Yoga for Weight Loss
There are many great reasons to practice yoga. But will it help you lose weight? The answer is: It depends. Here’s the scoop.
Yoga burns calories
Yoga burns more calories than, say, sitting at your computer or zoning out in front of the TV. And burning calories is key to losing weight. How many calories you burn depends in part on what kind of yoga you do. Power Yoga, for instance, gets your heart pumping to give you a cardiovascular workout, says Terrance Evans, a NASM Elite Trainer. Regular yoga practice can also help build lean muscle, which in turn revs your metabolism, according to YogaWorks.
Yoga heightens your perception
Yoga makes you more aware of your body. With this increased awareness, you may start paying more attention to what you put in your mouth and how it affects your weight, says YogaWorks.
Yoga busts stress
These days, who isn’t stressed? Thanks to the stress hormone cortisol, chronic stress makes it harder to lose weight and easier to gain belly fat. “Yoga decreases the stress response and inhibits the secretion of cortisol,” says NASM Elite Trainer Michelle Carlson. The result? Less tension—and a better chance at weight loss.
Eager to give it a try? Check out the calorie-burning, strength-building poses in this video from YogaWorks’ David Kim.
Has yoga helped you lose weight? Tell us about it in the comment section below.
Join the largest health conversation in 140 characters or less! Tweet what you want to talk about to @SharecareNow and let’s start chatting!
File under: Fit Friday
Contributor
Cathy Poley
Cathy Poley is a Senior Web Producer at Sharecare. She has managed web and video projects for companies such as Primedia, CNN.com and Turner Broadcasting. Not only is Cathy a Sharecare employee, but she is also an avid Sharecare user, finding that the Q&As she reads inspire her to make better decisions about her health.
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11 hours ago
TIffany
Yoga has changed my life! In the last year it has helped me lose and maintain a 50 lb weight loss. I do power yoga 3-5 times a week and run 1-3 miles a day It has also helped my running posture as well made me gumby flexible. Many people like to attack their workouts at the gym, but I live a high stress life so i like my workouts to be restorative. Yoga gives me the ability to stay healthy mind body and soul. During a class I focus on my body, postures and breathing and I use the meditation time to talk to God and to clear my mind of daily stresses and worries. I can’t imagine it not being a part of my life forever!
Ashleigh
I love The Biggest Loser Yoga. I used to do it everyday, I no longer have the video
and started losing weight in after the first week. Plus, I had better balance, was less stressed, and gained some muscle. I recommend it to anyone who wants to start getting smaller and feel better about themself
pam
I am a truck driver and run team with my husband. This means I am in my truck 24 hrs a day 5 days a week. I would love to take yoga and know of a class that I could fit into my schedule on my day off. I am wondering if one class a week would be beneficial.
Kathy
@ Pam , yes yoga will help you going one day a week. I have lost inches. It makes one stronger too. Try it you will love it!
Loreen Grey
I’m doing yoga for my daily exercise. I usually do yoga after my work and I really love it, it clears my mind and emotions. This is definitely the way to a successful weight loss.
Loreen Grey
LO
I love practicing yoga! I also found that Natural Standard gives yoga a Grade A recommendation (meaning that there is strong scientific evidence available) for the treatment of asthma and hypertension, and a Grade B recommendation (meaning that there is good scientific evidence available) for depression, anxiety, as well as many other conditions. For me, it’s a great way to clear my mind and get a good workout at the same time!