Yoga for Love Hands – builds core strength, targets abdominal muscles, reduces unnecessary fat, improves posture, and can help relieve love handles. Check out some of the simple Yoga Asanas that will help you burn that extra fat and handle those love handles:
Quick Summary
Love handles, also commonly known as muffin tops, refer to the flabby or thickened sections of skin and flesh that appear at the waistline above the hips. These extra side cushions typically build up when you consume too many calories and are unable to burn them off over time. Practicing targeted poses of yoga for love handles—such as Parighasana, Phalakasana, Vasisthasana, Navasana, Salabhasana, and Prasarita Padottanasana—helps burn extra fat, build core strength, target abdominal muscles, and improve posture.
Table of Contents
What are Love Handles?
Love handles (also commonly referred to as muffin tops, side handles, tummy tires, or extra side cushions) refer to the flabby or thickened sections of skin and flesh that appear at your waistline directly above the hips.
Poses For Yoga For Love Handles
Muffin tops, love handles, side handles, tummy tires, extra side cushions – whatever the name, it is one area that many people want to tighten up on. With effective posture, it targets problem areas such as love handles, abdomen, back, legs, spine, waist, and arms.
Gate Pose – (Parighasana)
Stretches the side muscles and spine, reduces muffin top, tones hamstrings, and opens up the abdominal organs.
Now take a deep breath and lift the left leg, and keep it at a distance on the left side. Keep the knee of the right foot on the ground and raise the right hand. During this, the sole of your left foot should be on the ground, and the paw should also be on the left side. Now, while looking up, slowly bend to the left and bring the left hand near the left knee. You can maintain Gate Pose for about 30 seconds or as per your capacity.
Plank Pose– (Phalakasana)
It works your core muscles, so it reduces muffin tops and strengthens your abs, back, legs, and arms.
Get down on your hands and knees. Keep your forearm straight on the mat, bending it at a 90-degree angle. Make a fist with the other hand. Extend one leg straight behind you. While doing this, pull your abs in and tighten. Reach the other leg and adjust so that your body forms a perfect straight plank. Hold it for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, breathing evenly. Do the same exercise on your hands (in a push-up position) instead of your elbows. When you get into position, make sure your arms are directly under your shoulders. If you find it very difficult to do Plank Pose in the beginning, then do it at a 45-degree angle on the kitchen counter.
Side Plank Pose (Vasisthasana )
Like the traditional plank, this is an important asana that specifically works your obliques.
Lie on your right side, on top of your mat. Keep your elbows directly under your shoulders. Extend your legs out so that your body is in a straight line at its sides. Keeping your body weight on your right leg and right shoulder, lift your hips. If this seems too difficult, bend your left leg and place your shin on the ground, in front of your right knee, so that it can take some of the weight on itself. Raise your left arm straight up in the air, so that it is perpendicular to the ground. Maintain this Side Plank Pose for 15 to 60 seconds. Repeat at least twice on each side.
Boat Pose- (Navasana)
This pose strengthens the tummy, spine, and hip flexors and works your side muscles as well as your legs and torso.
Lie on your back with your legs facing forward and take your arms to the side. Breathe in and as you exhale, lift your chest and legs off the ground, extending your arms toward your feet. Your eyes, fingers, and toes should be in a line. Feel the tension in your navel area as the abdominal muscles contract. Keep breathing deeply while maintaining the Boat Pose. As you exhale, slowly return to the ground and relax.
Locust Pose (Salabhasana)
This pose may be tricky for beginners, but it works your side muscles as well as your legs and torso, strengthening and focusing on your lower abs.
First of all, lie down on your stomach. Place your palms under your thighs. Connect the ankles. While inhaling, raise your legs as high as possible. Breathe in slowly and then exhale slowly and maintain this state. While exhaling, bring the feet down. Do Locust Pose 3 to 5 times.
Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Legged Forward Bend)
Prasarita Padottanasana Strengthens arms, legs, and stomach, Improves torso, hips, and thighs, increasing body balance and getting rid of love handles.
First of all, stand straight on the yoga mat and open the legs for three to four feet. Now take a deep breath and slowly bend the back down and try to keep the head close to the ground. Then exhale and slowly lift the hips upwards. After this, hold the toes of both feet with your hands. Breathe normally in this posture for some time and then slowly release the posture after a minute or two.
Conclusion
Following a strict and rigorous yoga routine is highly effective for tightening up problem areas around the waist. By regularly practicing postures that challenge your obliques, lower abs, torso, and back, you can safely eliminate extra side cushions, achieve a slim waist, and stay completely energized and active all day long.
FAQ
They are also referred to as muffin tops, side handles, tummy tires, and extra side cushions.
Keep your right knee on the ground and raise your right hand. Lift your left leg out to the left side with the sole and paw of your foot flat on the ground. Slowly bend to the left while looking up, bringing your left hand near your left knee, and hold for about 30 seconds.
If you find Plank Pose very difficult in the beginning, you can practice it at a 45-degree angle against a kitchen counter.
You can bend your left leg and place your shin flat on the ground in front of your right knee to take some of your body weight off your shoulder and foot.
You should perform Locust Pose 3 to 5 times, raising your legs as high as possible while inhaling and lowering them as you exhale.
