Yoga

noaddedsugarx

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to exercise but I've only recently started going to classes at the gym. So far Metafit is my favourite as it only lasts 30 minutes and I really feel the effects. I was looking at other classes to mix it up a bit and I'm thinking of trying yoga. Does anyone incorporate it as part of their fitness routine and how effective is it when it comes to weight loss?

Cherimoose

Yoga isn't a very high calorie burner compared to some other exercises. It's usually done for its other benefits (flexibility, balance, etc). For fat loss & general fitness, the usual advice is to include full-body strength training, using progressively increasing resistance. Metafit doesn't accomplish that as well as a freeweight-based strength program, so i would add a weights class, or follow a good program (NROL, Stronglifts, etc), or work with a personal trainer.

dragonbug300

Definitely try yoga. If you're anything like every person I've ever known, you'll probably hate the first class and then love the feeling afterwards enough to go back. Forewarned is forearmed.

"Does anyone incorporate it as part of their fitness routine?"
I do! As often as physically possible! However, I do not consider it a primary source of exercise. I'm saying this as a regular practitioner and a yoga instructor. Use it on your rest days, as a way to rev up in the mornings, cool down in the evenings, a post-workout stretch, or an additional burn to make your workouts more effective. It's also good on those days when you're feeling 'off' and need to move, but can't bring yourself to do high-impact exercise.

"How effective is it when it comes to weight loss?"
Very, if you commit mind and body. The greatest benefit for weight loss is actually the meditation bit--becoming aware of your body through the motions and learning to breathe through pain, accept setbacks, and so-forth. It helps many people sleep better, which assists in the reduction of cortisol and ghrelin (hungry hormones).
The physical benefits are strength and flexibility, which can lead to a more aesthetically pleasing physique. To be clear, though: you don't need to be strong or flexible to do yoga. I've had people in my classes who couldn't hold a plank or even bend down and reach their knees. After a few weeks of practice, they could do all of that as well as things they didn't know possible. The journey of self-discovery is amazing and I've found it's extremely effective for boosting good feelings and good life choices.