Yoga for weight loss?

ChrisR7361
ChrisR7361 Posts: 3
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone. I've been using MFP for about 2 weeks now and I love the control it enables me to have over an area of my life that has, for too long, been a roller coaster. I've been eating better and working on strength and cardio, and was thinking of adding yoga to my exercise routine. On the one hand, I know that yoga is useful for flexibility, balance, and feelings of well being; on the other, I've read that it decreases overall heart rate--which is a concern for me as I want my metabolism to be red hot. Thoughts?

Replies

  • katejkelley
    katejkelley Posts: 839 Member
    Hi, Chris! I highly recommend Rodney Yee Power Yoga (DVD). It's one intense workout - really gets my heart rate up. I also get a great all-over strengthening workout. Holding poses is isometric work, but you are also moving from one pose to another, jumping back into planks or upward dog, jumping back to another pose. There are yoga stretching DVD's (Rodney has some great ones, too), but there are a lot of really intense power yoga workouts out there by a lot of different people. Try it out and see if you don't get one hell of a workout!
  • ChrisR7361
    ChrisR7361 Posts: 3
    Thanks, Kate. I will definitely look into Rodney Yee's power yoga style. If it offers the benefits of yoga and raises the heart rate, I call that a win. :)
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,789 Member
    Where did you hear it lowers your heart rate?

    In a way, any exercise will lower your heart rate. Athletes have resting heart rates of 40-60 bpm.
  • superflus
    superflus Posts: 29
    Bikram yoga is particularly helpful for weight loss. I lost about fifteen pounds over three months doing Bikram when I was in graduate school.
  • wjewell
    wjewell Posts: 282 Member
    HEY! I have been doing DDP YOGA AND LOVE IT! :) I want you to take a look at the link i'm including. I hope it helps. My back and neck has ALWAYS hurt since a bad car accident I had and this yoga program has helped tremendously... Hope this helps :)

    http://www.ddpyoga.com/site/index.php/en/results/83-arthur
  • gypsycoyote
    gypsycoyote Posts: 23
    Well, I say add it for the well being factor! I burn 175 calories during a 40 minute session of post-natal yoga - it is not crazy, just Hatha yoga, which is calming and relaxing, not a major work out, however I always come out of it with so much sweat :D It is such a positive practice! I do it almost every morning - depends on how my body feels - and even when I complain of being in pain and don't want to do it, I get up and do it anyways because it helps to unkink things that get attacked while I sleep. :D Give it a try as a stress relief and warm up and cool down. :D Hope this helps!
  • 2knoxs
    2knoxs Posts: 81
    Where did you hear it lowers your heart rate?

    In a way, any exercise will lower your heart rate. Athletes have resting heart rates of 40-60 bpm.

    this^^ you want a low resting heart rate, a health heart is one that knows how to rest ;P
    and yoga can be very challenging!
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    Hi everyone. I've been using MFP for about 2 weeks now and I love the control it enables me to have over an area of my life that has, for too long, been a roller coaster. I've been eating better and working on strength and cardio, and was thinking of adding yoga to my exercise routine. On the one hand, I know that yoga is useful for flexibility, balance, and feelings of well being; on the other, I've read that it decreases overall heart rate--which is a concern for me as I want my metabolism to be red hot. Thoughts?

    Do you mean "resting heart rate" is decreased? That is your heart rate as taken first thing in AM (often while still lying in bed). A lower resting heart rate is a good thing, to my understanding.

    As for yoga programs--Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga kicks my butt, makes me sweat AND raises my heart rate while I'm attempting to hold the poses--

    and I agree with wjewell--check out Arthur's yoga transformation on youtube. Absolutely freakin amazing.

    Good luck!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    My work friend has lost 30 plus pounds so far with Yoga alone. She goes 4x a week and does Birkrum (sp) for 90 min. She is looking mighty fine I must say
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    I really enjoy yoga.

    There was a video going around a couple of months ago about a war vet that was pretty much disabled and started doing DDP yoga. The change was nothing short of miraculous.

    If you can find that video, it's definitely worth a watch.
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    yogazone on hulu is pretty nice
  • wjewell
    wjewell Posts: 282 Member
    I really enjoy yoga.

    There was a video going around a couple of months ago about a war vet that was pretty much disabled and started doing DDP yoga. The change was nothing short of miraculous.

    If you can find that video, it's definitely worth a watch.

