Can yoga help you lose weight?

Can yoga help you lose weight? There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that it can help with mobility, but not a lot of evidence to show that exercise is a true calorie burner. One study, published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health (opens in a new tab), showed that a 60-minute Vinyasa practice burned fewer calories than a walking session on a treadmill. As such, it’s probably not the most effective training style if you’re trying to lose weight.

There is some evidence that certain people can lose weight through yoga, but the average healthy person will not see significant changes. Note, however, that the benefits of yoga (opens in a new tab) are numerous, so if you have invested in one of the best yoga mats (opens in a new tab) it’s worth holding on to for now. Here’s what the latest research on yoga and weight loss says.

Can yoga help you lose weight?

A systematic review of 445 records, published in Preventive medicine (opens in a new tab), concluded that there was little evidence to suggest that yoga could have dramatic effects on weight in healthy people. However, the review notes that there were some significant changes in body mass in overweight people who participated in yoga studies. Therefore, the practice might reduce weight for some people, but as with many exercise programs, this depends on your initial fitness level, along with the frequency and intensity of your yoga sessions.

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Research has also shown that yoga can lower your basal metabolic rate – the amount of energy needed for the body’s cleansing functions. If this rate is reduced, the whole body slows down and this means that the body needs fewer calories for its cleansing functions. A study published in 2006 in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (opens in a new tab) found that the basal metabolic rate was reduced by 13% in people who had practiced yoga compared to those who had not.

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