The Benefits of Bariatric Yoga

Monday, 01 March 2010 16:47

Practicing yoga after weight loss surgery is a great way to help speed up weight loss while also decreasing stress and gaining flexibility. Many post-op bariatric patients enjoy yoga because they find that it not only increases their physical strength, but they also receive mental benefits as well.

At Home or the Gym

It is a great exercise that can be done at home with the help of DVDs or at a gym in a group setting. Practicing yoga at home is a great way to exercise without feeling intimidated or self-conscious. Making sure that posture and position are correct maximizes yoga benefits. Yogis emphasize listening to your body and not over-doing poses, in order to avoid injury.

Combat Stress From Changing Lifestyle

Yoga is a great substitute for food when it comes to handling stress. Because weight loss surgery is a total lifestyle overhaul that will take its toll on everyone who receives it, yoga is a great solution to stress and anxiety. Being able to spend 30-90 minutes in a quiet yoga class where everyone is concentrating on their own movements can really help a bariatric patient focus on themselves and their own changing body. In addition, private time away from family, friends, and roommates can also help decrease the stress levels that come with every day life.

Low-Impact Strength and Flexibility

Because most patients did not have a regular weight loss regime before receiving LAP-BAND or other type of procedure, it may be difficult to complete long intervals on cardio machines or routines with free weights. Yoga is a healthy medium-- it is a low impact workout that can get heart rates up without heavy cardiovascular exercise. Yoga can also help build strength and flexibility.

More Welcoming Environment (instructors and philosophy)

Many bariatric patients enjoy yoga because they find that the overall environment of the class may be less intimidating that other group fitness classes. Oftentimes, instructors are more willing to help participants with the correct poses or posture than in other high-impact, fast-paced classes.

In addition to more helpful instructors, the overall philosophy of yoga should be very intriguing to to bariatric patients. Accepting and loving yourself, as well as finding peace in every day life, is definitely a mantra that's easy to embrace, especially while losing large amounts of weight and trying to begin living a healthy lifestyle.