An Insight Into The Calories Burned By Yoga

Yoga is not a rapid calorie burner, but it is one of the few body and mind exercising forms that aims to burn your calories in a gradual, steady, healthy and therapeutic manner. Unlike certain other popular exercises that are only effective in burning your calories regardless of the effect they have on your body, yoga has a broader objective of taking care of your organs and organ systems, while reducing unhealthy obesity.

The calories burned by yoga depend upon the particular yoga exercise that you perform, the accuracy and consistency of your practice, the time you spend in performing the exercise, and your individual body factors such as your body weight. Generally, yoga exercises are designed for burning 150-400 calories in an hour. A ball-park figure of the calories burnt by a 150 lbs. person by performing yoga exercises of different schools is discussed further.

The Calories Burned By Yoga

Vinayasa Yoga (Flow Yoga)

Viniyasa Yoga consists of yoga exercises which involve a series of yoga postures that the practitioner must assume with a smooth transition from one pose to the other.

This form of yoga which includes exercises such as Surya Namaskara( Sun Salutation), Uttanasana ( Standing Forward Bend), Tadasana ( Tree Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana( Downward Facing Dog Pose), and Urdhva Hastasana ( Raised Hand Pose) lays special emphasis on smooth movement and breathing. A 150 lb. person practicing Viniyasa yoga for an hour is expected to lose 594 calories.

Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga)

Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, is believed to be the form of yoga that burns the highest number of calories, but it ranks second to Viniyasa yoga.

This form of yoga that is derived from Hata yoga, consists of a set of 26 physical exercises and 2 breathing exercises that are practiced at 105 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes.  A 150 lb. person would lose 351 calories by practicing Bikram yoga for an hour.

Ashtanga Yoga (Power Yoga)

Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic form of yoga that involves the practitioner performing the exercises in a more active way than the other forms of yoga. This form of yoga involves burning the bodily toxins by the production of intense heat in the body by performing a series of yoga exercises with special emphasis on breathing.

As it involves a lot of athletic activity you may be mislead into thinking that this form of yoga burns the maximum number of calories. However, Power Yoga ranks after Viniyasa Yoga and Bikram Yoga on the calorie burning scale. A person weighing 150 lbs. burns 351 calories by performing Ashtanga yoga for an hour.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is considered as the conventional form of yoga that involves the practitioners assuming certain postures. This is the form of yoga that Westerners are conversant with, as yoga.

The practitioners of this yoga assume mudras (poses) and work with on the concepts of chakras (energy centers of the body), kriyas( body purifying techniques), and kundalini ( libidinal force). It primarily consists of asanas (yoga poses) and Pranayama (breathing exercises). A 150 lbs. person will burn 189 calories on performing this form of yoga.