Yoga is Not a Weight Loss Program, And Why We Should Stop Treating It as Such
By Isabelle Gillibrand, Guest Contributor
Note: This post discusses and/or mentions diet culture and weight. If you feel this will be harmful for you and/or is not your jam, I invite you to skip this post. Disclaimer that this is a thought piece.
Many people begin their yoga journey with it serving as a physical practice, and the motivation for starting a physical practice is often weight-loss related. I’ll admit that’s how it was for me. My friend and I would rise and shine for a 6:30 AM Wednesday class so that we would “get in our workout” before the day got going. Our instructor would integrate other components of the eight limbs of yoga (because remember - the physical poses are only an eighth of the practice), but truth be told, learning yoga philosophy or meditating was far from my motivation for showing up. My motivation was toning my tummy, so I felt better in a two-piece bathing suit.
I share this to admit that, when I reflect on my yoga journey, I began my practice with the wrong intentions. I was using it to change by body for a hypothetical future version of myself. Now I understand that it is important to shift the mindset of yoga as a tool for weight loss, because it contradicts the larger practice and purpose of yoga.
A quick Google search of “yoga benefits” yields a myriad of articles and listicles, with images of practitioners doing forearm planks, headstands, and unsupported downward-facing dogs. In almost all of these articles, including Yoga Journal, one of the benefits listed is weight loss. The idea of weight loss being consistently promoted as a main benefit and reason for partaking in the practice, to me, goes against many of the other components that make up yoga and it contradicts several of the yamas and niyamas.
The Yamas & Niyamas
The yamas (principles) and niyamas (standards of living and practices) are the first two limbs of yoga. From what I’ve learned, using yoga as a weight loss tool violates several of these codes. Here’s a few:
Ahimsa (non-harming): Practicing yoga for the purposes and intention of it being a weight loss tool can be harmful to the individual. For the practitioner, it turns yoga asana (movement) practice into being more of a rigid regimen rather than something they can step in and out of intuitively. For example, using yoga for weight loss may lead someone to feel they can only take yoga classes that have more of a workout feel and resist trying other kinds of yoga practices, such as restorative postures, breath work, meditation, or other components that create a holistic practice filled with multiple physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits.
Asteya (non-stealing): When reflecting on the origins of yoga, physical postures were never the primary focus and was something that evolved throughout time. In fact, the intention of yoga movement was to prepare the body and mind for meditation. One of the things that we must grapple with is how yoga has been colonized and appropriated, especially in Western society, and one of the ways we can work to reduce this harm is to recognize the origins of the practice and the holistic intentions of yoga for practitioners and the greater society.
Santosha (contentment): By using yoga as a weight-loss program, that is an indicator that we are not content as we are. Instead of using yoga to be in the present moment, we are using it to achieve an alternative version of ourselves because we believe we are not good enough as we are. Learning to practice contentment, self-acceptance, and self-compassion are often the tools we need to apply when we struggle to feel comfortable in our bodies. The philosophies and practices of yoga (all of them, not just movement) can help us develop these mindsets.
Svadhyaya (self-inquiry and knowledge): Using yoga as a weight-loss program shifts the focus on the entirely on the physical body and away from introspection. If you are using yoga as your weight-loss program or have considered it, I invite you to practice svadhyaya to reflect and develop a deeper understanding of yourself and motives. Here’s some questions you might reflect on: What is the goal of weight loss? Why do I want to lose weight? What do I believe losing weight will give me? What would it mean to accept myself as I am? What support system do I need to bring into my life to help me work on self-acceptance? Perhaps practice this self-inquiry to get to the root of your intention and motivation - it may reveal something far greater and deeper to explore in your practice.
The Benefits of a Balanced Practice
Some of the other limbs of yoga include practices such as breath work and meditation. If the intention behind one’s yoga practice is only weight-loss, they’ll likely be spending the majority of time doing asana (postures), the last bit of class in final relaxation, and a lot of times, the other limbs may get set aside. Even in an asana-based class, a primary focus should be on the breath. However, if the intensity of the class is the focus, we often hold our breath or breathe shallow from trying to keep up. The more we lose the practice of concentration, breath, and present moment, the more we lose the practice of what yoga was meant to be.
If you have balanced practice that embodies the various limbs of yoga and you lose weight as a byproduct, cool. If you don’t, also cool! It is important to respect and acknowledge the many aspects that make up yoga, and not to strip it for a future version of ourselves.
Yoga is meant to be mindful exploration of the body, mind, and spirit for you today - not future you, not an ideal version of you, but you. Yoga is meant to celebrate you and your journey - not be a punisher. Practice yoga not just for the physical you, but the whole, complete, unique you.
Isabelle Gillibrand (she/her) is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYS-200), Reiki II practitioner, and an Accessible Yoga ambassador with a passion for helping people discover a practice that best serves them and to live their yoga. Isabelle utilizes a variety of wellness tools to connect the reflecting, relaxation, and restoration done on the mat into daily life. Connect with Isabelle on her website.