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The Link between Yoga, Mindfulness, and Weight Loss - Part 1
Across the Globe, nutritional and fitness experts are baffled at the results of a study, conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dr. Alan R. Kristal, the lead researcher of this study, remarked, "I was very surprised with the results. Considering that people gain about a pound a year during this time, this is pretty substantial."
Shortly afterward, from nutritional and fitness experts in New England, the first question I heard right away was, "How can Yoga burn that many calories?" Soon to be followed by comments from many fitness experts, across the United States, were remarks like, "Most Yoga students don't practice vigorous styles of Yoga."
While this is debatable, my questions to them were as
follows, "How many of you practice Yoga?" Have you ever heard of Kundalini Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Yoga, Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, and more vigorous Hatha Yoga styles?
To make a small comparison, I can't really comment on the game of Cricket, just because I am familiar with baseball. I can appreciate the similarity and skill, but never had the experience of playing the game. Also, just like Yoga, Cricket requires time, practice, and patience, in order to acquire skill.
Now, instead of jumping to conclusions about Yoga from the sidelines, my first suggestion is to join a Yoga class. This would allow the top nutrition and fitness experts to experience the many benefits that Yoga has to offer.
However, this will not be the case with all the experts. The lack of male presence in a typical American Yoga class is visibly apparent and worthy of a study in male insecurity. This is a subject that I promise to address in a future article, but let's get back to the point.
So, female fitness, nutrition, and medical experts will confirm what most of them already know. Yoga is a complete health maintenance system and has been for around 5,000 years.
When a Yoga student becomes serious about practicing on a regular basis, this is a lifestyle change. Burning over 200 calories per hour in a gentle or Restorative Yoga class is not the foundation of weight control. Most Yoga students engage in some form of cross training.
Many of them walk, take other fitness classes, and are conscious of what they eat. Being mindful of what you eat is a point that the masses have lost. Eating nutritionally dense food, in moderation, and being mindful at the dinner table is a recipe for a lifetime of weight control.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the Author
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
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Yoga and Weight Loss
Yoga is gaining popularity around the nation. It's very posh to have a yoga mat tucked under your arm, with your gym bag slung over your shoulder as you casually quip "I'm off to my yoga class." But is yoga your best bet for weight loss?
Well to answer that we need to find look at what it takes to lose weight. To lose weight you need to raise your heart rate to about 65% of it maximum heart rate threshold (To find out how to figure your maximum heart rate threshold read my blog, What is Your Fat Burning Heart Rate?)
So the answer is yes you can lose weight by doing yoga if it elevates your heart rate sufficiently. Which brings us to the next question, which yoga raised the heart rate enough to bring about weight loss?
If you have ever Gooogled yoga you have found out that there are several types of yoga with a seemingly endless number of yoga classes available in . But the question remains, which types are best for weight loss.
The Top 3 Types of Yoga for Weight Loss
Of all the different types of yoga these three are the best for weight loss.
Ashtanga Yoga is a very intense and vigorous yoga. It is very physically demanding because it is comprised of a series of poses performed in a particular order in a particular rhythm. Since you are moving constantly from one pose to the next your heart rate remains in its target range for fat burning. So Ashtanga yoga is a good type of yoga for those wanting to lose weight.
Power Yoga is a more intense, fitness focused version of vinyasa-style yoga that is breath based movement. Power yoga is very much like Ashtanga yoga except it doesn't follow a set series of poses. Power yoga poses are performed in various order thus allowing classes to be different from class to class. Power yoga appeals to people who are practicing yoga from more of a fitness than a spiritual point of view.
95 - 100 degree room is what is needed for Birkram vinyasa-style yoga. Hot Yoga is also know as Birkram Yoga. Birkram Yoga is a type of Hot yoga that is similar to Ashtanga yoga and consists of a series of 26 poses. Hot yoga is very intense and physically demanding. greater flexibility and deep stretching are at the root of yoga.
Only you can determine what your wellness goals are. Generally yoga encompasses the body, mind and spirit. Therefore most styles of yoga are aimed at strengthening all three aspects of the person or specific aspects of the person breath and movement but not rigorous activity.
Real Weight Loss Answers
If you are practicing a slower paced type of yoga and want to lose weight then you should look at other ways of training for weight loss.
About the Author
Zach Hunt is a Yoga in Spokane expert and the owner of Physzique, a personal fitness coaching company in Spokane, WA helping people to look and feel great. Go here: Spokane Bootcampfor more info on these services and more great fitness tips.
Hot Yoga Excercises For Rapid Weight Loss & Good Health
