Is using yoga for weight loss possible? Losing weight is easy, in principle. You simply need to burn more calories than you take in... that's it. That's not tough is it? In practice, 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 examines whether or not yoga can assist you with the calorie burning side. Let's talk about calorie burning.
<span style="font-size: medium;">So How Do you Burn Calories?</span>
Most people don't think of using yoga for weight loss or calorie burning. When most people think about burning calories in a quick efficient way, it's typically aerobic activities such as the classes, running or cycling. These activities accomplish the main thing necessary to burn some serious calories, which is raise your heart rate. All of these activities are performed at a moderate intensity level over a longer period of time. This explains why running at a moderate pace for a long distance is aerobic, but sprinting is not. People recognize that yoga can be practiced over a long period of time, but when people think about using yoga for weight loss, they're unsure if it qualifies as a moderate level of exertion?
<span style="font-size: medium;">Can Yoga Be Aerobic?</span>
The short answer is absolutely! However, there are only some styles of yoga that that have the potential to have 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: Major stamina is needed for this style, as poses are often held for an extended amount of time.
3) Bikram (Hot Yoga): Sweat time! It's performed in a room temperature of around 100 degrees!
<span style="font-size: medium;">Yoga For Weight Loss Extra</span>
Research has also suggested an additional reason why yoga works well as a part of a weight loss program... a better 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 choices, and what our bodies actual require versus wants. 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 need to, versus based on emotions.
Therefore it is clear from both research and my own personal experience that you definitely can use yoga for weight loss. You just have to ensure you find an appropriate program to follow, if you're looking for more than just the right mental attitude!
