Yoga Postures for Losing Weight From the Lower Belly

Yoga can help you burn calories and fat, contributing to weight management and weight loss. Although you can’t target or isolate weight loss from a particular part of the body, losing weight all over will help reduce your lower belly. Additionally, yoga poses can help tone the lower abdomen so that as you lose weight, you’ll begin to reveal a more sculpted midsection. For extra belly work, keep your abdominal muscles engaged throughout yoga class. Known as a “lock,” it involves contracting your abs and then drawing your navel upward and inward, like trying to press your belly button into your spine.


Core Strength in Boat Pose

Boat pose is a classic yoga posture for developing abdominal strength, firing up your lower belly in order to maintain the hold. To begin, sit on your mat with your knees bent and feet pressing into the floor. Extend your arms forward, palms facing the ceiling, with your elbow slightly bent. Then lift both feet from the floor, keeping the belly engaged. Maintain a straight spine, staying strong through your abdominal muscles, as you slowly extend your legs to a 45-degree angle with the floor.


Building a Bridge

You can also work toward a sleeker midsection in bridge posture. This pose demands that your abdominal muscles remain engaged while elevated, working against the pull of gravity. To enter bridge pose, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet pressing into the ground. Extend your arms along your sides with your palms pressing into the mat. Exhale to contract through your abs, and then slowly lift your hips toward the ceiling. Fully engage through your belly muscles, lifting your torso higher with every inhalation. To exit this posture, slowly lower your hips to the mat and then hug your knees into your chest, rocking slowly from side to side.


Camel and Your Core

You can also work the low belly in camel pose. In this yoga posture, lower abdominal muscles work hard to support a gentle backbend. To begin, kneel on your mat with your shins and feet extended directly behind you. Place your hands on your hips, lifting slightly through your sternum and gently pressing your hips forward. Engage powerfully through your belly, beginning to sink your back slightly toward your feet. If possible, reach back with both hands to grasp your ankles. You can bring your ankles closer by pressing your toes into the ground and lifting your heels toward the ceiling in a sort of “tiptoe” gesture.


Balancing Half Moon

A twist in the torso helps target your lower abdominal region in yoga’s balancing half moon posture. To begin this pose, stand with your feet together and pressing firmly into the mat. Hinge at your hips, pressing both palms into the ground. Shift your weight into your right foot, slowly lifting your left foot until it’s parallel with the floor. Bring your left hand to your left hip, pressing your right fingertips into the mat. Slowly shift your left hip toward the ceiling until your hips are perpendicular, using core strength to maintain stability and lift through this pose. Release and repeat on the other side.