Most people try yoga either to build good physique or to lose weight. Someone with such targets is excessively concerned about how much calories a particular yoga form is burning. Therefore, if someone wants to lose weight then he certainly will choose a form that burns many calories.
With time, as we learn more about yoga, our awareness of the process starts to unravel what is beyond its physical aspect. And if you get the chance to learn yoga in India, at a retreat for yoga in Rishikesh or Goa or at any other yoga hub in the country, then you have good chances to have in depth understanding in every aspect of yoga.
In either case, whether you are learning yoga to lose weight or to experience mind body system, you can still get benefits from knowing how much calories different forms of yoga burn, so that you can avoid being exhausted by pushing yourself too far.
Just like any other workout, the math is simple for yoga practice as well. The more vigorous a form is, the more calories it will burn. The following table will provide a good idea about how much calories you burn in your yoga practice.
Type of Yoga Calories Burned*
Hatha Yoga 189
Ashtanga Yoga 351
Bikram Yoga 477
Vinyasa Yoga 594
* Source: www.healthstatus.com
Let’s discuss a bit about what is included in each of above mentioned forms of yoga.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is the most generic style of yoga and people usually start their yoga journey with it. Hatha yoga includes a wide range of physical poses and breathing patterns, which are adopted in many other forms of yoga, and its aim is to make people aware of the mind-body connection within.
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga yoga is comparatively more challenging than Hatha yoga. Its practice includes rapid cardiovascular movements that require good muscle strength to be performed in a flow. Unlike Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga comprises a limited set of poses that are practiced in an uninterrupted flow and always have the same sequence of poses. Apart from building muscle strength and body flexibility, Ashtanga also reduces stress.
Bikram Yoga
Bikram yoga comprises a set of 26 physical poses and a couple of pranayamas, to be practiced in a hot environment. At high temperature, body’s metabolism quickens and you sweat more, which as a result quickens the process of toxin removal from the body.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa yoga, or Vinyasa Flow is like Ashtanga yoga, since poses are performed in one flow;but its scope is much wider. It is among the most vigorous forms of yoga and requires much more focus. Like Ashtanga yoga, it is also performed in one flow, but unlike Ashtanga yoga, practitioners never know what comes next in Vinyasa yoga. Basically, Vinyasa flow serves as a strength-building workout while building quick reflexes as well.
By using the above given information, you can easily decide which yoga form will suit your best.