How many Calories are Burned in Yoga?

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual training that is suitable for people with a variety of age group. The word yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word which means union of the mind or soul and body with the universe. Yoga is one of the hottest fitness options for many individuals these days (the term hot is not used only due to its high demand but a yoga class is actually conducted in heated rooms up to forty degrees as it can help to expend more calories).

Yoga to Reduce Body Weight

Yoga not only helps to maintain your weight by expending calories but also provides many psychological and social benefits. But how many calories burned in yoga? A traditional yoga class may involve up to 20 postures in one session with correct breathing techniques to promote wellness.

Calories burned during yoga in this session will depend on the exertion during each pose, a yoga pose involving low intensity will burn fewer calories compared to a pose that requires greater intensity. A traditional yoga can burn up to 200 calories per hour for an average weight person (150 pounds). However a hot yoga can burn up to 700 calories per hour as it has around forty percent humidity in the room which also induces sweating. Ashtanga yoga on the other hand is moderate to intense workout and can burn up to 300 calories in an hour. Power yoga like ashtanga yoga can burn up to 300 calories per hour. Power yoga involves implementing quick changes in position and intense breathing patterns. This is the most western version of yoga which involves combination of different postures. It can be best for people with adequate yoga experience but may be difficult for beginners due to its quick pace.

Besides calories burnt in yoga to maintain or lose weight, yoga also offers many other health benefits. Some of its physiological benefits include – increased cardiovascular efficiency, decreased pulse rate, decreased respiratory rate, increased respiratory efficiency, musculoskeletal flexibility, increased grip strength, improved eye-hand co-ordination, increased endurance, increased energy levels, improved excretory functions, improved sleeping pattern, normalized gastrointestinal function, stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium, normalized endocrine function, decrease pain, improved balance and steadiness. Some of the psychological benefits of yoga include – decreased anxiety and depression, increased self acceptance and self actualization, improved depth perception, increased social skill, increased general wellbeing, improved attention and concentration, decreased hostility, improved memory, increased social adjustments, improved learning efficiency, improved symbol coding, improved flicker fusion frequency, improved mood and lesser mood swings, and increased kinesthetic and somatic awareness. Some of the biochemical benefits of yoga include – decreased sodium, balanced blood glucose levels, decreased triglycerides, increased high density lipoproteins, decreased low density lipoproteins, decreased very low density lipoproteins, increased hemoglobin, increased hematocrit, increased total serum proteins, and increased vitamin C.

If you are a beginner start under correct supervision and guidance to gain maximum benefits from this form of exercise. Correct breathing techniques and poses holds lot of importance then just burning calories. Once learned and mastered then can be practiced daily for in general well being and good health.

Submitted on January 16, 2014