For Weight Loss Do I Need to Do Cardio if I’m Doing Yoga?


To Sara of Fit by Sara:
“I just started taking yoga three times per week. Do I need to do cardio in addition if I want to lose weight?”

No matter what style of yoga you chose to practice, yoga is a great exercise to lengthen and tone your muscles. Depending on the type of yoga you do will determine how much you get your heart rate up, and thus how much body fat and weight you lose. For example, many Hatha yoga classes are gentle and slow moving in nature which will not get your heart rate up, whereas Vinyasa yoga classes are fluid in nature and will get your heart rate up. Although Bikram yoga will make you sweat, it doesn’t mean you will be losing a lot weight, but you will lose a lot of water “weight” so be sure to stay hydrated.

For weight loss I recommend supplementing your yoga practice with walking four to five times per week for 30 to 60 minutes, or take a high energy exercise class a couple times per week. The more you do yoga the more you will love your results- mind, body, and spirit! ~Sara Holliday MFT, CPT, HHP

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