Is Yoga even really worth it?

It's a great way to relax, but as far as fitness goes....Is it really worth it? I guess it can condition your muscles, however by looking through CC I can do an hour of yoga and burn about as much as I would in about 10 minutes of aerobics or something.

So my question is, What are your thoughts on yoga when it comes to weight loss? A fitness yay or nay?

Hello dear!  You're right that the calorie burn isn't going to be as intense during yoga as other exercises, like aerobic exercise...but for muscle control, balance, core, strength, and conditioning it's amazing!  Perhaps you could do it in addition to cardio or something.

As far as relaxing...that's enough benefit for me to par take regularly!  I have found that yoga and meditation are soooo so so helpful, with anxiety, depression, stress, mindfulness (which is really great in achieving healthy eating patterns), etc!  I think that yoga is a practice that focuses on the entire being, mind and body, to achieve a complete, happy, healthy whole.  When you "feel" happy, and healthy, I think it will benefit and show in your body as well :)

Maybe not the kind of answer you were looking for, but hopefully somewhat helpful :)

For weight loss, eh. I went to yoga sessions for a few months, but got frustrated - I can remember sitting there thinking "I could be working out right now." It isn't going to burn enough calories to make a difference.

Flexibility and meditation, sure. If it makes you feel good, definitely.

It's not a cardio workout, nor is it strength training, so for the goals associated with those (heart health, muscle tone), not at all.

There are different kinds of Yoga.... maybe you need one that will work you harder...?but yoga is an awesome excersice to tone out and sweat!

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Have you tried vinyasa style yoga in a heated environment????  Vinyasa is a flowing yoga, constant shifting from one position to the next.  Add in the heat and the result is a major sweat session!

I go to a place called Core Power.... There are locations in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregan, and Illinois.  Check out the website:

http://www.corepoweryoga.com/

I'm not familiar with that syle...I'm going to check it out...sounds really interesting.  Thanks for sharing eroth!!!!! 

Namaste! 

when i do yoga regularly i think my body feels stronger and leaner. it's not great for burning calories, but if it makes me look slimmer or toned i think that's just as worthwhile. also it increases awareness of your body so much. (this might sound a bit stuck up but a lot of people don't see results with yoga because they don't actually do the positions correctly.. :| it takes a few sessions before you actually become aware enough to know how to position yourself and activate your muscles etc. properly, it's not enough to just 'get in position'. haha)

I think of yoga as a conditioner that prepares your body for other types of exercise.  It works muscles that sometimes get forgotten and for me, it REALLY  improves flexibility--both of which are important to prevent injuries.  I do a power yoga DVD on my "rest" days.

Like somebody already mentioned, there are several different types of Yoga,   with Ashtanga probably being my favorite.  And you are right, it isn't a huge calorie burner, but you are wrong about it not building muscle.  I also agree with several of the previous posts.  Fayxo is dead right that people who do not see results from yoga are either not doing the posistions correctly or they are taking the wrong kind for their physical level, and Maraelle is right in saying  that yoga is a conditioner.  I have so many runners in my classes, and we have all found that our race times have increased, along with our flexibility.  I never come out of a yoga class and think, oh wow I am relaxed,  but more "oh my God, I feel like as flexible as noodle and I always have a great feeling of accomplishment.  BTW, I have lost close to 40 pounds and while I don't think my yoga practice was/is a great source of that weight loss, Yoga has given me a body I have never ever had in my entire life.  Sorry to rave on,  I just really love Yoga Got my girls hooked on too.  Good luck and Happy Holidays!

i really like it- i feel about a foot taller afterwards- i have scoliosis so it really stretches me out without doing hard impact

love yoga.. 

at first I didn't.  It takes a little while to get into the groove and learn the moves and names of the moves but once you do it is great.. I just go to 24 hour fitness and the class before yoga is usually a cardio or weight training.. so after I stay and do the yoga.. and from my experience their, yoga is intense.. I sweat so much.. I actually made my boyfriend go.  He mocked me at first but he was sweating more then me and admitted that he got a great workout..

If you want to lose weight doing yoga, try Ashtanga. You'll get a *very* good aerobic workout and burn tons of calories! Yoga also helps my dieting indirectly. It helps me sleep better, which means I'm not reaching for junk food all the time (because when I'm tired, I feel like I need a sugar fix to keep myself going)

 Yoga is more of a functional and spiritual excercise in my opinion. By functional I mean it will get muscles used to moving in meaningful ways, and become more functional. Everything has its purpose, I think it would be a cool idea to mix weight lifting and yoga on some days and cardio and yoga on the others.

The yoga I do requires balance, strength, and flexibility.  There are postures that I still cannot do after a month, but I will.  I love it.  My body feels so good when I get done, worked over, but not sore like I am after say strength training.  It is a welcome break from the really heavy hitting stuff.