You Have to See These Women’s Incredible Yoga-Fueled Weight-Loss Transformations

Real talk: Sometimes getting to the gym and crushing an hour-long workout packed with sprints on the treadmill, dumbbell squats, and burpees sounds less than appealing. And as much as we love building muscle and cranking out sprint intervals, not everyone rolls that way.

But, news flash, that’s totally fine, says Jessica Matthews, author of Stretching to Stay Young, professor of yoga studies at MiraCosta College in San Diego, California, and senior advisor for health and fitness education for the American Council on Exercise. In fact, Matthews says that yoga can be a perfect way to chill out and work towards your weight-loss goals. As long as you pick a class that’s a bit challenging, you’re in good shape, she says.

“For individuals who have weight loss in mind, they may opt to choose a type of yoga experience that is more physical in nature, such as a Vinyasa, ashtanga, or a fusion-style fitness yoga class,” Matthews says.

Plus, yoga can lead to more mindful eating, says Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet. “I have found that women who regularly practice yoga become more in tune with their bodies and, almost by default, they start eating healthier,” Gans says.

But don’t just take their word for it. These six women share how yoga actually helped them lose weight and get in shape.