Yoga for weightloss and building muscle?

Annamarie3404

Has anyone had luck with losing weight and gaining muscle by doing yoga? I'm changing my workout to include this as well as swimming and some cardio. I'm focusing on core and muscle tone with a little cardio on the side.

zoeysasha37

For weight loss, you need to create a calorie deficit
Yoga will not cause weight loss alone
Building muscle and yoga usually don't go hand in hand.For me, I eat at a calorie surplus while lifting heavy to build muscle.

Panda_Poptarts

I do a decent bit of yoga. Until recently, I was going 2 - 3 x per week. I can't vouch for whether or not the yoga was specifically contributable to my weight loss, but I can tell you that my strength, flexibility, and endurance have increased significantly with regular yoga attendance. During my first couple classes, it was so, so hard for me. All my muscles shook like a leaf, a left with jello legs, and I sweat more than what one might call "profusely". After a couple months, while it's still a rather intense workout for me, I shake less, can hold poses longer, and often take advanced options.

Whether or not it's going to help you build muscle, it will absolutely help you build strength. I strongly believe that everyone should do at least some yoga as part of their exercise routine.

Timshel_

Annamarie3404 wrote: »

Has anyone had luck with losing weight and gaining muscle by doing yoga? I'm changing my workout to include this as well as swimming and some cardio. I'm focusing on core and muscle tone with a little cardio on the side.

You can build strength and endurance in yoga, but not really bulk/build. It is really good for core stability and such though.

Annamarie3404

Panda_Poptarts wrote: »

I do a decent bit of yoga. Until recently, I was going 2 - 3 x per week. I can't vouch for whether or not the yoga was specifically contributable to my weight loss, but I can tell you that my strength, flexibility, and endurance have increased significantly with regular yoga attendance. During my first couple classes, it was so, so hard for me. All my muscles shook like a leaf, a left with jello legs, and I sweat more than what one might call "profusely". After a couple months, while it's still a rather intense workout for me, I shake less, can hold poses longer, and often take advanced options.

Whether or not it's going to help you build muscle, it will absolutely help you build strength. I strongly believe that everyone should do at least some yoga as part of their exercise routine.

Building strength is what I meant. I also need to work on balance, and hope this will help with that too.

robininfl

My experience?
Weight loss, no, building muscle yes. Muscles are bigger and stronger, yoga butt is a thing. My arms and legs are bigger around and still very lean.

What are you doing now? I switched from Jazzercise only, which got me lean and skinny and aerobically fit, and was loads of fun, to jogging and yoga (my schedule changed and I couldn't drive to the jazzercise) and gained about 10-12lb of what certainly seems to be mostly lean muscle; obviously i ate more also to accomplish this, I needed muscle to do the poses and movements.

I do know at least two people who lost weight doing only yoga, a lot of weight, but both are still kind of padded just super strong and flexible. They aren't very lean. The people I know who are lean and muscled from yoga were, like me, coming from underweight going up, not overweight coming down.

kshama2001

Annamarie3404 wrote: »

Panda_Poptarts wrote: »

I do a decent bit of yoga. Until recently, I was going 2 - 3 x per week. I can't vouch for whether or not the yoga was specifically contributable to my weight loss, but I can tell you that my strength, flexibility, and endurance have increased significantly with regular yoga attendance. During my first couple classes, it was so, so hard for me. All my muscles shook like a leaf, a left with jello legs, and I sweat more than what one might call "profusely". After a couple months, while it's still a rather intense workout for me, I shake less, can hold poses longer, and often take advanced options.

Whether or not it's going to help you build muscle, it will absolutely help you build strength. I strongly believe that everyone should do at least some yoga as part of their exercise routine.

Building strength is what I meant. I also need to work on balance, and hope this will help with that too.

Yes, many styles of yoga will help with building strength and balance. (And flexibility, and decreasing stress...)

To avoid confusion, you may wish to edit your post to change your thread title and question to reflect "strength" instead of "muscle." You can edit for up to an hour. After that time, you can ask a moderator to do this by Flag > Reporting it.

