Wouldn’t it be great if you could eat a pint of Cherry Garcia in one sitting and still fit into the little black dress hanging in the back of your closet? Many yoga teachers explain weight gain as a sign of imbalance triggered — and remedied — by lifestyle.

“Students who have experienced this type of gain will reveal the same pitfalls: poor eating habits, inactivity, and too much time spent in front of a computer,” says Jasmine Lieb, RYT, a Los Angeles-based yoga instructor at Yoga Works whose therapeutic yoga classes have been recommended by doctors and physical therapists across the country. Even though many people think of hard-core cardio as a weight-loss fix, it’s wise to look to your yoga mat for a profound physical change.

Please note that these poses should be done under the supervision of an instructor.

The Fix: As circulation is increased in the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands that send out endorphins and hormones throughout our bodies, balance can be restored in our metabolic system. Through breath and movement, more oxygen and nutrients are introduced to the blood, and toxins that interfere with metabolic balance are released. Even in a short period of time, cravings and fatigue can be reduced, and with regular practice, weight loss is possible. “If your weight problem is caught early, it’s manageable with a yoga practice that caters to you and your schedule,” she says. Lieb generally encourages daily practice, as you’d alter your diet daily not once a week to see results, but incorporating the following postures and breathing techniques as often as possible can begin to provoke change and rebalance your metabolism.

Alternate Nostril Breathing:
We have two brain hemispheres, one on each side of the pituitary gland," says Lieb. “By feeding oxygen through the right or left side, we can stimulate the gland.” Increasing circulation in the pituitary gland, one of the largest glands in the body, can help restore hormonal balance and reduce stress associated with weight gain.

Begin by closing off the right nostril with your thumb and inhale completely through your left nostril. Next, close the left nostril with your pointer finger and exhale through the right. Inhale through the right nostril, then close it and exhale through the left. Continue in this rhythm for as long as you feel comfortable. In a class setting, Lieb usually guides 5 to 10 rounds of this cyclical breathing.

Metabolism-boosting Sun Salute:
To increase circulation and energy in the entire body, Lieb recommends a Sun Salutation series with an extra emphasis on extensions and back bends. “Back bends are energy boosting, which rev you up, unlike forward bends, which calm you down,” she says.

Energy boosting tips:
1)    Before the Forward Bend, add in a Chair, being careful to extend the body from the hips to the fingertips.
2)    In Warrior One, try to elongate the spine by keeping your shoulders down and looking up at your palms.
3)    In Upward Facing Dog, gently tilt your head back as your push your chest forward to emphasize the backbend.
4)    In Downward Facing Dog, create a backbend by raising the hips up and extending through your fingertips.

Lieb recommends doing three to ten rounds, depending on your comfort level and to “always, always stop before strain.”