Yoga Positions To Eliminate Belly Fat

Yoga is the ancient Sanskrit term meaning "to yoke" or "to unite," referring to yoga's goal of uniting body and mind. According to the textbook, "The Science and Philosophy of Teaching Yoga & Yoga Therapy," if eliminating belly fat is your goal, then you should choose yoga poses that focus on strengthening the core and on taking deep, diaphragmatic breaths.

Plank Pose

Plank pose is designed to strengthen the entire core, which is comprises the lower back and abdominal muscles, as stated in the textbook "Yoga Anatomy." It resembles the position of doing a push-up, but engages your triceps in a different way than a traditional push-up. Begin on all fours and walk your legs out until they are fully extended and your wrists are directly under your shoulders. Keep your hips in line with your head, neck and shoulders and your abdominals tightly contracted to protect your lower back. To change the intensity of your plank, switch from being on your hands to your forearms, but keep your spine long and your hips from sinking.

Twisted Chair Pose

Twists and rotations of the torso are beneficial for cleansing the digestive system and helping the body rid itself of stored toxins. Ridding yourself of these toxins helps eliminate excess belly fat. Begin standing with your feet at hip-width distance and your arms hanging alongside your torso. Bend your knees, keeping them behind your ankles, and bring your hands to prayer position in front of your chest. With your spine long, tailbone tucked in and abdominals engaged, bring your left elbow across your right knee, twisting your torso to the right as you hold in twisted chair for at least five breaths. Come back to center and bring your right elbow across your left knee to rotate your torso to the left.

Boat Pose

Boat pose is designed to work and strengthen the core muscles, targeting all three abdominal muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis and obliques. Begin seated on the floor with your knees bent, feet planted on the ground and your hands placed on the ground. With a straight spine, lean back onto your sit-bones and lift your feet up until they are a few inches off the ground. Extend your arms out in front of you and engage your abdominals to keep you balanced and stable as you hold in boat pose for at least five to 10 breaths. For more intensity, extend your legs straight.