Lose Weight With Yoga
July 17, 2008
Conventional yoga isn’t a vigorous type of exercise. While it conditions and tones your muscles, you’re not likely to work up a sweat during a yoga session. However, the fact that your muscles are being given a workout means your body is utilizing calories more effectively. So, cardiovascular exercise will yield better results if you also practice yoga regularly.
Yoga can also give you the discipline you need to stick to a diet and exercise program. It enhances the relationship between the mind and body, giving you the motivation to take better care of yourself. Lack of motivation is a frequent problem among those who want to lose weight, so this is a very important benefit.
Different Schools of Yoga
If you are looking to lose weight through yoga alone, you may want to seek out some of these different yoga classes. Some of these are non-traditional, but will give you the benefits of yoga and cardio exercise at the same time. These styles of yoga include:
Vinyasa yoga - Vinyasa yoga is centered on shifting from one asana, or pose, to another while concentrating on your breathing. The Sun Salutation is a typical position, but there are many others. Vinyasa yoga is often practiced in a heated room to encourage sweating.
Ashtanga yoga - Ashtanga is a complex style of yoga that includes six different series of poses. Each series is more complex than the previous one, so it’s important to start at the beginning and work your way up.
Power yoga - This is an Americanized version of yoga. It combines faster, more active movements with traditional yoga breathing techniques.
These types of yoga are more likely to increase your heart rate and work up a sweat than traditional yoga. While they may not give you as much of a workout as aerobics, they combine weight loss and cardiovascular benefits with the muscle building and flexibility training of yoga. And for those who do not have the time to participate in two separate workout programs, they can be a great option.
One the surface, aerobics and yoga have few similarities. Nevertheless, conventional yoga can boost the benefits of cardiovascular exercise, and the newer styles of this ancient practice can be a great replacement for your usual aerobics. If you’re dissatisfied with the results you’re seeing from your normal exercise program, why not give yoga a try?
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