Is using yoga for weight loss possible? Losing weight is very simple, in theory. You simply need to burn more calories thanyou take in... period. That's not tough is it? In actuality, the balancing of both sidesof this equationis difficult. The number of calories you take inis represented by your diet. My opinion isthat eating rightgets 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 burning calories.
How Are Calories Burned?
Most people don't think ofusing yoga for weight loss or to burn calories. When the average person thinks about burning calories in an effective way, it's typicallyaerobic activities like the classes, running or cycling. These activities do the main thing necessary to blow through somemajor calories, which is elevate your heart rate. All of these activitiesare performed at a moderate intensity levelover a relatively long period of time. This is 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 think about using yoga for weight loss, they wonderif it qualifies as a moderate level of exertion?
Can Yoga Be Aerobic?
The short answer is absolutely! However, there are only a few styles of yoga that that have the potential to havea 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 required for this style, as poses are often held for a longtime.
3) Bikram (Hot Yoga): Sweat time! It's performed in a room temperature of near 100 degrees!
Yoga For Weight Loss- An Added Benefit
Research has also suggested an additionalreason why yoga can be an integralpart 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 need versus wants. This allows 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 desires.
So both research and my own personal experience have shownthat you definitely can use yoga for weight loss. You just have to be sure you find a fittingprogram to follow, if you're looking for more than just the right mental attitude!
If you truly wish to succeed at being in the best shape of your life, then you must visit the world's best resource. Go to Next Level Yoga immediately, to see how easily it can be done with at home workouts!
Darvin J. Hooey is a true health and fitness fan. His interest lie in organic gardening, weight training, vegetarian eating and yoga, with the latter being his favorite hobby. This is the resource he uses in his yoga pursuits Next Level Yoga .
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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