Does 90 Min of Bikram Yoga Really Only Burn 200 Calories?

knlaurence

MFP shows 90 minutes of yoga burns 197 calories. I can't believe that it is so low! Is this right? If not, does anyone have a better estimate of how many calories 90 minutes of bikram yoga burns?

dollface70

I don't believe that is true. I did some searching online to find out how many calories it does burn and found a site that uses your height and current weight to calcluate calories burned during a class. At my weight i burn about 729 calories in 90 minutes. It does fluctuate with how much you weigh...when i was about 12 lbs heavier the amount of calories burned was higher.

dollface70

Try this link for calories burned during bikram yoga...http://www.everydayhealth.com/Calories-Burned-Yoga.htm

Morgaath

First, MFP only has yoga, which is different than Bikram, just as bike riding on a flat paved track is different than riding on a hilly dirt path.
Second, take a look at this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/279535-fyi-bikram-yoga-calories-burned

phjorg1

why is that thead linked? you do know tgat hrms are useless for hot yoga right? so its proof of a bunch of people who have no idea how to use equipment...

ninerbuff

The average burn of yoga (even Bikram) is about 300-450 calories in 90 minutes. Yoga is more anaerobic than aerobic since yoga involves a lot of isometric strength.

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caitlinex3

i've used a heart rate monitor on several bikram yoga classes. sometimes, it can only burn 200 calories and sometimes up to 400.

Unknown

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DavPul

I don't believe that is true. I did some searching online to find out how many calories it does burn and found a site that uses your height and current weight to calcluate calories burned during a class. At my weight i burn about 729 calories in 90 minutes It does fluctuate with how much you weigh...when i was about 12 lbs heavier the amount of calories burned was higher.

if you eat that many calories back you're gonna have a bad time

DopeItUp

At my weight i burn about 729 calories in 90 minutes.

I promise that you do not burn anywhere near that amount, sorry.

KittyAutomatic

I think about 300 calories is just right. But people lose weight not because of calories burned, but because of loss of water weight.

MORECHABLIS

You'll be best to buy a heart rate monitor and check against websites that calculate calories. I mostly cycle and use a HRM linked to a watch, GPS logger and check against website calorie calculators.

Its amazing how different the results can be... After around 2-3 hours of cycling - GPS logger is always highest, MFP is lowest and HRM is always in the middle of calories used... Sometimes the highest is over 1,000 calories higher than MFP.

So I in my mind I use the middle HRM figures, but log down the MFP calorie figures on my calorie count for the day, as that way hopefully always be 'in credit' for the diet.

aeschulman

i have worn my heart rate monitor many times to Bikram and burn no less than 600 calories per 90 minutes. It all depends on how hard you work on each pose. you can easily phone it in and not get much out of it or you can get a killer workout. My monitor is new and very accurate.

ninerbuff

i have worn my heart rate monitor many times to Bikram and burn no less than 600 calories per 90 minutes. It all depends on how hard you work on each pose. you can easily phone it in and not get much out of it or you can get a killer workout. My monitor is new and very accurate.

HRM's don't accurately count calories for isometric exercises. It's counting your heart rate, but not actual activity. So if one wore a heart rate monitor to a scary movie for 2 hours, the monitor may show a burn of 900 calories. And we all know that's not accurate.
Fitbit's and Bodybugg's would do much better because they don't track heart rate, but actual movement.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

kajal112233

Bikram yoga DEFINITELY burns calories. It depends on the body weight and how hard we do the postures. I wore heart rate monitor for 7 months and have seen every single day with my weight it burns about 450-500 calories. In the past I used to weight train for an hour-in between sipped hydroxycut-then did bikram yoga and observed 600-650 calorie burn. I don't know if hydroxy had anything to do with that increment. But now I am off hydroxy, had a major accident so very limited to my exercise. Even with morbidly obese currently my HRM indicates 450-500 calories. So don't give up your hope.

kajal112233

i have worn my heart rate monitor many times to Bikram and burn no less than 600 calories per 90 minutes. It all depends on how hard you work on each pose. you can easily phone it in and not get much out of it or you can get a killer workout. My monitor is new and very accurate.

I agree. Also it may be interesting to watch the regulars or even those who take part in 30 day challenges. I have seen them shrinking to a noticeable size. With my kind of weight and age (50+) one has to be either thankful to Bikram or God to be able to do rigorous circuit training for an hour. If you are into 3-4 days weight training/week or take part in sports/spinning you will definitely see the difference and prone to less injury from doing 3-4 times/wk bikram yoga.

Morgaath

Bikram yoga DEFINITELY burns calories. It depends on the body weight and how hard we do the postures. I wore heart rate monitor for 7 months and have seen every single day with my weight it burns about 450-500 calories. In the past I used to weight train for an hour-in between sipped hydroxycut-then did bikram yoga and observed 600-650 calorie burn. I don't know if hydroxy had anything to do with that increment. But now I am off hydroxy, had a major accident so very limited to my exercise. Even with morbidly obese currently my HRM indicates 450-500 calories. So don't give up your hope.

Bit of a difference in calorie burn between morbidly obese, and OPs current weight of 116, no matter what the exercise.

Meanwhile, a study on hot yoga, which is not quite Bikram, as they only jacked the temp to 92f.
https://www.acefitness.org/prosourcearticle/3353/ace-sponsored-study-hot-yoga-go-ahead-and