Is Yoga Cardio | Yoga Workout For Weight Loss

By Alex Assoune Mar 16, 2021

I often get this question: is yoga cardio? Does yoga count as a cardio workout for weight loss? It might not seem to be the case at first.

But there are many different types of yoga. Some gentle and relaxing, others fast-paced, vigorous and dynamic. Many yoga styles elevate your heart rate very effectively.

Yoga can definitely make you sweat. It also helps you feel rejuvenated and energized. It offers many benefits for your health and well-being.

Regular yoga practice is well-known to provide strength, flexibility, a toned and lean body. Plus, it is an amazing way to relieve stress and anxiety of modern lives.

Yoga is an ancient and proven practice. It has gained a lot of popularity lately for good reasons. Can it replace cardio though? Let us have a deeper look at the facts.

Panaprium is independent and reader supported. If you buy something through our link, we may earn a commission. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you!

The Definition of Cardiovascular Workout.

How would you define cardiovascular activity? It is an exercise that elevates the heart rate. It also increases the need for oxygen.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, maintaining at least 60% of your maximum heart rate for 20 minutes is a good cardio workout.

Subtract your age from 220 to roughly get an approximation of your maximum heart rate. 190 at 30 years old is a good estimation.

High intensity exercise for short periods is as effective as lower intensity for longer. Balancing intensity, duration and frequency is also important to get all benefits.

Cardiovascular fitness is crucial for your heart. It is a vital muscle in your body. Maintaining good heart health limits the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

It improves your overall vitality. Your whole body can get more oxygen and nutrients. It keeps you young, from the inside out.

Cardio exercise strengthens your heart and lungs. It trains your body to use oxygen efficiently. A stronger cardiovascular system delivers oxygen to your organs and muscles with less effort.

Working your heart to beat faster is beneficial for everybody, regardless of age, gender, body shape, type, or size. Growing your heart also burns calories, which helps with weight loss.

Does Yoga Provide a Good Cardio Workout?

Is yoga cardio? Yoga combines poses (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana). There are many different types of yoga, with varying practices.

Some forms of yoga focus on energy flow throughout the body. Others have a strong emphasis on spirituality. You can find very gentle yoga classes that are also beginner friendly.

On the other hand, many classes are extremely physically challenging and provide a good cardio workout. Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Kundalini are very intense and dynamic yoga styles.

A lot of yoga poses engage large muscle groups. Even holding these poses for a few seconds elevates the heart rate. Large muscles such as quadriceps and hamstrings need lots of oxygen to work.

Fast-paced yoga styles are very vigorous. Practitioners do not hold poses for very long. The focus of these forms of yoga is movement. Moving quickly from one pose to the next.

Depending on the yoga teacher, these classes may or may not offer a good cardio workout. Bringing up your heart rate for extended periods of time is essential for health and calorie-burning.

The harder and challenging a class is, the higher is the potential for a good cardio workout. Practice yoga vigorously to elevate your heart rate. Practice in a relaxing way to calm down and relieve stress.

If you are a beginner, I recommend you focus on learning the basic postures first. Start slowly to build a solid foundation of techniques before moving quickly through the poses.

Is Yoga Cardio? Yoga Vs Typical Cardio Exercises.

If you are looking to lose weight, you have to spend more calories than you take in on a regular basis. But you do not have to burn lots of calories to do so.

Even gentle yoga practices help you get a lean and toned body. I recommend that you pick an activity that you enjoy.

Many types of yoga provide a full body workout. They can be vigorous, dynamic and intense, if that is what you are looking for.

Long hours at the gym, running or cycling, leave you fatigued and hungry. Eating more calories after exercising reduces your chances of burning fat.

Typical cardio exercises require a lot of energy. They are exhausting and increase stress, hunger, and fatigue. It is not a good way to feel your best.

That is why you should consider yoga as the safest and healthiest way to lose weight. Any yoga practice gets easier the more frequently you do it. So do not worry if you are new. You can practice at home.

Your heart gets stronger according to the training. It will not have to work as hard as before. Yoga gets your heart pumping, and also quiets the mind. It improves your overall health and well-being.

Ultimately, find an exercise that you enjoy. The best exercise is the one you actually do. And it should be enjoyable enough to make it sustainable long term.

You do not have to spend lots of time every day on the yoga mat to see results. It is highly recommended to start slow, being mindful of how you feel.

Balancing between intense exercises and relaxing sessions is a sure way to progress. Patience and commitment are needed to reap the many yoga benefits, Your body will thank you.

Working Out In The Heat To Increase Heart Rate.

Many yoga classes take place in a heated room. It aims to emulate the climate in India, where yoga is originated.

Hot and humid conditions make practicing challenging postures even more difficult. Hot, Bikram, Forrest yogause the heat to enhance muscle performance and flexibility.

Is yoga cardio? Practitioners experience a higher heart rate in the heat. Higher temperatures make your body sweat a lot. Sweating is the way your body cools down and regulates its internal temperature.

Sweating through your skin requires high blood flow. It gets your heart pumping very effectively. You do not necessarily burn more calories in the heat. But your heart rate significantly increases.

Summing up:

Are you wondering is yoga cardio? Can it replace long hours on the treadmill? In many scenarios, yoga is a very challenging practice, both physically and mentally.

It combines repetitive physical and breathing exercises, plus meditation. In yoga, you will move into many invigorating poses, increasing your heart rate effectively.

Yoga awakens your internal energy with precise exercises. It provides a good workout and gets your heart pumping. It is well-known to provide the same benefits as typical cardio exercises.

Reduced cholesterol, stable blood sugar and blood pressure, lower risk of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Is yoga cardio? Yoga is much more than just a physical practice.

Inspirations:

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

What We're Up Against

Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries.
Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products.
Bad actors encouraging overconsumption through oblivious behavior.
- - - -
Thankfully, we've got our supporters, including you.
Panaprium is funded by readers like you who want to join us in our mission to make the world entirely sustainable.

If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you.