Dear Sarah,

Will doing yoga help me lose weight?

Petunia

Dear Petunia,

Yoga is a wonderful workout for the mind, body and soul. And, yes, it can help you lose weight (along with a healthy diet).

Yoga is a practice, which means it is a method of learning by repetition. Practicing yoga has many physical benefits including increased overall body strength, increased flexibility, increased muscle tone and increased mental clarity (and don't we all need that?).

There are many types of yoga, and each has it benefits. The best type of yoga for those looking to shed a few pounds is the technique that combines a cardiovascular workout alongside strength building and flexibility, such as a vinyasa-style.

In a vinyasa-style class each movement will flow from one to another with the breath. There are two vinyasa-style yoga types that I recommend for weight-loss.

Bikram/Hot Yoga

Traditional Bikram hot yoga is a combination of 26 postures based on traditional yoga in a room heated to between 35-38° C. The series is a cardiovascular workout that strengthens, tones, and loosens the muscles, while calming the mind and reducing stress. The heat opens up the body to go deeper into the postures and increases its flexibility. This heat also detoxifies the body's skin, blood and muscles. You will sweat as you never have before.

A sixty minute class for the average 140 pound female can burn between 400-600 calories during class. Hot yoga is suitable for all levels, even extreme beginners; it is not recommended during pregnancy.

Not all 'hot' studios are Bikram based. The most popular Bikram studios in Canada are called Moksha.

Ashtanga

If the heat of Bikram is not for you, try Ashtanga. Ashtanga is an intense, fast-paced series of postures always performed in the same order. It is physically demanding due to the constant movement from one pose to the next.

In a 60 minute class, the average 140 pound female can burn up to 350 calories.

Ashtanga classes can be found at many yoga studios within your community. You can also purchase videos by Gaiam.

At the end of your yoga practice in both Bikram and Ashtanga you enter your final Savasana lying flat on your back. This seals in your workout; now 'the magic' happens. Take this time to honour your body for its hard work and relax the mind. Learning to relax is a vital key to weight loss. It allows you to tune into to your body, mind and soul.

I recommend yoga three times per week. Starting with a 60 minute class to build up your stamina and then 90 minute sessions. Yoga is a great compliment to running and biking.

Sarah Brown is a very healthy woman. She is not only a fitness instructor at Goodlife where she teaches Body Pump, Body Flow and yoga but she is also a registered holistic nutritionist. If you have a question for Sarah, leave a comment below and she will try and help, but note that not all questions will be answered.