Yoga is Great. But, Can it Help Me Lose Weight?

Yoga is beloved by many, and for many reasons. It’s beneficial for relieving emotional and psychological tension, preventing burnout, and even a good night’s sleep. While yoga classes often contain a heavy spiritual undertone rich with principle and virtue, they are still considered fitness classes.

Fitness classes are generally designed to build physical endurance and strength for the common purpose of losing weight. So, do yoga classes automatically add up to be ideal for losing weight, or can they at least help? Well, it’s not that simple. There are some contingencies.

Does Type Matter?

The beautiful thing about modern yoga is that there are so many options as well as quirky trends to mix it up. There’s yoga for your face and yoga you can do in a chair, and while these types might have their benefits and potential to tone in part, they aren’t at the top of types of yoga that can assist with weight loss.

Traditional Yoga Styles

Traditional styles of yoga tend to focus heavily on the mind-body connection, which isn’t immediately linked to weight loss. But, it could have an impact on setting intentions and being strong in personal will to find the motivation.

Vinyasa Yoga

Styles such as Vinyasa, are commonly offered with “warm” or “hot” variations, meaning classes that are physically heated and humidified for detoxing. Newer styles of Vinyasa yoga, such as Bikram, known for its intensity and extreme temperature, have been believed to be more effective in helping to lose weight.

How Yoga Can Help People Lose Weight

The misconception comes from the fact that hot classes cause people to sweat a ton while raising their heart rate. These things equal weight loss, no? Not exactly. If we’re talking water weight, it’s possible to lose several pounds of water. But this is not the same as fat loss as water weight tends to fluctuate rapidly.

According to a study, differences with hot yoga are minimal. It was observed that metabolic rate while taking hot yoga, which is a determining factor in weight loss, was comparable to brisk walking.

Frequency is the Key and Consistency is Staple

The biggest determinant in whether or not yoga can aid in weight loss is effort applied. Because each person is different, each person may require their ideal amount of yoga that must be done to achieve weight loss results.

Frequency is important in this respect as an individual must determine how often and at what level yoga must be done to see the results they seek. Then, staying consistent until you reach your goals will determine your success.