Can you really lose weight and tone

by doing Yoga? I've never done it, so I really don't know. It seems so relaxing, so I'm not sure how you can tone and lose weight.



I always loved Pilates, but there are no Pilate studios where i live now and I'm not into joining a large gym. Is is very different from Pilates?

Re: Can you really lose weight and tone

I read somewhere that you can not lose a significant amount of weight or tone your muscles dramatically through yoga.

I am NOT a yogi by any means, but I think that in order to lose the weight you must do lots of cardio. To tone the muscles, you must strength train (not necessarily with weights, you can just use your body--lunges, squats, arm circles etc.) and then yoga stretches your muscles, creates a balance among mind, body and soul and improves posture and i believe emotions as well. (but I would like to repeat, I am not a yogi by any means.)

Pilates can create muscle tone, but you still need your 3 days of cardio.

ETA: I think if you love Yoga, you should continue to do that while adding some kind of cardio exercise.

Message edited 1/6/2011 9:59:37 PM.

Re: Can you really lose weight and tone

I think if you follow a true yogic way, diet is a big part too.

Re: Can you really lose weight and tone

I've been doing yoga for about 3 years, and I haven't really found it to help me lose weight or tone. Build flexibility and strength, absolutely, but not "tone" in the same way Pilates does.

Yoga is a lot slower than Pilates. It's more controlled. Some practices are more physically strenuous (I've heard hot yoga can really help you lose weight and tone), but "traditional" yoga doesn't (in my experience).

ETA: I LOVE yoga and find that it helps me in so many other ways. It relaxes me and has helped me tremendously as a runner build up flexibility and core strength. But it hasn't actually produced too many physical changes in my body.

Message edited 1/6/2011 10:25:02 PM.

Re: Can you really lose weight and tone

i think it depends on the frequency and type of yoga you do. i've been doing hot yoga off and on for about 3 years. i recently got back into it this past week. where i go, it is hot yoga, but more of a bikram/vinyasa blend. my heart is pounding just like being of the treadmill during some poses.

this may not be typical, but this week alone i've revamped my diet, gone to a class 4X and as of this a.m., i have lost 3lbs.

i'm a true believer it is a combo of diet and exercise, but the yoga is def toning me up.

Re: Can you really lose weight and tone

I go to hot yoga. I think if you go to this kind of class consistently and really watch your diet, you can drop your weight.

I have noticed women that have started when I did about a year ago whose bodies have drastically changed.

I personally have toned up a lot by going 3 days a week but my downfall is my diet. I eat a lot of junk. I am working on this!

A lot of people have commented that it looks like I have dropped a lot of weight, but I think my body has just toned up and some of the weight has gone to different places.

Re: Can you really lose weight and tone

My SIL was obsessed with yoga and she definitely got more flexible, stronger and relaxed...but in the means of "toned" i would say no. I didnt see any cuts in her muscles after