Belly Fat is a trouble area for everyone who aspires to look fit and is also the toughest to lose. Fitness experts too confirm that the visceral fat around the abdomen is the last to burn in a weight loss program. Our sedentary lives play a significant role in fat accumulation around the belly. And now with the COVID-19(Coronavirus) lockdown the number of hours being spent sitting down will only increase, thus leading to further fat accumulation.

What is troubling is that belly fat isn’t just a cosmetic problem but also a severe health hazard. This fat that accumulates around abdominal organs is strongly linked to severe illnesses like heart disease, cancer and even dementia.

You cannot shed this fat with mere toning exercises like crunches. To burn belly fat, you need to lose weight, i.e. burn fat throughout your body. And this is something you can’t solely do with exercise. Adopting a healthy diet is equally important to shed belly fat. So a holistic approach is required.

Yoga stands out as a holistic way to lose belly fat. What makes yoga unique as a form of exercise is its ability to offer full-body wellness – mental, physical and spiritual.

We have picked top 3 yoga moves that you should add to your exercise routine that will surely help you get rid of stubborn belly fat.

Surya Namaskar is one of those exercises that can be used as a warm-up, main workout and also as a cool-down set. It is a sequence of 12 yoga poses that target your entire body – from head to toe. It not only helps you break into a sweat but also acts as a full-body cardio set if done for enough number of counts. It is also one of those yoga practices that both stretches and strengthens your muscles.

Pro-tip: To work primarily on your belly fat, hold the Dandasana pose for longer.

Naukasana as the name suggests means boat pose. In this posture, you need to raise your upper body and lower body to form a V shape and resemble a boat. The pressure created in this pose helps target your core. With regular practice, it burns fat. The more you practise, the longer you will be able to hold the posture, thereby enable yourself to lose weight.

Chaturanga Dandasana also is known as the low plank, only looks simple but isn’t. And for the same reason, it is also one of the most effective yoga asanas for losing weight and shedding abdomen fat. Apart from helping you burn belly fat, it also improves your core stability and increases your stamina.

A lesser-known but important fact about abdominal fat: People having a healthy weight(as per BMI) too can have harmful amounts of hidden fat stored beneath the abdominal wall.

Use the lockdown period as an opportunity to shed all the belly fat and surprise your colleagues and friends with a newer fitter version of yourself when you meet them next. For a video demonstration of how to get the postures right check this video