Hate the gym? Yoga is the workout for you

Yoga is not just a physical practice. It's a holistic lifestyle that combines mental and spiritual practices, too

- Shrenik Avlani

Yoga, owing to its multiple benefits, has become mainstream all over the world: runners and endurance athletes love yoga because it gives their overused muscles a proper deep stretch; strength training enthusiasts love it because yoga can help their load-bearing muscles achieve full range of motion; hybrid athletes love it; and those who hate gyms and exercise turn to yoga because it doesn't feel like a workout and also helps them feel centered.

It has, interestingly, also become the go-to routine for an entire segment of people in their 30s and 40s who have never been enthusiastic about working out but feel pressured to do so, thanks to greater awareness about the benefits of an active life. They believe that yoga will help improve their overall well-being and help them manage stress.

Most yoga instructors and teachers are quick to dismiss the idea that yoga is a route to weight loss. They, however, agree that it could help with weight management—or helping you stay within your current weight range.

Weight was never a concern in ancient yoga practice, says Dr. Karthik Kashyap, a Bengaluru-based yoga instructor who holds a Ph.D. in yoga studies from Mangalore University. "Yoga was primarily focused on maintaining good health of the seven dhatus or the seven fundamental bodily tissues. Yoga may not cause significant weight loss without dietary changes or additional exercise. It could, however, help you maintain your current weight by improving mindfulness, reducing stress, supporting metabolism and encouraging consistent physical activity," says Kashyap.