What is the best part about a yoga routine? It’s not just for women! Men who want to get in shape should try this practice as well. In fact, according to the American Council on Exercise, “yoga helps people feel better physically, mentally and emotionally—and improves their ability to function effectively both during exercise and throughout life.” The ACE also goes on to say: “It strengthens muscles, enhances posture, relieves stress, reduces pain, increases energy levels, and promotes relaxation.” So, doing yoga regularly can become an efficient way to boost your wellbeing and reshape your body.

And if you’re looking to lose weight or improve overall health, yoga definitely can help you, too. How many calories does yoga burn? It’s pretty hard to answer this question at once, as everything depends on plenty of factors. Anyway, within doing yoga you’ll find some serious workouts that have been proven to melt away those unwanted pounds while improving the cardiovascular system at the same time.

What is yoga?

Yoga is derived from two Sanskrit words meaning “to yoke” or “union.” Practitioners believe that yoga unites body, mind, and spirit.

There are hundreds of types of yoga practiced around the world today. Each style emphasizes specific elements of physical strength, flexibility, balance, breathing techniques, meditation, and spirituality. Some styles include postures called asanas, pranayama, mudras, bandhas, kriyas, mantra, and visualization. These practices are used to achieve spiritual enlightenment, mental clarity, emotional stability, and improved self-awareness.

How does yoga fight calories?

Yoga is a great calorie burner. In addition to helping you strengthen different parts of your body, practicing yoga also requires focus and concentration, which means you’ll be paying attention to every single movement. As such, you’ll notice how much more aware you become of what you’re eating and how active you truly are.

Plus, the research shows that regular yogis tend to eat healthier because they make mindful choices. They don’t mindlessly munch on chips and cookies between this and then.

So whether you’ve never tried yoga before or you’re already familiar with its benefits, now’s the perfect time to incorporate it into your fitness regimen. And once you do, you’ll quickly realize that it has a lot to offer beyond simply getting in shape.

Can yoga really help you lose weight?

Doing yoga regularly doesn’t mean you will drop 10 lbs overnight. But over time, you’ll see results from the gentle movements and deep stretches. Plus, you’ll look forward to going through your daily routine rather than dreading it. While there are plenty of ways to work out without burning extra calories, yoga isn’t necessarily meant to be an intense workout, but it still can burn your calories. It focuses on stretching and strengthening certain parts of the body. So although you may end up feeling tired after doing yoga, you won’t break a sweat like you would with other exercises.

In the process of losing weight, a type of yoga exercise matters a lot. When we think of yoga poses, our minds often go straight to downward dog — but did you know that upward facing dog pose actually works wonders for lowering blood pressure and decreasing your weight too? This simple stretch targets all five major muscle groups in one move, including arms, legs, back, shoulders, and abs. Try holding each position for 30 seconds when you first wake up and then again later in the day.

Extra benefits of doing yoga

And here’s another reason to start doing yoga. The research suggests that being fit (that can be achieved by taking yoga exercises regularly) makes us happier. A study published by Harvard Medical School found that sedentary lifestyles were linked to depression and anxiety disorders. Even though yoga is considered a relaxing activity, it’s important to remember that it’s designed to challenge you. So, by doing yoga you will be not only lean but also energetic and highly motivated.