Slim and strengthen your midsection with low impact, big-results yoga
It’s your secret weapon in the war against belly fat: calm, soothing yoga Though gentle on the joints, it’s still challenging enough to strengthen and tone your abs and burn calories. In fact, yoga may be one of the most effective workouts for fighting the stubborn stores of fat that tend to develop after age 40. Why? Studies show that yoga lowers levels of stress hormones like cortisol and increases insulin sensitivity — a signal to your body to burn fat as fuel rather than store it as fat.
Another belly bonus: A few sessions on the mat can help you curb emotional eating. ” Yoga relieves stress, so you may be less likely to mindlessly stuff yourself,” says Alan R. Kristal, Dr. PH, a yoga practictioner and researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. “It also helps you become more aware of your body, so you’re more sensitive to feeling full from overeating.”
More ways to defy your age with yoga:
Ward off crow’s feet and frown lines:
Yoga helps relax your facial muscles. The less tension you hold in your face, the few wrinkles you’ll develop.
Sleep like a baby:
An Indian study found that daily practice may increase levels of the brain’s sedative, melatonin, which decreases as you age.
Keep your hips healthy:
Like stretching, yoga helps keep your muscles supple and flexible, and your body less prone to injury.
The Workout:
Cat-Cow-Pointer Sequence:
Start this sequence in Cat pose, on all fours with your back rounded and abs pulled in. Hold for a few seconds, and then press abs down toward floor, arching back into Cow. Repeat once. Next, raise left arm in front of you and extend right leg out behind you. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then round your back upward, bringing left elbow in toward right knee. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then extend and bring in for a second set. Repeat with the other side for two more sets.
