Yoga as strength training?

zeldon919

Is yoga (regular, not power or hot) good enough strength training to prevent muscle loss?
How is it different in this respect from body weight exercises?
Maintaining muscle and improving flexibility are the only goals here, not toning or building.

kshama2001

I've been practicing yoga for 20 years, got my teacher's certification 14 years ago, am a big proponent of yoga, and am going to say you do need something more intense like power/ashtanga/vinyasa to prevent muscle loss. Regular hatha just isn't intense enough.

But you're right in that bodyweight exercises are often inspired by yoga poses, so your particular routine might be fine. I'd need to know more about it.

ninerbuff

"Strength" training means overloading to increase or improve strength. While initially you may improve strength, body weight exercises have their limits (well unless you're gaining weight along with exercise).
If you're just looking to maintain, you just need enough resistance to have it feel a bit challenging. Oh, and make sure you're eating enough protein to encourage muscle sparing.

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

zeldon919

Thanks! Sort of what I thought.

I think for now it'll be fine. My current fitness focus is anything at all 3x week, as opposed to nothing. I go to a *kitten* $10 gym for cardio, and will add yoga to the mix (Hatha, in a studio, 90min class).

I think the stretching and flexibility aspects of yoga are more in line with my immediate fitness needs than strength training anyways.

I'm planning on joining a good gym with classes and trainers later on (when going to the gym regularly is a firmly entrenched habit) , so I'll save traditional strength training until then.