You must have tried different types of fitness mantras and workouts, but that stubborn belly fat just refuses to go away.
How about embracing yoga in your workout plan that would target your abs and reduce belly fats in a more functional and efficient way? Just know these simple yet effective yoga poses to relieve stress and sculpt a flat and sexy belly like never before.
1. Kapal Bhati (skull shining)
Get started on your journey with a simple breathing technique. It is one of the favourite asanas for many to burn belly fat naturally. Also, known as skull shining technique, it improves the metabolism rate, digestion and thus, helps in reducing weight effectively.
Here’s how to do:
- Sit on the floor with your legs folded and spine straight.
- Close your eyes, place your right palm on right knee and left palm on left knee.
- Start inhaling and exhaling slowly with all your force so that your stomach sinks inside out.
- Repeat this cycle for around 15 times (in case you are a beginner).
2. Viparita Shalabhasana (superman pose)
The superman pose stretches and strengthens muscles of abdomen and lower back. This is an excellent posture and makes a big difference in controlling the shape of your belly.
Here’s how to do:
- Lie on your stomach with your feet touching each other.
- Now stretch your arms in front of you lifting your chest, shoulders, arms and legs off the floor.
- Take a deep breath and have all the attention on the stretch.
- You will feel the pull at both the ends.
- Ensure that elbows and knees are not bent.
- Now exhale and slowly lower down your raised arms, chest and legs.
3. Camel Hinge (Utrasana)
A great effective treatment to tone up the abs, improve digestion and respiration!
Here’s how to do:
- Kneel on the floor with your knees hip-width apart
- Make sure your toes are tucked under.
- Stretch your arms straight in front of your chest with palms facing the floor.
- Start hinging backwards tilting the shoulders back towards the feet to make an arch.
- Pause and focus as your chest opens up.
- Slowly return to the initial position and repeat.
4. Tree pose (Vrikshasana)
One of the best poses to trim those inches off your belly. While performing this, you need to balance out your entire body, which makes you experience the strain on your belly, thus giving you a firmer abdomen.
Here’s how to do:
- Stand straight with hips and shoulders aligned.
- Tighten your core muscles and shift all your weight to your left foot.
- Place your right heels on the inner thighs of your left leg so that the right knee turns out.
- Inhale and lift your arms up overhead.
- Exhale and hold this position for atleast five deep breaths.
5. Bow pose (Dhanurasana)
This yoga pose not only helps in losing weight, but also stretches and exerts pressure on your stomach. Undoubtedly, it is an excellent belly massage that fights constipation and accelerates digestion.
Here’s how to do:
- Lie flat on stomach with arms at the sides and legs stretched.
- Slowly bend the knees upward and take your arms back to hold the ankles or feet.
- Hold on to the position while breathing normally.
- Exhale and return to the normal position.
- Repeat the pose for 5-8 times.
6. Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)
Yet another yoga exercise to burn belly fat. This helps in digestion and elimination of toxins from the body. Majorly, cobra pose cures abdominal disorders and removes stress.
Here’s how to do:
- Simply lie down on your stomach with knees of both legs touching each other
- Lift your head, neck, shoulder and chest upwards
- The entire weight of your upper body will come on your hands and thighs.
- During the asana, try to take your head back as much as possible.
- Slowly bring your head to the ground.
- Repeat the cycle for 5 times daily.
7. Warrior pose (Veerbhadrasana)
This yoga pose stretches and strengthens the abdominal muscles, cures constipation and aids digestion. It also requires lot of balance as a result gives your tummy a great workout.
Here’s how to do:
- Stand straight first with hands on the sides.
- Now, spread your legs wide-apart and take your left feet out behind.
- Other foot will turn inward to make a 45 degree angle.
- Go forward on your left knee making a 90 degree angle; and let the other leg stretch properly.
- Now go into a namaste position, taking our arms up above your head.
- Look up, arch your back a bit and stretch.
- Hold on for 10 seconds and repeat the same with other foot/side.
8. Hip lift (lotus hip lift)
A challenging pose where your abs do much of work besides your arm, and the core never gets a break all through the practise.
Here’s how to do:
- Use your palms into the floor to raise your body up.
- Take your body a few inches up the floor.
- Try to lift your body keeping pressure on arms and hands.
