The Asana Diet?

Funded by the National Cancer Institute and led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, this study was in the form of a written survey filled in by 15,500 healthy middle-aged men and women. This was the first study ever to look at the correlation between yoga and weight, and the results were encouraging, particularly for those worried about the so-called “middle-aged spread.”

Most people who did not practice yoga and started off at a normal weight at 45 gained an average of one pound a year between the ages of 45 and 55. Those who started off at a normal weight and practiced at least 30 minutes of yoga a week for four or more years gained three fewer pounds over that same period. Those who were overweight at 45 had much more significant results. In this group, those who did not practice yoga gained 14 pounds between 45 and 55, while those who did practice yoga lost an average of five pounds.

What could have caused these results? The researchers suggest that it might be that yoga makes you more aware of your body or gives you some form of inner strength that allows you to better withstand the onslaught of high-fat goodies. They also recommend that more intensive clinical trials be conducted to test their findings.

In the meantime, a Proud Warrior here and there certainly couldn’t hurt.