Yoga and Weightloss

eeebee
eeebee Posts: 471 Member
edited October 4 in Fitness and Exercise
I have only been doing yoga since June - I LOVE it. I am a beginner but I am hooked.

Please can someone tell me if it is combined with exercise say 3 - 4 times a week, it can contribute to some type of weight loss or alter the body shape in a desirable way?

I know it's already helped my posture at my desk/when sedentary.

Replies

  • diam0nddagger
    diam0nddagger Posts: 45
    I'm sure it would help? I know I'm always knackered and starving after yoga class so I figure it's doing good!
  • Jourdan_Rystrom
    Jourdan_Rystrom Posts: 176 Member
    I have never done Yoga, but I have been doing Pilates for a year now and it has COMPLETELY transformed my body!!! I am now long, lean, and thin compared to muscular and bulky fat (which I used to be). I am still muscular, just more of a lean muscle, toned look. Love it!

    Definitely recommend Pilates. Great core workout that will leave you sweating and invigorated :)
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I think so. I lost a chunk of weight a few years ago by doing yoga 3 times per week and running 4 times per week. (I then suffered a knee injury and got off track...) Even though yoga is mostly stretching, you're using your own body weight, so it's like weight lifting. I think if you couple it with cardio then you'll be fine. (You could also try Spinga, if that's available where you are.)
  • OSC_ESD
    OSC_ESD Posts: 752 Member
    Yoga is not only AMAZING for your mind and soul .... it create definitely redefine your body ! There are sooooo many different Yoga techniques that can focus on areas such as weightloss. There are 2 positions that if done correctly and daily will help tighten your stomach muscles like no other exercise ! It is used widely by fitness guru's across the entire World ! I encourage you to speak to your instructor and ask many questions .... I ♥ Yoga !
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
    Yep. Yoga improves flexibility and co-ordination which are hugely important pieces in the big jigsaw of fitness.

    Plus, I always sweat buckets during an hour or so of Yoga so that's gotta be a bunch of calories burnt right there.

    Jay
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    I am certain of it. Yoga lengthens muscles, and builds strength and flexibility. Great combination with other exercise for a well rounded experience. Keep up the great job, you've already shown that it has helped your posture, so it can only get better from here!
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
    Strange... I posted on this thread a minute ago and saw a few more posts from other folk too but now they seem to be gone...

    Anyway, what i said was:

    Yep. Yoga improves core strength and flexibility which are massively important pieces in the jigsaw of fitness.

    Plus, I always sweat buckets doing an hour or so of Yoga so that's gotta be a helluva calorie burn.

    Jay
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    It certainly helps sculpt muscles, so yes, it can alter your body shape in a positive way.

    The main positive of yoga is that while it doesn't burn a lot of calories, it improves your strength, flexibility and balance and therefore has a positive impact on form and function when you do other exercises and makes them more effective.

    Plus, it's meditative, even the more vigorous practices.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Strange... I posted on this thread a minute ago and saw a few more posts from other folk too but now they seem to be gone...

    Anyway, what i said was:

    Yep. Yoga improves core strength and flexibility which are massively important pieces in the jigsaw of fitness.

    Plus, I always sweat buckets doing an hour or so of Yoga so that's gotta be a helluva calorie burn.

    Jay

    I sweat buckets, too, but burn about 200 calories in an hour of hard core power yoga.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Why are posts in this thread disappearing???
  • eeebee
    eeebee Posts: 471 Member
    I'm sure it would help? I know I'm always knackered and starving after yoga class so I figure it's doing good!

    YES! Me too, my stomach always growls during the class - it makes me so hungry?!!
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
    Why are posts in this thread disappearing???

    Yeah, it's odd this thread. My posts were posting but I couldn't see them when checking back on the thread... Wasn't appearing in my topics feed either. Weird...

    Jay
  • eeebee
    eeebee Posts: 471 Member
    How wierd, maybe this site is having a few glitches...:huh:

    Thanks v. much for your input everyone.

    I tried Pilates - firstly I didnt like the instructor, he was so uninterested and secondly, the whole idea of counting breaths so meticulously put me right off.

    I did it twice but it didnt leave me feeling even half as amazing as yoga made me feel, so I haven't pursued it.

    Has anyone heard of or tried yogalates (fusion of the two)? I bought a DVD so I will give it a go soon.
  • peoplehouse
    peoplehouse Posts: 2
    Except that some of the websites say that you burn over 600 calories (at my weight for 1 hr) for Bikram yoga. That's a LOT! Is that not true?
  • JamesBurkes
    JamesBurkes Posts: 382 Member
    While HRMs are not particularly accurate at measuring calorie burn for activities like Yoga, I burn over 400 calories an hour according to my HRM for Power Yoga and over 600 (!) for something like "Yoga Meltdown" (both workouts done back to back). This may seem high, but my heart rate is usually around 70+% of my max throughout, I'm breathing hard, my muscles are under constant tension and I'm dripping in sweat, so considering the above it seems likely that I do burn those amounts which are, let's face it, equivalent to "very brisk walking" for a 210 lb guy.

    There are better calorie burners, but considering the multitude of other benefits you get from Yoga, those seem like nice figures to have as an added "fat burning bonus."
This discussion has been closed.

Categories