In today’s podcast, we speak with Dr. Loren Fishman, author of the powerful book Yoga for Weight Loss. A Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doctor based in New York City, Fishman explains how yoga can serve as a metabolic driver for healthy and sustainable weight loss and body optimization. 

 

Fishman also cogently points out that yoga produces a similar hunger-reducing biochemical effect in the body to GLP-1 agonist drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro–without the side effects associated with those medications.

 

Before earning his medical degree, Dr. Fishman notably studied for one year in India with the legendary yoga master BKS Iyengar in the late 1960s.

 

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With this episode, Elizabeth's brother Rob McGann joins the podcast as the Producer and Co-Host of Drop the Weight.

 

Rob is an accomplished multimedia writer, journalist, marketer and documentary filmmaker, and conducts the interview with Dr. Fishman.

 

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SHOW NOTES

 

00:00 - Introduction

01:40 - 1960s to 2020s: doubling obesity rate in America

02:40 - main drivers of an overweight culture: advanced agriculture and aggressive marketing

03:45 - enough to make everyone obese three times over

04:40 - powerful animal instinct to eat

05:51 - not simply quieting the mind; yoga acts on a stretching reflex shared by all mammals

06:52 - useful yoga poses that promote weight loss

08:20 - hunger-reducing effects similar to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, without scary side effects

08:55 - other yoga benefits: better posture, balance, range of motion & strength; reduced anxiety

10:20 - muscle strength a key factor for longevity

11:40 - Iyengar yoga a good place to start

12:55 - working with BKS Iyengar as a student in India

15:10 - parting words with the yoga master: “You only rent your body!”

15:40 - yoga promotes self-knowledge and self-respect

16:55 - Rilke: “You must change your life” - life as a process of continuous change

19:16 - Ozempic as a specific example

20:14 - the “beautiful” PGC1-Alpha molecule

21:40 - yoga stimulates the mitochondria, the “blast furnaces” of metabolism on a cellular level

22:30 - spiritual benefits of yoga

 

Get Connected with Elizabeth McGann:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMcGannWellness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmcgann

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizabethMcGann

 

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You can learn more about Dr. Loren Fishman, his medical practice and his 10 published books using the links below:

 

https://www.manhattanphysicalmedicine.com/our-practice-keene

 

https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/presenters/loren-fishman

 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Loren-Fishman/author/B001IQWLMA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

 

Dr. Fishman is currently conducting a breakthrough study that uses a combination of yoga and botulinum toxin to successfully treat the effects of scoliosis. Those interested in learning more about this study and how one can participate may contact him at his office: 212.472.0077 or write him at [email protected].