Yoga is one of the most popular forms of physical fitness, and for good reason. The exercise can do more than help you lose weight, it can also help you to manage stress and keep your body in good health by promoting flexibility, improving muscular functionality, and even promoting range of motion. After weight loss surgery, getting started with a regular yoga routine is a great way to promote whole-body wellness as you focus on improving your overall health.

Getting started with yoga isn’t hard to do. You can start simply by trying out some of the core poses. Some of these poses are especially great for helping with weight loss.

Here are a few yoga poses to help you get started:

• Half boat pose: This is a great pose to build abdominal strength, and to work out the arms and legs. To do this, sit down on the mat or other flat surface and then lift your legs until your shins are even with your chin. Your knees should be bent at about a 100-degree angle, and then lift your arms to be parallel with your legs. Your body will resemble a triangle, which is why it is referred to as the half-boat pose.
• Plank pose: This is a great pose for weight loss. The plank pose is actually one of the most common poses in all of fitness! This pose is where you would start to do a push-up, but instead of lowering your body to the floor you should keep your arms stretched and firm for as long as you can manage. This is a great workout for your abdominal muscles and your arms.
• Side plank: Another pose that is often incorporated into other types of fitness training, the side plank pose is similar to the plank pose but flipped on its side. So, from the planking position, you should shift onto your side, putting all of your weight in one arm. This pose may take time to be able to do, as you have to be able to support your body weight on one arm. You can moderate this pose by keeping one knee on the ground.

When you are ready to take the next step, consider trying a yoga class with a professional instructor. A yoga instructor can guide you through poses and help you try different moderations to make the poses better for your body and your needs as you lose weight.