The Types of Yoga to Reduce Weight

Yoga is a great form of exercise that promotes a healthier body, mind and spirit. Even if you don't subscribe to the spiritual side of yoga, it is still an excellent workout that improves muscle tone, flexibility and strength. It also reduces stress and tension. Some forms of yoga are also quite intense, raising your heart rate and helping you burn fat and reduce weight.

  1. Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga

    • Bikram and hot yoga burn the most calories out of all the major types of yoga. These workouts are performed in a heated room (105 degrees Fahrenheit or 40.5 degrees Celsius). The room is also very humid ((40 percent humidity). The humidity is taxing on your system, which means you have to work harder. The heat also allows you to get a stretch, making the workout more intense. You can expect to burn 630 calories per hour.

    Vinyasa Yoga

    • Vinyasa Yoga is a flow of movements and postures and incorporates the Sun Salutations series. It also incorporates breath-synchronized movements, so you will move your poses during inhales and exhales. Because it is quite intense, you will burn approximately 445 calories per hour.

    Ashtanga Yoga

    • Ashtanga yoga is another type of yoga that focuses on synchronized breathing. It also involves complex postures that, when done at a quicker pace, leads to weight loss. You will burn approximately 300 calories per hour.

    Power Yoga

    • Power yoga is the western version of Ashtanga Vinyasa. It involves moving more rapidly from one pose to another. The fast pace raises your heart rate and burns more calories than slower versions of yoga. You will burn approximately 300 calories per hour.