Yes, you read that right: If you’re having trouble controlling your hunger, yoga can help! Studies show that yoga can increase levels of adiponectin, a protein hormone that helps regulate glucose levels, by as much as 28 percent. Adiponectin also has anti-inflammatory effects that reduce your risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and insulin resistance.
In addition to increasing adiponectin and helping regulate your hunger, yoga has also been shown to decrease overall body weight, percentage of body fat, waist circumference, and amount of visceral fat. It can also decrease triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and insulin levels, while simultaneously increasing HDL cholesterol—a combination that reduces your risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome.
But it doesn’t happen overnight. The key is to get into a regular routine and practice at least a few times a week. As you move and stretch and spend time in meditative poses, you’ll start to notice the positive health benefits.
If you’re new to yoga, getting into a new routine doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. You don’t have to join a yoga studio. There are thousands of free videos that you can access online right in the comfort of your own home. Yoga with Adriene, a channel run by international yoga teacher Adriene Mishler, is a great place to start. She offers thirty-day challenges designed specifically for beginners as well as more advanced videos for once you get the hang of things.