    It's actuallly the video i posted.. Here ya go.

    http://www.ddpyoga.com/site/index.php/en/results/83-arthur
  • wyze
    wyze Posts: 248
    Hello, having a low heart rate is not necessarily a bad thing. My heart rate is really low, in the early 40's due to how active i have become and every time i visit the doctors, they always say it is a good thing if it stems from the fact that one is active. So far having a low heart rate hasnt interfered with my weightloss
  • elspencero
    elspencero Posts: 7 Member
    Rodney Yee is the man.
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
    I tend to lose weight when I do a gentle yoga. I think it's because it helps reduce stress and is so relaxing. If I'm less stressed and more relaxed, I tend to eat less!:happy:
  • susanb8500
    susanb8500 Posts: 19 Member
    You should try it and continue it if you like it. I love yoga. It's a wonderful complement for strength and cardio for the flexibility and stretching. I love the calming aspect as well. There are many different types so if you don't like what you try at first, try a different kind.
  • deniseearheart
    deniseearheart Posts: 919 Member
    weight loss is going slow for me but it is coming off.. I do cardio 3 days a week and yoga 2 days a week ..
  • mrykyldy2
    mrykyldy2 Posts: 96 Member
    I try to fit yoga in about 3 days a week atleast. It has helped a lot with my flexibility, I am sure it will help lose weight. I have known people it has worked for. For people like myself, I use it more for the relaxation and flexibility.
  • JudyL5305
    JudyL5305 Posts: 196 Member
    I love power yoga. I do Bob Harper Yoga for Warriors.
  • HannahPTA
    HannahPTA Posts: 39
    You really need to add Yoga...your muscles will thank you. After 5 days of hard strength and cardio routines I know my body needs it. Do you get a workout YES!! I swear bullets thru part of it and it's nice to give my heart rate a break. I find that the relaxing is the toughest part for me. I have done the Yee workout mentioned before and P90X Yoga and they are both great. Keep up the good work!
  • threedaysfromyou
    threedaysfromyou Posts: 32
    I enjoy the podcasts at Yoga Journal (www.yogajournal.com/video) and YOGAmazing (www.yogamazing.com). The podcasts are free on iTunes, though there is a per episode charge on yogamazing.com. on Yoga Journal you can choose a session by difficulty, length, instructor, or focus area. YOGAmazing is just one guy, but he does episodes with different themes. I like these for the variety and customizability. If my shoulders hurt, I can focus on that. If I've done a long run and I need to work my whole body over, I can do that.
  • healthyhawaii
    healthyhawaii Posts: 11
    Definitely add yoga in. It would benefit anybody and athletes of any sport. I wake each morning with a light 30-minute yoga routine that gets my energy channels/circulation/etc. flowing, and I have been trying to add in a similar routine in the evening to wind down, as I've noticed that this helps me to sleep better. For cardio, I am almost strictly a runner. On recovery days (from running), I do pilates and sometimes more advanced yoga than the mornings/evenings. Unfortunately, I'm not able to go to a gym to use weights (and only have 3-lbs at home), so I rely on calisthenic/gravity-utilizing exercises - as well as hill and stair training in my running - to keep/build muscle. It seems to work well for me. Yoga has been so incredibly complementary.

    A few of the general benefits that you'll notice which will help your performance:

    1. Teaches you to breathe more deeply (in and out), especially when the muscles are stressed or the body is in a posture;
    2. Teaches you to relax the muscles despite the presence of pain or discomfort, which will help you to conserve your energy and train you to focus your energy/deepen your breath as you choose;
    3. Strengthens the muscles;
    4. Improves flexibility in a safe way;
    5. Improves stamina/endurance;
    6. Provides stress relief;
    7. Provides pain relief;
    8. Improves posture

    ... The list could go on. All of these things will help your athletic performance and improve your quality of life.

    As for your heart rate, yoga is like any other exercise and does temporarily increase your caloric burn/metabolic activity (i.e., keeps your metabolism "red hot"), although by how much depends on the style of yoga. Overall, with regular practice, you can expect an improvement to your cardiovascular system, muscular and skeletal systems, neurological system, etc. etc. This improved overall fitness level will, in turn, reflect in a lower resting heart rate, which is desirable. The lower your resting heart rate is the less your heart needs to pump, as it has grown stronger and more efficient. Athletes commonly have RHR in the 40s and 50s.

    HTH!!

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