Is Yoga good for helping weight loss???

CaramelizedSugar
CaramelizedSugar Posts: 1 Member
edited November 23 in Health and Weight Loss
So I decided that because I cannot afford a gym membership, that I would try Yoga. Is that a good way of exercise?

Replies

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Sure, during my three years living at yoga retreat centers I knew many fit people whose only form of intentional exercise was yoga. The fittest tended to practice styles of yoga that are more cardiovascular and involve more bodyweight, such as Power, Ashtanga, or JivanMukti.

    Gentler forms of yoga burn less calories but can be great for stress relief, which is helpful for weight loss if one tends to manage stress by overeating.
  • PokeyBug
    PokeyBug Posts: 482 Member
    It could be. I do a yoga-like exercise along with plain, old walking to keep myself fit. Yoga will tone your muscles, but I think that you might also want to add a bit of cardio to the plan. Since you can't afford a gym, is there a local park where you can walk or jog?
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    Yes!!! I tone with yoga and Pilates...it’s a fabulous way to firm up.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    Also--there are lots of free videos out on the web that you can use in lieu of a gym and that don't require equipment. Try FitnessBlender.com... I'm sure there are others...
  • sksk1026
    sksk1026 Posts: 215 Member
    Strong Curves has a bodyweight workout you can do at home. It's designed for women and the before vs after pics are staggering! You can buy the book on amazon or look it up via the search facility on the forums for the url to a free pdf.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Yoga is a good form of exercise and can be practiced at various levels of intensity. You still need to watch what you eat for weight loss.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited January 2018
    What sort of yoga?
    Yoga is awesome, but the calorie counts etc, depend on what kind.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Yoga is great but losing weight is all about taking in less calories than you burn so focus on your calorie intake to lose.
  • JCT1000
    JCT1000 Posts: 19 Member
    My wife is a yoga instructor, and about 10 years ago we went to a Yoga Journal conference in Lake Geneva. One of the presenters was Wade Morissette, Alanis' twin brother. He would play guitar and sing while guiding us through the poses. The routine as I recall, was a lot of the Ashtanga 1st series poses mixed in with 50 (yes, fifty) sun salutations. Very demanding. So, yes, yoga can be cardiovascular exersize in addition to flexibility and strength training.

    Sun salutations!!
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Is it a good form of exercise? Yep. Will it help with weight loss? Hard to say, but in most cases, no. It certainly won't hurt, though.
  • brendanwhite84
    brendanwhite84 Posts: 219 Member
    You might find it helpful to think of this in terms of diet and yoga being two variables in an equation - the equation being your body's energy balance.

    If you continue eating at your standard level (which I assume is presently at a level where your weight is static) but do yoga, you'll experience a very minor weight loss - I would guess maybe 1 lb every couple of months based on my own experiences with basic yoga and my caloric burn from that.

    On the other hand, if you don't do yoga and log your food carefully (aiming for 1 lb per week) you'll lose a pound per week consistently as long as you stick to it.

    If you do both, you'll lose a little faster and you'll get the other health & wellness benefits of yoga.

    My girlfriend struggled for a long time with losing weight, and at one point tried yoga by itself - she's lost a lot more since I set her straight.
  • DanyellMcGinnis
    DanyellMcGinnis Posts: 315 Member
    I don't get much of a calorie burn from yoga, but I do enjoy it as a way of maintaining flexibility, getting moving in the morning, and destressing.

    If a gym membership is not in the cards (and remember some workplaces and apartment complexes have gyms that are free for employee/resident use), the suggestions in this thread are good. Also some on-demand cable/satellite or video streaming services have workouts, and many public libraries still offer DVD rentals. I've also seen cheap/clearance workout DVDs at places like TJ Maxx and Marshall's, and have personally donated some I don't use anymore to Goodwill, so it is worth checking thrift stores as well (may also be able to get some inexpensive equipment that way).
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I can be great for weight loss. It burns more calories than being sedentary and it can be a great stress reliever and stress can most definitely affect weight loss. Especially if you tend to be an emotional eater.

    You still need to watch your calorie intake, of course. But Yoga is good stuff.
  • BlaqueDiamond1989
    BlaqueDiamond1989 Posts: 57 Member
    I just started taking basic yoga classes. I don't know if it helps with weight loss, but I know it does help with stress. Once I am done with a session, I feel so calm and at peace. I would recommend you take it whether it is for weight loss, or just for the sense of relaxation it gives you.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    edited January 2018
    I would suggest a more comprehensive strength/body weight program than just "yoga" For home use.

    Like You are your Own gym, Convict Conditioning, Kavadlos, Pavel(Joints/Naked Warrior). Etc
  • sschrock
    sschrock Posts: 114 Member
    Try looking up Les Mills Body Flow on youtube. It's a combo workout of Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates, and it will burn calories! Good luck!
  • JillianRumrill
    JillianRumrill Posts: 335 Member
    DDP Yoga is good
  • fran42672
    fran42672 Posts: 1 Member
    Yoga is great for many things, but potentially you could gain weight doing it. Muscle weighs more, and it helps to build/tone muscles. Lost pants sizes doing it but not weight. Hit your local library and view their fitness DVD collection. Lots of fun things that you can do to exercise and not have to pay a dime for (unless you take them back late, then it's a dime a day).
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    JillianRumrill wrote: »
    DDP Yoga is good

    Indeed, I need to add it to my standard list of good BW Programs.
  • chispaza
    chispaza Posts: 153 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    I love yoga, but to lose weight I weigh and log my food making sure to stay within my calorie allowance.

    This
  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    I started doing yoga, which somehow helped me be more mindful of what I ate. I felt better as I got stronger. I think it is a good workout regardless of whether it helps with weight loss. But, I was losing weight after I began doing yoga (but I also started jogging)
  • riffraff2112
    riffraff2112 Posts: 1,756 Member
    Momepro wrote: »
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    I don't think he would be very helpful for weight loss, as he is always stealing picnic baskets in Jellystone Park. :|

    That's Yogi. Yoga is the personal trainer that lives in that one swamp. His methods involve making you carry him around and swamp salvage trips. Generally gets results, but migjt be a bit extreme fir the beginner.

    That's Yogurt, Yoga is that creamy milky substance that is high in protein.
  • KatiieT96
    KatiieT96 Posts: 32 Member
    I used to some strength yoga classes and energy based yoga and they definitely helped me tone up when I wasn’t doing much else
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