Yoga For Weight Loss - Fact Or Fiction?

Yoga for weight loss, really? Losing weight is very simple, in theory. You simply need to burn more calories than you take in... that's it. What's so hard about that? In actuality, the balancing of both sides of this equation is hard. Your calorie intake is represented by your diet. I would argue that smart eating gets you more than half way to your weight loss goals, but this article is about whether or not yoga can help you with the calorie burning side. Let's talk about burning calories.

So How Do you Burn Calories?

Many wouldn't even consider using yoga for weight loss or to burn calories. When the average person thinks about burning calories in an effective way, it's typically aerobic activities like the classes, running or cycling. These activities do the main thing necessary to burn some major calories, which is elevate your heart rate. These are all activities that are performed at a moderate intensity level over a relatively long period of time. This explains why running at a moderate pace for a long distance is aerobic, but sprinting isn't. People recognize that yoga can be practiced over a long period of time, but when people consider using yoga for weight loss, they wonder if it qualifies as a moderate level of exertion?

Can Yoga Be Aerobic?

Yes it can! Unfortunately, there are only a few styles of yoga that lend themselves to a high degree of calorie burning. Here's a short list:

 1) Ashtanga (Power Yoga): As the nickname "Power Yoga" suggests, this is a more intense, faster pace of yoga.

 2) Iyengar: A lot of stamina is required for this style, as poses are often held for a long time.

 3) Bikram (Hot Yoga): Sweat time! It's performed in a room temperature of around 100 degrees! 

Yoga For Weight Loss Extra

Research has also suggested another reason why yoga works well as a part of a weight loss program... a stronger link between mind and body. This research suggests that this better link allows yoga practitioners to understand better the feelings and reasons behind our eating habits, and what our bodies actual need versus desires. This helps practitioners to be more "mindful" in their eating. By being more mindful in your eating, it becomes much easier to eating only when you are actually hungry, versus based on emotions.

So both research and my own personal experience have shown that you definitely can use yoga for weight loss. You just have to be sure you find an appropriate program to follow, if you're reaching for more than just the right mental attitude!