Yoga=Weight loss. What do you think?

tlbattaglia

I hope this isn't a big repeat of a post.  (I did do a little research on the board before posting.)

I've recently started doing yoga.  It's really helped with my stress and things like that.  However, what are your thoughts about using it to help with weightloss?  I've been doing it three times a week.  The thing is...I'm doing it in place of my regular work out (eliptical and weights).  I'm still doing the regular work out, but it's only happening two to three times a week as opposed to six times a week.  Good idea? 

TIA

baileynicole3

Doing yoga is a really good way to ease stress like you said. Also, when you use weights, it is really important to stretch out the muscles, and yoga is an awesome way to do that. I am a huge fan of yoga mainly because like you said it makes me feel so good. However, it is not really a replacement for the normal cardio and weight training. Pilates is maybe a better choice for getting the strength training (like you would from weights) but still has aspects similar to yoga. 

Hope that helps! 

ddeleo

My primary workout is yoga mixed in with some running and some weights. Usually, I attend 3 Fit Yoga classes a week, but everyday, I do about 10-15 Sun Salutations along with a couple of different planks, standing poses, etc to create about 20-25 minutes of exercise in the morning.

I have found that when practicing yoga daily, it does keep your body very toned, but I am working on my arms even more for the big day, so iI have added in additional weight lifting.  Also, I have found even though there are "cardio yoga classes" by moving through the yoga positions quickly, this does not replace regular cardio of either running, jogging, or elliptical.  

RayKateWedding

i think that yoga could be a good way to start getting into excersize.  If you're not used to moving AT ALL, it's a good way to get you up and moving and you may see some weight loss benefits from that as well.  i have HORRIBLE balance so yoga is very difficult for me and becomes a work out because i'm constantly trying not to fall!  i do the wii yoga, which probably isn't the best, but it's something.  on top of walking 2 miles a day...

MyWedding13

I still think cardio and weight lifting are going to be more beneficial to weight loss. I think yoga is important to do about two times a week. If you are noticing results, then obviously you have found the right formula. But if not, make sure to keep lifting and doing cardio!

anne.azano

I think yoga's contribution to weight loss is more subtle.  When you do yoga and concentrate on breathing and get in tune with your body, you naturally want to feel healthy and that (for me) translates into wanting to put good things into your body instead of bad things.  For that reason, I think that yoga is great in addition to weights and/or cardio.  Having said that, some yoga classes can be pretty intense and I think would be just as good!

Either way, I love yoga and the benefits go far beyond weight loss.  So, keep it up!

tlbattaglia

Thanks for all the advice.  I really am loving the yoga classes.  I think I'll continue this routine and see how it works. 

Ashaa23

I did yoga before my wedding and lost almost 25 lbs and felt the best I had in my life. However, I was doing Bikram yoga which is commonly known at hot yoga...a 90 minute series done in a room heated to 110 degrees plus humidity. It is a cardio workout, strength building and also really tones. If you want to  lose weight with yoga, you have to do the postures that focus on that. If you do Half moons, your midline will really be trimmed! 

tlbattaglia

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_yogaweight-loss-think?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:453ec7d9-932b-467b-b995-eb2a8173301aPost:547b1790-3e47-4081-be6c-c50e6e824dd8">Re: Yoga=Weight loss. What do you think?</a>:
[QUOTE]I did yoga before my wedding and lost almost 25 lbs and felt the best I had in my life. However, I was doing Bikram yoga which is commonly known at hot yoga...a 90 minute series done in a room heated to 110 degrees plus humidity. It is a cardio workout, strength building and also really tones. If you want to  lose weight with yoga, you have to do the postures that focus on that. If you do Half moons, your midline will really be trimmed! 
Posted by Ashaa23[/QUOTE]

That class sounds really interesting!  Thanks for sharing your experience.

Rockerchick842

If you enjoy yoga, but don't want to loose cardio or toning, try the Yoga Booty Ballet DVDs. The instructors incorporate dance with yoga and toning practices. There are DVDs specific to interests (i.e Cardio Cabaret, HipHop Abs, Body Sculpting-Bollywood Style) as well as general DVDs, but all of the DVDs incorporate cardio, toning, and yoga. Plus, buying the DVDs on Amazon.com or eBay can be very cost effective (much cheaper than gym/class memberships).

tlbattaglia

Thanks for the advice!

anne.azano

If you have a good internet connection, for $10 a month you can join yogatoday and access 100s of classes.  They're each about an hour long and if you like a class, you can download.  I've downloaded like 40 of them, they're great and I can do yoga anywhere!

