Does yoga really help to lose weight?

[Sunshine3013]

Just as the title says... Did you lose weight with yoga? If so how often do you do it and for how long? Any recommendations on videos online to do?

I also think there is something in the "philosophy" of yoga - mindfullness, respecting your body etc. which helps you to make healthier choices.

Not sure you get those benefits from just dipping in and out but anything is better than nothing, after a few years of it I am finally able to appreciate my body (no weight problems, just poor self image) and I have felt a shift in the way I see myself.

@khaleesi71

I've been doing yoga most days now for a year combined with a couple of runs a week and improving my diet. I have lost weight but the yoga has worked wonders for my tone - I have arms, shoulders and abs!!! 15 mins every day - it's really worth it!

Yes I am interested in what 15mins you are doing.

While yoga isn’t traditionally considered an aerobic exercise, there are certain types of yoga that are more physical than others.

Active, intense styles of yoga help you burn the most calories. This may help prevent weight gain. Ashtanga, vinyasa, and power yoga are examples of more physical types of yoga.

I concur, yoga won't make you lose weight but you'll feel better, more flexible and strong. I use a couple of apps, I found I didn't get on with Yoga with Adriene, all the waffling is too distracting. That's why I prefer apps for home practice.

With the Down Dog app, you can select the length and type of practice you want to do. The free version has fewer options than the premium one but it's still great, you can really customise your practice.

I've also discovered the Pure Gym app, which has all sorts of different types of free home workouts, some 10 minutes long, including quite a few Pilates and Pilates-yoga sessions.

Yoga has helped to shape my body and ease aches and pains along with other workouts and it does wonders for stress etc but I don’t think it helps weight loss massively. Unless you do hot yoga and/or do power yoga and burn more calories maybe.

Obviously all movement is good and better than sitting still! And I recommend even really simple yoga.

What you look like is 80% about what you eat and 20% about what you do.

I've not found yoga in itself to influence weight loss for me. Calorie counting using Myfitnesspal app and figuring out my TDEE helped me lose 2 stone with just daily walking (lockdown).

I do love hot yoga though and can't wait to get back.

Also, power yoga with Brian on Youtube is fucking hard. DH thought yoga was easy until I made him do that with me.

No exercise helps me lose weight, but yoga is something I can do all year round and helps me keep the mindset to be kind to myself and to want to eat healthily. And in terms of physical effects, it makes me strong, toned and bendy.

I had a c section with my twins years ago and my abdominal muscles are still so weak

Do you have diastasis recti ? If so, there are many exercises to avoid until you've strengthened your core enough.

I do Fit Flow Max on Alo Yoga, it's tough and helped me shift the extra 5kgs I put on at the start of lockdown.

I lost weight doing 3 dynamic yoga classes a week, plus eating healthily. I also found that I really struggled with an early class if I'd had a drink the night before, so cut that out and it worked wonders for weight loss as well.

Believe me! When you’re doing three legged plank and similar, it sure makes you think twice about that bag of crisps or extra slice of toast! 🤣

I've just started Buti yoga. Totally different to traditional yoga but definitely burns more calories.