4 Yoga Asanas to Help You Burn Fat

1.Ushtra Asana
Kneel down with your heels facing the ceiling, toes turned outward and arms hanging loosely by the sides. Breathe in. Raise arms gently to shoulder level, then higher, and finally backwards such that your palms touch the heel of the corresponding foot. Stretch your neck letting your head fall backwards. You will feel the stretch in your spine. Gently push the pelvic region forward, improving upon the curve of the spine. Breathe normally. Breathe in and return to the starting position. Repeat two to three times. Each time try to hold the stretch as long as you comfortably can.
Why it works
This asana stretches your entire upper body — the neck, chest and stomach. These places house the lymph glands such as the thymus, tonsils and the spleen. They are primarily responsible for filtering out bacteria and other waste from the blood. Inefficient lymph glands lead to inefficient drainage and collection of fat. Ushtra Asana mobilises the lymph glands, hence preventing cellulite. The increased blood circulation and faster cell rejuvenation within these regions helps bust existing cellulite, slowly but surely.

2.Virya-stambhan Asana
Stand with feet spread wide apart, toes pointing straight ahead. Turn the right leg at a 90 degree angle. Then bend the right knee. Hold your right wrist with your left hand behind your back, bend to your right and gently attempt to touch your big toe with the tip of your nose. However ensure that as you bend, your right knee or right thigh doesn't come in way of your right shoulder. Hold this position for up to 30 seconds. Inhale and slowly return to the start. Repeat the exercise with your left leg. Repeat the asana two to three times.
Why it works
This asana really stretches the inside of your thighs. Rising back from the bend strengthens the thighs, exercising them is similar to working with weights in a gym. This helps burn fats in the thighs. It also exercises the lymph nodes present in the groin area and improves the blood circulation in lower region, thereby busting cellulite pockets.

3.Purna Shalbh Asana
Lie on your stomach. Make a fist. Position it under your thigh, elbows straight. Breathe in. With the support of your folded fists, lift up both legs without bending them at the knees. Tighten the back of thighs and buttocks, holding on to the final pose for as long as possible. Relax the tightened thighs and buttocks. Breathe in. Now, holding your breath, gradually lower the legs to the ground. As your legs touch the ground, release your breath and breathe normal. Repeat two to three times, each time trying to hold on to the final pose for as long as possible.
Why it works
Lifting the legs and trying to hold them for a long time requires strength. As you try harder, the fuel required to get that energy is generated by burning up the fat in thighs and buttocks.

4.Paschimottan Asana
Sit down with your legs outstretched in the front, touching each other, your arms to your sides. Keep your spine erect and raise both your hands above your head, while the inside of your arms touch your ears. Exhale and pull the stomach in and bend forward, stretching your hands towards your toes. Now try to hold your toes with your fingers and subsequently with practice, try to touch your forehead to your knees. Hold this final pose for as long as possible, after which you inhale and gradually come back to the starting position.
Why it works
As your body bends forward, your entire back area (considered your west side in yoga) is stretched. The bending movement affects every part from the heel's tip to the neck (inclusive of the hamstring muscles, buttocks, waist, back and the medulla oblongata).
This extreme stretch works the major muscles of the back, along with the skin. The stretch causes better blood circulation within the region and prevents build up of fat. The skin too is stretched leading to better elasticity and over time can aid in reducing the dimpled look that cellulite is characterised by.

5 Top Yogasanas for a Flat Tummy!!!!

1. 30-Degree-Lift
Steps: Lie on your back. Now raise your upper body and legs slightly above the ground. Remember to raise the torso or back and not just raise and bend the neck. That would strain wrongly. The feet can go up till a level of 30 degrees above the ground. Hands are to be stretched out in front of you. Stay in the pose for 20 seconds, then come back and relax. Repeat once more.

2. Touch-your-Knee
Steps: Lie on your back. Lift your one knee and bend it towards your chest with the help of your hands. Try and make your nose touch your knee. The second leg remains on the ground. Once we become comfortable, also try raising the second leg in the air till about a 30 degrees level. Remain in the pose for around 20 seconds. Then slowly get back and relax. Alternate this with the other leg too. Repeat the round twice.

3. Acute-angle
Steps: Lie on the floor with your head facing down and hands bent by the elbow, kept by the chest sides. Now lift your torso up to make your hands be straight and perpendicular to the ground, back and legs straight and the palms right below the shoulders. Now raise your legs to rest only on feet fingers. The neck is to be straight in line with the back. Stay for at least 30-60 counts, come down slowly and relax. Repeat once more.

4. Cobra-Style
Steps: Lie down with the forehead on the ground. Keep the legs together and the arms at the sides with the palms by the side of the thighs. Now bring the arms closer to shoulder and then bend the arms at the elbows to bring the palms right below the shoulder. Tilt the head upwards to look up. Then slowly arch the spine and pressing the palms raise the upper trunk from the ground. Stay for 20 seconds. Then slowly resume to normal position. Repeat once more.

5. Leg-Lifts
Steps: This is more like those floor exercises. Lie on your back with your hands either stretched over the head or by the side of your body. Now raise your legs together up till a 45 degree angle and then slowly bring it back to the ground. Don’t bend the knees. The catch here is not to make your feet touch the ground but rather to keep it slightly up in the air. Then take it up again till 45 degrees. Slowly repeat this motion of up and down atleast 10-15 times. Relax then. Repeat if required.

Source: India Syndicate