bikram yoga or hot yoga - weight loss

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jmariep1213
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April 20, 2013 at 2:22 am

Post count: 1

#2514

Hi! New here. I have anxiety and I was told to try yoga. I looked into my area and found a great place, but they do what is known as hot yoga or bikram yoga ( not sure what is what. I am new to yoga) I was told by others and also research online that yoga can help with my anxiety and help me tone my body. Problem is.. I am 5 feet tall, 105 lbs. I do NOT want to lose weight, I have a hard time trying to gain any as it is. I would love to enhance my body by toning it but I don’t want to lose any weight. Is hot yoga right for me ? Will I lose a large amount of weight? I’m active. I do strength training twice a week. I try to eat healthy.

If anyone could help me, that would be great. I just don’t want to sign up if this type of yoga will cause weight loss when really I just want to help my anxiety and strength my body overall.

Thanks !!

kfi2000
Participant

April 21, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Post count: 108

#10464

I believe it would certainly help with the anxiety and the toning. As for weight loss, I’m kind of in the same category as you. After practicing Bikram yoga for about two years, I lost about two pounds. Not a ton, and like you, I wasn’t really interested in losing weight. My opinion, based on my own experience, is that diet has a much bigger impact on weight loss than exercise alone. I know some folks out there will disagree with me, but there is literature to support it too. Anyway, my point is that I believe if you watch your diet, ensure you are getting enough calories, you should be fine. You may “lose” a couple pounds after class, from sweating, but that is temporary until you can rehydrate.

Good luck!

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

April 22, 2013 at 1:03 am

Post count: 3048

#10465

Hi Jessica

I agree with Kristin. Plus, the yoga works on your system holistically rather than through just simple exercise. In that way your body’s systems (hormonal, digestive, and so on) optimise in function. One doesn’t simply lose more and more weight, especially if one’s body is functioning well. While you will need to eat well you will feel great, and on top of that, you will develop a greater sensitivity to what you need, when and how to eat… which is all part of the increased mindful awareness that comes with a regular and frequent practice of yoga!

Hope that helps you step closer to beginning and sustaining your practice.

Research will help you find lots of opinion. Lots of it will be negative and lots positive. The only way to find out …. 😉

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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