Can You Really Lose Weight Doing Yoga?

It Depends on the Type of Yoga

If you've never practiced yoga before, you might not know that there are different variations of the activity. You can do everything from a smooth, simple flow through relaxing poses to a hardcore, power hour where everything is pushed to the limit.

When it comes to figuring out how yoga affects weight loss, it's important to consider vinyasa flows over other kinds of yoga. A vinyasa will challenge your muscles and leave you sweating, which means it's especially adept at burning fat off. The more you go through your vinyasas, the more you'll find that the fat leaves your body and stays away.

» WATCH: Yoga Sequence to Blast A Muffin Top

The Practice Needs to Be Regular

According to an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology, you can certainly link yoga to weight loss. Like any other physical activity, yoga can help you to burn calories and boost your metabolism.

However, the key point is that only regular yoga practice can noticeably influence weight loss. Stretching on your living room floor and calling it "yoga" once a month is hardly going to make a difference. Yogis who stay trim and keep fat off are going through vinyasa flows or power hours on a daily basis.

Because yoga is not a high-intensity form of exercise like running or biking, you'll need to do it as frequently as possible in order for your body to really begin changing. Doctors recommend going through your practice at least four to five times a week in order to really physical notice changes.

You Need Balance

Practicing yoga on its own probably isn't enough to help you achieve your dream body, but when the activity is paired with a nutritious diet, the real magic begins. The food and drink you consume play a huge role in how effective your yoga practice is, and most individuals will need to manipulate both their physical and caloric practices in order to lose weight.

The best physical results will appear once you begin eating foods that give you energy and boost your metabolism. Stay away from bad carbs, sugar, and processed foods. Instead, reach for snacks and meals that are high in protein, low in calories, and packed with vitamins and other nutrients. You'll find that when you're eating right, your yoga practice will have more power to alter your body's weight and appearance.

» Read More: How Yoga and Plant-Based Foods Helped One Woman Lose 95 Pounds

Less Stress = Less Weight Retained

It's no secret that practicing yoga can substantially decrease your stress levels, but what you might not know is that stress can drastically affect your struggle with weight. People who are dealing with constant worry, anxiety, and tension tend to have a very difficult time shedding unwanted pounds.

By engaging in yoga and working to clear your mind, you'll give your body a chance to decompress both mentally and physically. This method of dealing with stress will allow your body to focus on other things, like sleeping well, eating right, and burning calories. Therefore, if someone says that yoga is really only beneficial for your mind, tell them that your state of mind and your body's weight go hand-in-hand.

The Bottom Line

In short, the answer to the question "can you really lose weight doing yoga?" is a resounding yes. When you practice intense yoga multiple times a week and pair your physical activity with beneficial meals, you'll notice that your mind and body seem to feel a lot lighter.

New to yoga and don't know where to start? Try our 31-Day Yoga Challenge to learn form on the most popular yoga poses.

Related:
70 Yoga Poses to Tone, Strengthen and Detox Your Body
Your Guide to Yoga Lingo
7 Yoga Poses For Yoga Newbies
What Happened When I Tried To Do Yoga Every Day For 30 Days