Yogic physical exercises may vary from a just few simple postures to an elaborate system of related postures. While the latter needs to be learnt and understood with the help of learning aids like literature and CDs or a teacher(an effective teaching aid or a well qualified teacher is essential), a few postures can be easily attempted and made a habit by those seeking to lose weight and others as well.

Some simple, easy to learn exercises

1. Whilst sitting with legs joined together, stretched your arms out parallel to each other so that as one would rotate a potter’s wheel, holding its handle with both the hands, one has to make the biggest possible circle without bending legs and arms or falling side ways. 20 rotations each clockwise and anticlockwise complete this exercise.

2. Sitting on one’s knees with folded legs and feet under one’s hips, one has to join the knuckles of his fists, half of the thumbs held by the encircling fingers and other half held close to one’s naval. Deep breath is taken while inflating the belly and then exhaled out deflating it. Breath is held at this point with fists held close to the belly. One has to bend over the fists till she/he feels the pressure of her/his fists in the deflated belly. One has to remain in this position as long as possible and then come back to the resting state. One can repeat it 4-5 times.

3. While lying down with arms stretched out along the body lift one leg and hold it at 45 degrees angle with the floor. One has to hold oneself in this posture as long as possible and then repeat the posture with the other leg. After 5-6 times with alternate legs one can repeat the same posture with both the legs raised simultaneously, again 5-6 times.

Yoga provides lasting weight loss

There are many postures and exercises - termed yogasanas - that can be used to restore natural shape and weight to the body. However, the breathing exercise - pranayama - by itself has been shown to be effective for weight loss as the results from a number studies reveal. There are records which are available indicating weight loss ranging from 3 kgs to 15 kgs over a period of month.

It is very important to mention here that what is good for shedding weight is as good to gain weight as well – those who are underweight find relaxation from the various Yogic exercises which helps restore their balance and asist them with weight gain.