Yoga for Abdominal Fat
by Laura Brookover
Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone secreted when we experience the “fight or flight” reaction. This occurs almost constantly in reaction to the stress of urban life. Rushing the kids to school, stress at work and more all trigger the cortisol response.
Higher cortisol levels also cause people to eat more foods, including high-carb foods, and consequently lead to an increase in belly fat. Unfortunately, abdominal fat is associated with a greater number of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body, and abdominal fat is often related to problems such as heart attacks and high cholesterol.
To keep cortisol levels under control, the body’s relaxation response should be activated after the fight or flight response occurs.
Psychologist and stress management specialist Elizabeth Scott, M.S., strongly recommends yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and guided imagery (which is generally done at the end of most yoga classes) to lower cortisol levels.
So head to your nearest yoga class, or pick up last month’s copy of this publication so you can review some basic restorative yoga asanas.
Think thin. Think yoga!
Laura Brookover teaches a limited number of classes in San Antonio, including Prenatal & Mommy-Baby Yoga at Destination Maternity and Bikini Bootcamp at Anytime Fitness, (210)497-0000. For more information, log onto the Web site at www.laurabrookover.com, or E-mail info@laurabrookover.com.
