us in these times of transition and growth rather than getting trapped in the old narrative. 

We can see the old narrative as it is, and collect the lessons there from it rather than getting trapped in its tide. 

Yoga allows us to become skilled swimmers of life!

So, how can yoga help with your fitness when your life is in shambles (or seemingly so)?

An Event Happens…

When a big life event happens, it is important to be extra diligent in taking care of yourself. It is here we are most vulnerable, because all we want here is a sense of normalcy, we feel scared of the change, and we are in fear of what we may learn about ourselves. (all of which are valid!)

The yoga concept, Ahimsa comes up for me in helping with this stage. Which means non harming, non violence. 

Non violence is at the core of eastern philosophies. Without the foundation of non harming and violence, everything we do will be built on faulty ground. 

We all know and understand that harming another is bad. When we take Ahimsa a level further, it is a call to courage, balance, self love, and compassion for others.

The first step to non violence is finding courage. In the context of what I am discussing; with a big life event being the catalyst of weight gain, how do we use non violence as a spiritual tool to expand rather than shrink? 

Ahimsa asks us to find courage. In the dark places we may find ourselves, we discover our deepest insecurities, ruminating thoughts, and past mistakes. While we are here we can either get caught in the current of them or, find the courage to be there, to ask it, “what is it you would like me to learn?” “What is here that I can take back up with me to the light?” Ahimsa, allows us to stay with life, even when it gets challenging or confusing. Ahimsa gives us permission to learn from the moment, rather than run, numb, or distract ourselves from it. 

Ultimately, these valleys in life are deeper lessons into ourselves where we can draw nourishment, love, and support from. When we are courageous in how we uncover our deeper selves, we can excavate it and then bring it back with us into the light which helps us be more compassionate toward ourselves and others! It is an invitation to expand and open our hearts so that we have less room to be violent to ourselves and others. And rather than closing off to life, we keep opening, making for a more balanced recovery from the big life change, making us feel more empowered and confident! 

We will have our ups and downs, and we can even allow ourselves to linger in the dark places and the loops! As long as we are aware of what we are doing! It is the courage that Ahimsa brings to our toolbox that allows us to be gently spiraled back up to the surface where we can feel anew again, and not be afraid to start over. When we have yogic resources, (or any spiritual resource) we can be of better service to ourselves, our families, and our communities at large! 

If you are having a hard time with your weight loss journey, feel free to email me! Your frustrations, your challenges, and what has been on your mind. I would love to hear from you.