But yoga can also be extremely effective for weight loss and "getting lean."
Beth Shaw is the president and founder of the world-renowned YogaFit™ training systems. In her latest book, Yogalean: Poses and Recipes to Promote Weight Loss and Vitality for Life, Beth explains her concept of lean consciousness.
What exactly is lean consciousness?
When you use techniques such as yoga postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness, you can create a state of awareness so when you look at food, you know how it's going to affect your body. Eventually, you come to make only good choices that support your overall health... physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically.
For example, when you look at a beautiful chocolate cupcake with delicious-looking icing and yummy decorations, you know it's going to taste good.
But, when you develop lean consciousness, you realize that 20 minutes later your heart might start racing, you'll have a bit of a sugar shock, you'll feel fatigued, you might get a headache, and you're going to have a rebound effect where you'll want more sugar... most likely within the next hour.
If you follow your lean consciousness, you'll avoid the cupcake altogether or at the very most just have a tiny taste.
Beth also shares some of her "Seven Steps to Yogalean."
- Believe that you can transform your body. If you don't have the firm belief, you won't get very far.
- Get comfortable being uncomfortable; learn to love movement.
- Engage in the process, and the process will take care of itself.
You should also incorporate free weights into your weekly routines. This will help prevent osteoporosis, boost your fat-burning potential, and will empower you.
Finally, there are different styles and poses of yoga that you can select from, depending on your need or how you're feeling. There are poses for energy, getting lean, anti-aging, relaxation, and immunity, just to name a few.
Listen in as Beth joins Lisa to share more about lean consciousness, as well as some recipe ideas from her latest book.