*Let me preface this by saying that I myself have done Yoga as an exercise only.  If they say to meditate....I do so on the Lord.

You already know that yoga can help improve your flexibility and make you stronger. Now there's another potential bonus of doing yoga — it may help you lose weight! It's true! A study in a recent issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed that overweight people who were middle aged (45 to 55 years old) and did yoga regularly lost more weight over a ten-year period than those who didn't do yoga. At the same time, normal-weight yoga devotees gained fewer pounds over this time than those who were yoga-free. Why? Researchers guess that it may be because yoga indirectly encourages healthier eating and exercise habits by making you aware of your body. It's all connected!

Though the researchers say that more studies are needed to prove this yoga weight-loss connection, it never hurts to get into the yoga habit. Whether it helps you shed those pounds or not, it definitely contributes to a healthy lifestyle! So stretch and practice those postures — your body will thank you!