tlbattaglia

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_yogaweight-loss-think?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:453ec7d9-932b-467b-b995-eb2a8173301aPost:c26e6d6f-2cea-4fc6-b7e7-d8a63f0acdb8">Re: Yoga=Weight loss. What do you think?</a>:
[QUOTE]If you have a good internet connection, for $10 a month you can join yogatoday and access 100s of classes.  They're each about an hour long and if you like a class, you can download.  I've downloaded like 40 of them, they're great and I can do yoga anywhere!
Posted by anne.azano[/QUOTE]

Wow.  I've never heard of anything like this before.  Once you download them you catch just replay them whenever you want? 

Ksahlberg

Bikram yoga! I lost 10 lbs last winter doing it 5 times a week. it's hot though, be careful!

dizdog2011

PILATES IS DEFINATELY BETTER FOR LOSING INCHES BECAUSE IT KEEPS YOUR HEART RATE UP WHILE TONING YOUR MUSCLES. I WOULD TRY DOING THAT INSTEAD. YOGA, WHILE STILL CHALLENGING IS MORE ABOUT BREATHING AND STRESS REDUCTION FROM MY EXPERIENCE. I WOULD SAY DO YOGA/PILATES LIKE 1 OR 2 DAYS A WEEK TO SO IT BREAKS UP YOUR WORKOUTS AND GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO!

kristie1027

Yoga is great for weight loss! I do yoga about 4 times a week and each time I do it, my heart rate is up and I sweat. But if you're really concerned about losing a few extra pounds, do some cardio before your yoga routine, not only will it be good cardio but it also helps to warm up those muscles for yoga and help the practice be more effective!!

ashleyarne

You may only lose weight if your doing a high intensity yoga work out and eating healthy...Jillian Michaels from biggest loser has a great yoga video that incorporates weight loss. 

If you really wanna lose weight though you should also keep doing cardio, and weight lifting.

I recently just learned with cardio. that interval training is the best way to go to lose weight for example: on a treadmill you should put the incline to the highest it will go and walk for 2 minutes, then lower the incline and sprint for 1 minute..then repeat this process for a total of 20 min. Celebrity trainer Jackie Warner says that this is the most effective way. She has a lot of great tips in her book "This is why your fat" I highly recommend it.

Knottie1465948133

Yoga is a great way to supplement your workouts.  It helps increase your flexibility, coordination, and really brings you calmness of mind (which all brides need!) I do yoga once a week sometimes twice for 90 mins.  But to burn fat and lose the weight you need cardio and weight training too!  You burn more calories doing some curls than running for a 1/2 hour.  I really suggest all people who are looking for a great way to get in shape do insanity or p90x.  Its a very intense 90 days but I have lost 25 lbs and I am in love.  Try eating clean too  It has really worked for me and I never thought I could look good or achieve the things I wanted when it came to weight loss!

orbifolds

Absolutely it will help with weight loss! Though, changes in your body with regular gym provided yoga classes may be slow. I completely swear by hot yoga. Sounds daunting, but you will learn to love the heat after a few sessions. I started hot yoga this past march - did about two to three sessions per week and maybe did some running at the gym, and have never seen such drastic changes with my body. After just a month I was far more toned, better digestion, less stress....everything got better! I strongly recommend you find a studio and try it out.

nikmic1807

I have been doing yoga for about 4 years and it has made a big difference for me. The type of yoga classes I go to are 1.5 hours and burn about 600 calories and I also jog/run a couple of times a week. Last year I lost 15lbs in the summer just doing the yoga 2 times a week and jogging outside for 30 minutes 3 times a week. It just depends on the kind of yoga you do. Hatha is more for stretching and relaxation but will also tone. Vinyasa Flow will get the weight off and tone plus it relaxes too!

I also found that yoga in the gym is COMPLETELY different than yoga in a studio. I prefer the studio by far.

Hope that helps!

Snof1ake

If you're looking to also tone up your muscles and lose weight (and more muscle = more calories burned just breathing) then it's especially good to alternate days between weightlifting and yoga.  Your muscles need time to build and heal between weightlifting sessions, and yoga is great for stretching those worked muscles out and helping tone lean muscle tissue.  So I say keep it up, and it's not a big deal that you're doing yoga in place of your weightlifting workouts a couple days a week.

ChariseAB

I think you will get wedding ready results with one hour of heavy cardio at least four times a week. You will also need the yoga time too to make sure your muscles are getting the full conditioning time they need. Warming up and cool off time is just as important as jacking up your heart rate during a fat burning cardio session. 