Panda_Poptarts

Annamarie3404 wrote: »

Building strength is what I meant. I also need to work on balance, and hope this will help with that too.

It positively will help with both.

I attend class with a gal who is skinny as a rail, and her ONLY exercise is yoga, 4 - 5x per week. She's lost weight and gained strength doing just yoga.

I had 2 c-sections, 5 and 6 years ago. 11 months ago, I had an ovary removed. While the procedure was primarily laparoscopic, they did open a portion of my c-section scar. Due to repetitive surgeries, my core has been chronically weak. My first 2 months of yoga, I was taking pregnancy options for anything involving my core. I'm now following advanced options, including for core work. Changes will happen!

Just as importantly, yoga has been amazing for my mental health. It's a wonderful stress relief and mood booster.

Panda_Poptarts

robininfl wrote: »

My experience?
Weight loss, no, building muscle yes. Muscles are bigger and stronger, yoga butt is a thing. My arms and legs are bigger around and still very lean.

What are you doing now? I switched from Jazzercise only, which got me lean and skinny and aerobically fit, and was loads of fun, to jogging and yoga (my schedule changed and I couldn't drive to the jazzercise) and gained about 10-12lb of what certainly seems to be mostly lean muscle; obviously i ate more also to accomplish this, I needed muscle to do the poses and movements.

I do know at least two people who lost weight doing only yoga, a lot of weight, but both are still kind of padded just super strong and flexible. They aren't very lean. The people I know who are lean and muscled from yoga were, like me, coming from underweight going up, not overweight coming down.

You can totally lose weight doing yoga.

However, keep in mind that you'll likely only burn 150 - 400 calories during an hour of yoga, depending on the type and your stats. It won't be a prominent factor in weight loss unless you're also eating at a deficit, and including some cardio if you have a lot to lose is probably a good idea too.

zoeysasha37

If anyone lost weight doing yoga, they had to have been at a calorie deficit.
Again, yoga alone will not produce weight loss.
It certainly will not build muscle, but now the op had clarified that she meant strength not building muscle.

Weight loss comes from a calorie deficit.
I could teach 17 yoga classes per day and lose no weight. Because weight loss comes from a calorie deficit .

Let's say I burn 1500 calories per day without exercise. Let's say I burnt 200 calories doing hot yoga( I used 200 as an example because it's more realistic then the 800 -1000cal burns I see people claim on here) then let's say I ate 1950 cals for that day.
Would I lose weight? No

So I think it's very important that when someone mentions an exercise for weight loss, that people should let them know that just because they do the exercise doesn't automatically mean they'll lose weight

LivingtheLeanDream

Weight loss, no - that takes having a calorie deficit, but yes it will build strength.

kshama2001

How yoga helped me with weight loss was not so much via the calories it burned but by reducing the desire to emotional-eat.

pomegranatecloud

I used to do vinyasa and prana yoga 5-6 times per week. I lost some weight and gained muscle without changing my eating habits with yoga. It made a big difference in my body. I've never been overweight and the most I've had to lose is 15 lbs.

KiyaK

There are SO many types of yoga. For building muscle it's really going to depend on a lot of factors including what style you're practicing & what your starting strength is. If your going for thay, id suggest looking into vinyasa or ashtanga styles. It's possible to gain strength from yoga, but I like to practice slower, more relaxing styles personally. I lift weights to gain muscle. I practice yoga to be able to live in my own brain.

Also, weightloss will come from calorie deficit. Exercise can be used to increase that deficit, but you can't outrun (or outyoga) your fork.

Psychgrrl

I do 90 minute level 2 (advanced) classes 4-5 times per week. In the three months since I started at the studio, my frame has gotten much leaner, and my shoulders/upper arms have a lot more definition. I still lift heavy (full body) one day a week, but traded in my second lifting session for a yoga class. It's worked well for me.

