Metabolism is the process by which your body converts food into energy. Yoga’s breathing techniques improve one’s oxygen intake and warm up the body. This increases the speed of metabolism. Here is a list of the best yoga poses to boost metabolism that you should try.
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Yoga Poses to Boost Metabolism
1. Bow pose
The Bow Pose boosts your metabolism and your energy. In this pose, the abdominal organs bear the weight of the body and get a gentle massage, which stimulates blood flow to the organs.
It also improves digestion and the detoxification process. Plus, it helps combat stress and fatigue, while strengthening your abdominal and back muscles.
- Begin by lying on your stomach with your chin on the floor, your feet hip-width apart, and your arms by your sides.
- Inhale, bend your knees and try to grab your ankles with your hands.
- Slowly raise your chest and pull your legs up and back.
- Keep your head facing straight ahead.
- Hold the pose and take deep breaths for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Exhale as you lower your ankles and chest back to the floor.
- Repeat 8 to 10 times.
- Finally, relax and continue to take long, deep breaths for 1 minute or so.
2. Shoulder stand
One of the best yoga poses to boost metabolism is shoulder stand. This pose stimulates the thyroid gland by compressing the throat and with that increases our metabolism.
- Lie on your back with your legs straight up towards the ceiling.
- Engage your core to lift your hips off the ground to come onto your shoulder blades while reaching the legs straight up towards the ceiling.
- Keep your feet pointed and your toes flexed and aim for one straight line from your toes to your shoulder blades.
- Bring the hands to the small of your back and make sure not to turn your head or neck.
- Breathe into your throat and hold the pose for 1 to 3 minutes.
3. Twisted chair
Bending your body in unusual ways wakes up your internal organs and aids in digestion. A good digestive system is the backbone of good metabolism.
- Stand with your feet together.
- Bend your knees and lower your hips as if you were sitting in a chair far behind you.
- Bring your palms together in front of your chest.
- Rotate your spine and bring your right elbow to your left knee.
- Hold for 30 seconds and switch sides.
4. Tree pose
This powerful standing balance pose is good for your metabolism as well as immunity.
The Tree Pose helps you use all the muscles in your legs, engages your core, and promotes poise and calmness. It also helps you gain focus, concentration, and coordination.
- Stand erect with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Your spine and neck should be straight and chin drawn in.
- Slowly place your right foot high up on your left thigh.
- Keep your left leg straight and balance yourself on one leg.
- On an inhalation, raise your arms over your head.
- Maintain the pose for 10 to 20 seconds.
- Exhale, and slowly bring down your hands and release your right leg.
- Repeat the process with the other leg.
- Do this 10 to 12 times per session.
5. Seated forward fold
While forward folds are generally thought to be an amazing stretch for our hamstrings — and they are — the biggest advantage of forwarding folds is that they increase our digestive fire. The combination of breathing deeply with the compression of the abdominal organs really stokes the digestive fire and boosts our metabolism.
- Sit on your mat with your legs stretched out in front of you, feet flexed and spine straight.
- Lift your arms up, while keeping the shoulders away from the ears and with a straight spine for as long as you can hold it, fold forward over your legs, finding length in your spine rather than just rounding down.
- You can hold onto your calves, ankles, or feet depending on your flexibility. If your hamstrings are very tight, bend your knees so you can relax your upper body on your thighs and slowly work on straightening your legs.
- Hold Seated Forward Fold for 1 to 3 minutes.
6. Crescent lunge pose
This asana speeds up metabolism by increasing the heart rate. It’s also good for strengthening the legs and opening up the pelvic area, making it most beneficial for those who sit long hours at work.
- Stand on the mat. Step back with one leg and keep the heel lifted with weight on the ball of the foot.
- Position the other leg far ahead so that when you bend your knee, it stays over the foot not extending past it.
- Balancing on the ball of the foot at the back, lower your body down, and then lift your arms up towards the sky.
- Look straight ahead or up if your neck feels comfortable.
- Stay in the posture for 15-30 seconds, then relax and change legs.
