Those who practice yoga tend to avoid junk food and overeating ,a study suggests.
The gentle stretches and meditation of yoga system may not burn calories like a running . But a new study suggests it might help people keep weight off in middle age.
Researchers found that overweight people in their 50s who regularly practiced yoga lost about five pounds over 10 years, while a group in the same age range gained about 13 ½ pounds over the same period.
Middle-aged people of normal weight generally put on pounds over 10 years, but those who did yoga gained less weight than those who didn't practice yoga.
''Except for very strenuous yoga practices, we may not really burn enough energy to make any difference in terms of weight Instead, yoga helps keep people more in tune with their bodies and eating habits and aware of bad habits, such as eating because of stress, boredom or depression.
The researchers collected data from 15,500 people between the ages of 53 and 57 who were asked about exercise, weight, health and diet histories. The findings, published in the July/August issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, showed that those who practiced yoga tended to avoid junk food and overeating because they wanted to respect their bodies.
Gary Miller, who studies obesity and weight loss at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, called the research encouraging, but said it's difficult to prove a direct influence from a single study.
Most yoga fans say weight loss is just an added bonus from the disciplined form of meditation, controlled breathing and prescribed postures.
Catholic schools urged to introduce yoga:
New Delhi: Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss urged Catholic-run schools to take the initiative in introducing yoga and AIDS awareness activities.
"I would urge the Catholic leadership to introduce yoga in their schools, AIDS awareness for children during their most vulnerable age, 13 to 29, and compulsory physical activities on a regular basis," Ramadoss said while launching the new health and HIV/AIDS policy of the Indian Catholic Church here.
Ramadoss, who applauded the Christian community's contribution in the health sector, said 60 percent of the budget money could be saved if health awareness among the public increased.
"We have successfully controlled many communicable diseases except AIDS. Now non-communicable diseases such as diabetic, cardio vascular problems, mental illness are going to pose a major threat for us," he said.
The minister said these diseases could be eliminated if yoga and physical activities were introduced in the curriculum.
Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes also agreed with him.
Speaking from personal experience - the minister himself is a yoga practitioner - Fernandes said: "If you want to come down on the health budget, I must tell you, yoga should be made part of the curriculum. No child will get any health problem if he/she does yoga."
Jamshedpur: At two-and-a-half-years of age, Ankita Paul is a celebrity in her own right, at least in her locality.
This tiny tot has a number of yoga postures on her fingertips. From pranayam, mayurasana to shirshashana young Ankita has left her neighbours, who drop in every now and then at her residence in suburban Harharguttu, surprised.
What’s more, Ankita, the daughter of Achinto and Chaitali Paul, learnt the ropes of yoga on her own after growing a keen interest in the art about only eight months ago.
“It took her some weeks to excel in various postures,” said Paul, a former employee of Tata Steel, who also added that Ankita’s interest in yoga grew by watching him perform every evening.
The infant knows over 15 postures of yoga, including mandukashan, anulambh-vilambh, udyant, bhambri, kapal bhantivajrasan et all. Like her father, she is also a big fan of Baba Ramdev, the noted yoga exponent.