I went to a studio to do yoga instead of PT. I have back issues and have practiced on and off for years. More off than on. The bonus is my tension headaches have completely disappeared. My back is feeling better as well.

cbstewart88

This is what yoga has done for me:
1. Increased strength and flexibility
2. Improved muscle tone
3. Improved my state of mind
4. Given me awesome legs and butt
5. Works out the kinks and aches from treadmill days - a good balance to cardio for me
6. Other benefits are not as easy to label - confidence, peace, "regularity" (LOL), suppleness, breath awareness, glowing youthful skin, and other subtle intangibles. Although I alternate yoga with cardio and strength days - if I only did one thing - it would be yoga hands-down....

tazzwebb1

Would you havevany yoga youtube videos to recommend?x

Annamarie3404

I just search until I can find one that I can do. My balance and core strength are terrible, and I hope yoga can help with this.

Psychgrrl

If you've never done yoga, I'd get a groupon for a studio and get some lessons. Proper form is absolutely crucial to building a good, safe practice. It can be hard to know from watching a video if you're doing the poses correctly, because many are so subtly nuanced. Not doing the poses correctly also limits the benefits.

I joined my studio with a groupon for one month of unlimited classes for $49.

queenofpuppies

tazzwebb1 wrote: »

Would you havevany yoga youtube videos to recommend?x

fightmaster yoga; yoga with Adrianne

Panda_Poptarts

Annamarie3404 wrote: »

I just search until I can find one that I can do. My balance and core strength are terrible, and I hope yoga can help with this.

They say if you aren't wobbly, you aren't challenging yourself.

I'd recommend you find a class somewhere, be it at a gym or paying for a few classes at a local studio, and go with a guided lesson. That tends to be a really great "get your feet wet" introduction to yoga. There's likely more you can do than you think

cbstewart88

I agree with Psychgrrl - do not recommend learning yoga from a video. I believe proper lessons are crucial also, for the same reasons she states. Yoga can be extremely beneficial in many ways - but I feel strongly that poses must be done correctly and under the guiding eye of a good, well-trained, certified instructor to achieve maximum benefits and avoid injury.

zenjen13

It depends on what type of yoga and how long/many times you do it. I've been doing yoga since I was 16. Right now, I do a 90 min vinyasa/hatha class (fast movement, breaks a sweat) which burns anywhere from 250-500 calories depending on intensity of that days class. It definitely gives you strength, balance, flexibility, confidence, a feeling a peace. I find it helps with appetite control, I really don't want to eat anything other than vegetarian after a class and you shouldn't eat two hours before.

Some classes are mainly for relaxation and flexibility, some are more cardio based. Try a few out and find an instructor you like (either in person or online). If you combine yoga a few times a week with a calorie deficit you will notice an improvement. Especially in legs, butt and abs.

Annamarie3404

Panda_Poptarts wrote: »

Annamarie3404 wrote: »

I just search until I can find one that I can do. My balance and core strength are terrible, and I hope yoga can help with this.

They say if you aren't wobbly, you aren't challenging yourself.

I'd recommend you find a class somewhere, be it at a gym or paying for a few classes at a local studio, and go with a guided lesson. That tends to be a really great "get your feet wet" introduction to yoga. There's likely more you can do than you think

I am hoping to get an instructor to do a session with me. I have yoga at my local gym, but they are intermediate level, and I cannot do those yet. I have to modify them. There is a local studio I like, and I'm willing to pay to go a couple of times a month. They are really good, and willing to work with me. If I had not signed a 2 yr contract at my current gym, I'd go to the local studio.

meritage4

I've done yoga 2x week for years. Does it help with weightloss? Not really.
But it does help with stress, flexibility, balance and strength.
I'm still doing it and I've lost 39 lbs by watching my calories and adding other exercise.

Annamarie3404

@meritage4 . I've changed my eating habits at the beginning of this year. I got bored with the whole gym routine and want to change things up. I'll keep up with my cardio, but I have heard from many people how yoga has benefitted them. I hope it benefits me by helping my balance and reducing my stress/anxiety level. I feel relaxed, yet energized at the end of a session.