Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Category: Yoga |

Yoga is known for its beneficial effects on focussing the mind and developing strength and concentration, but does yoga help you lose weight? Well, broadly speaking, yes, any activity will result in the burning of some calories, but if you want yoga to have a noticeable effect on your weight loss then you have to choose your yoga form carefully.

How Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

To lose weight you need to burn calories. To burn calories you need to significantly increase your heart rate for at least 20 minutes, 3 times per week. This makes many yoga forms unsuitable for any real weight loss, as they focus on balance, strengthening and meditation. However, to address this there are some new forms of yoga that are a fusion on ancient yoga techniques and modern workouts.

Power Yoga

This yoga form is a blend of cardio workouts and Ashtanga yoga. It was created to appeal to Westerners and has taken gyms by storm over the last twenty years. It is fast-paced and is guaranteed to get your blood pumping. Power yoga is suitable for those who are already fairly fit. Although there are no poses, as is traditional in yoga, there is a focus on strengthening and toning, which is a great accompaniment to your weight loss.

Hot Yoga – can yoga help you lose weight?

Hot yoga is a broad term, applied to any type of yoga performed in a heated room. Usually the temperature will be around 40°C, which allows the body to work up a real sweat. The point of this is to allow the body to expel toxins, but in addition the heat also soothes muscles, resulting in increased flexibility. The loss of liquid as sweat will result in a small amount of weight loss, but that will just be in the short term. The real way in which you can lose weight is by making your body work harder due to the increased temperature. So, does yoga help you lose weight? Absolutely, if it’s power yoga or hot yoga.

It is important to remember that yoga is not designed purely for weight loss. The benefits of yoga are many, such as improving balance, co-ordination, confidence, posture, circulation and relaxation. It can distress you in just one session and teach you breathing and meditative techniques that will calm and soothe in your everyday life. The strengthening of muscles and bones that can be achieved by yoga is so effective that it has been shown to prevent the onset of common diseases such as osteoporosis (brittle bones).

In answer to the question, ‘does yoga help you lose weight?’ yes, certain types do such as power yoga and hot yoga. The other benefits of yoga are wide reaching and will be an excellent boost to your confidence, positivity and will power on your weight-loss journey.