These yoga poses will help you to lose those love handles.
Love handles can be so annoying! Like most types of abdominal fat, love handles can be a challenge to get rid of. For many of us who’ve worked hard and lost weight, these pesky things tend to stick around even after other areas of the body have toned. You might think that doing crunches or oblique exercises can help, but those types of exercises do not specifically target that area and will show limited results.
Instead of doing all those crunches, give the below yoga sequence a try. These poses can help you reduce those bothersome love handles once and for all!
By Jenny Sugar
Down Dog
Come onto the hands and knees with your wrists underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. Inhale as you tuck your toes under your heels. Then exhale to lift your hips, coming into the classic upside-down-V shape called Downward Facing Dog. Spread your fingers wide, and create a straight line between your middle fingers and elbows. Work on straightening your legs and lowering your heels toward the ground. Relax your head between your arms, and direct your gaze through your legs or up toward your belly button. Breathe deeply for five breaths.
Extended Side Angle
From Warrior 2, exhale as you plant your right hand on the floor beside your right foot, and raise your left arm over your ear. Hold Extended Side Angle for five breaths.
Balancing Star
From Sage Tree, straighten the right leg into the air. Gaze at your lifted hand, and hold Balancing Star for five breaths. Keeping your core engaged will help you stay balanced.
Upward Facing Dog
From One-Legged Four-Limbed Staff, release the right foot to the floor and inhale as you scoop the chest forward, coming into Upward Facing Dog. Continue to press equally into the tops of the feet and palms, breathing for five breaths.
Extended Locust
From Clasped Locust, keep the legs and torso lifted as you release your hands and extend them in front of you. Lift your feet and hands as high as you can, breathing deeply for five breaths.
Bow Pose
From Locust, bend the knees and reach your hands back to hold the inside of your ankles. If this is too difficult, hold the outside instead. Actively press the feet up and way from your torso to feel a deep opening in the chest and shoulders. Gaze forward in this variation of Bow pose for five breaths.
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All images courtesy of POPSUGAR Photography / Louisa Larson.
