Yoga postures can be a great resource when trying to lose weight, tone up and improve flexibility and one great benefit of yoga is that it is exceptionally easy to undertake regular practice sessions at home and the advantage of this, is that for most people who may be a little out of shape can practice in the comfort of their own home without worrying how they look.

All of the yoga postures have benefits for specific areas and all work together to improve life balance and this affects the whole mind, body and spirit of the practitioner.

The yoga postures are ideal for beginners and for all shapes and sizes as they work with the body and not against. The extreme yoga postures which may seem to be exceptionally daunting for the uninitiated are all obtainable in varying degrees and over varying periods of time. Yoga is non-competitive and all practitioners are advised to work gently, slowly, never forcing the body but allowing the body to relax into the yoga postures, using the breath in a controlled manner so as to allow the muscles to relax and grow ever suppler.

Those who are overweight or unfit need to focus on achieving the correct alignment within each pose and focussing on the muscles and organs which are being stretched and massaged, so that the mind prepares the body and enhances the benefits. Because yoga is about union between mind, body and spirit, it can also help reduce the appetite, improve digestion and the function of the thyroid gland so improving the bodies' ability to reduce weight in a healthy and natural way.

There are many yoga postures for improving problem areas of the body and these are:

- Arms and Legs: Tree pose and Bridge Pose
- Abdomen: Boat pose and abdominal lifts
- Waist, Thighs and Hips: Triangle, Hero pose and Sun Salutation

It is important that a variety of postures and routines are carried out on a regular basis as it is the regular practice which helps the body to improve flexibility and be able to respond in a positive way. Quite simply yoga can help the practitioner to ignore faddy diets and to be able to eat sensibly and healthily and still be able to lose weight.