Also something empowering: Imagine how fab you will feel with your leaner, tight and high body. Never mind your honeymoon bikini. The result of hard work pays off every day when faced with your closet of clothes. You will look awesome in them!

beachbrat2005

If you want to continue doing yoga and still do not see results in your waist.  Try ZUMBA! I love it and have been doing it for years.  You burn about 1,000 calories an hour.  I know this is a big leap from yoga, but this will definatly pay off in the long run. That and it is super fun.  Oh and my wedding day gift to myself is becoming a Zumba Instructor.

Good luck on your weight loss!

r0xych1cana

If you love Yoga, I would recommend getting the DVD "Yogalosophy" by Mandy Ingber (Jennifer Anniston's personal yoga instructor). I do pilates for strength training & flexibility since I find traditional yoga to be too slow-paced for me (I have exercise ADD!), but Yogalosophy combines Yoga poses with strength exercises...for example,  you hold the temple pose & then go into squats. It's only 30 minutes & I'm in pretty good shape but it kicks my butt every time!  The next day I'm sore (especially my quads & butt), so I know it works!

emiHunter

Two words: Sun Salutations. 

I would say keep the yoga. It'll keep you moving and help the stress, and also give you a bit of of a change-up to keep from getting burned out on exercising.

If it's just not enough, try out different kinds of yoga. There are lots of instructors who do specialized classes for more of a workout - heated ones, ones with with weights, etc.

emiHunter

yes, this!>

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_yogaweight-loss-think?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:453ec7d9-932b-467b-b995-eb2a8173301aPost:71260170-6ece-4351-aa82-40f211e51d42">Re: Yoga=Weight loss. What do you think?</a>:
[QUOTE]If you're looking to also tone up your muscles and lose weight (and more muscle = more calories burned just breathing) then it's especially good to alternate days between weightlifting and yoga.  Your muscles need time to build and heal between weightlifting sessions, and yoga is great for stretching those worked muscles out and helping tone lean muscle tissue.  So I say keep it up, and it's not a big deal that you're doing yoga in place of your weightlifting workouts a couple days a week.
Posted by Snof1ake[/QUOTE]

anne.azano

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_yogaweight-loss-think?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:453ec7d9-932b-467b-b995-eb2a8173301aPost:c4cb856d-2bec-4b54-925a-a48640e1bc66">Re: Yoga=Weight loss. What do you think?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Yoga=Weight loss. What do you think? : Wow.  I've never heard of anything like this before.  Once you download them you catch just replay them whenever you want? 
Posted by tlbattaglia[/QUOTE]

<div>YES!  It's great.  If you're a member, you pay $3 per class.  If not, it's 4 or 5.  But, I think it's worth paying $10 a month to be a member, because then I can try the class, see if I like it, and buy it if it's worth it to me.  Great way to practise yoga regularly if you can't afford classes (which are of course better, but this is a great second-best).</div>

tlbattaglia

Great advice, everyone.  Thanks!

angriv

I did yoga before my wedding and lost almost 25 lbs and felt the best I had in my life. However, I was doing Bikram yoga which is commonly known at hot yoga...a 90 minute series done in a room heated to 110 degrees plus humidity. It is a cardio workout, strength building and also really tones. If you want to  lose weight with yoga, you have to do the postures that focus on that. If you do Half moons, your midline will really be trimmed! 


I too practice bikram yoga.  I think it's a great workout and a wonderful stress reliever - especially pre-wedding!

The results ae amazing.  After losing 99 pounds, I am dealing with some excess skin issues.  The yoga is helping tone those areas.  Try it - you'll like it!  Your first couple of classes may be challanging but kepe pushing through and you'll be just fine.  I myself like ot practice when the weather is cooler outside - you can appreciate and actually enjoy the heat in the hot room!

sccrrobbie11

If you are looking to lose some weight you are going to want to do exercises that keep your heart rate at about 60% of your heart rate max (220-age) for longer periods of time like 30-60 min. ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) says that you should exercise most days of the week, so 4-5 days. Yoga is a great stress reliever, and balance, along with flexibility, are important parts of a healthy body/lifestyle! Keep at it I would just supplement it with some cardio and some strength training (you don't have to do it all on the same day). Find something that you love doing! Good luck and remember to be smart and safe with your weight loss!

anne.azano

People who think (certain forms of) yoga isn't a form of strength training probably haven't done it!