Does Yoga count as exercise??
Surely we’ve all heard the most up to date information about exercising 4-6 days per week for 30-60 minutes. So, if you have a regular Yoga practice, does it “count”?
The simple answer is “No”. At least that is the answer you will get here, from the Everyday Yogini. In my experience, no form of Yoga works a body hard enough to elevate the heart rate to aerobic benefit. So if this is the case, why is there so much hype about Yoga and weight loss?
Although practicing Yoga will not burn enough calories to help you lose excess weight, it is widely recognized that Yoga asana and breath practices (pranayama) are great for stress reduction. Enter cortisol, a hormone produced when we are under stress that is now being linked to weight gain and/or ability to lose weight. A regular Yoga practice will reduce cortisol levels by reducing stress levels, therefore producing a positive effect on weight. Also, in my opinion, Yoga helps us maintain or lose weight by teaching us to be present to what we are putting in our bodies and to treat ourselves with kindness by not overeating!
So, if we are to maintain a personal Yoga practice and fit in aerobic exercise, what gives? Where do we find all this time lying around, waiting to be put to good use? All I can share with you is my formula for fitting it all in, because it is all important. I couldn’t do without my aerobic exercise and I certainly couldn’t do without my Yoga practice.
Now that Clara is a little older, I have more time to play with on this front. But even when Clara was small, I found ways to get my exercise in, with her along for the ride. Generally speaking, my exercise takes 45-60 minutes a day with both Yoga and aerobics included. I see this as a small investment in my own health and sanity and also Clara’s wellbeing. And I feel good that Clara is seeing me model a healthy relationship with exercise and my body.
Anyway, a typical week might look like this:
Monday: Walk or jog for 40 minutes, Yoga for 30 min. before bed, 10 min. of meditation
Tuesday: Yoga class- 75 minutes
Wednesday: Same as Monday
Thursday: Walk or jog 45 minutes, Yoga for 20 minutes later in day with Clara, meditate before bed
Friday: Yoga and meditation, 60 minutes
Saturday: Walk or jog 60 minutes, Yoga 30 minutes after jog, 20 minutes meditation
Sunday: Bike ride with family, Yoga for 30 minutes before bed, followed by 15 minutes of meditation
And, of course, this all falls apart sometimes and I fit in 10 minutes of jogging on the treadmill and 10 minutes of Yoga. It’s flexible and I don’t berate myself when it doesn’t happen, because those days are generally what I would refer to as “Intensive Practice Days” where I really get to take Yoga off the mat: someone is sick, or cranky, or some extraordinary circumstance has shown up and will no doubt teach me something!
So tell me how you fit it all in. Or how do you try to fit it all in? Can you make room for 10 minutes of each a day and see where that takes you? Can you accept that making room for both aerobic exercise AND Yoga is this incredible act of self-love and will benefit you beyond measure? Because really, it’s true.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
[…] Donald Mckenzie Jr wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSurely we’ve all heard the most up to date information about exercising 4-6 days per week for 30-60 minutes. So, if you have a regular yoga (yoga for beginners) (yoga for beginners) practice, does it “count”? The simple answer is “No”. At least that is the answer you will get … […]
February 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSurely we’ve all heard the most up to date information about exercising 4-6 days per week for 30-60 minutes. So, if you have a regular Yoga practice, does it “count”? The simple answer is “No”. At least that is the answer you will get … […]
February 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
What about a vigourous vinyasa practice like Ashtanga? I build up more of a sweat and raise my heart rate more during my 90 minutes of yoga practice than I typically do walking. I agree it’s a matter of balance and I do various activities throughout the week, including yoga, walking and organised sports. I think there’s also a significant weight-bearing aspect to Ashtanga that’s extremely beneficial.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSurely we’ve all heard the most up to date information about exercising 4-6 days per week for 30-60 minutes. So, if you have a regular yoga (yoga for beginners) (yoga for beginners) practice, does it “count”? The simple answer is “No”. At least that is the answer you will get … […]
February 5th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
It really does help to see your schedule. Thanks for posting this…That cortisol is awful stuff - my OB thinks it’s part of the reason I “acquired” gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy - stress, stress, stress. They told me it can help to block insulin…
I have been doing a pilates DVD in the afternoons with Josh. He loves it and I love trying to provide instances where he can see me doing something nice for myself because like you said, it benefits all of us.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
[…] Does Yoga count as exercise?? […]
February 5th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I have just committed to a half hour of meditation each day and am barely managing to get that in! It feels great doing it.
The only exercise I get is walking with the boys. I am still battling with low adrenals and have recently been inspired to make walking something we do everyday. It really helps if I walk, especially at the lowest point of my day (4 PM). So, while it might be super aerobic, it is definitely helping me stay more balanced.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
oooppps. Meant to say,
While walking might NOT be super aerobic…
February 5th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Thank you for answering the question once and for all: did Gwyneth Paltrow REALLY get that body from yoga?
February 6th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Kai, I think in the case of a regular, dedicated ashtanga practice it certainly might count. But, like you yourself mentioned, a variety of activity is key!
Melissa, Gwyneth is so thin already! And Yoga will certainly tone your muscles very gently… but I doubt it. She is just genetically programmed to be tall and thin and gorgeous!!
Stacy, walking is a perfect exercise! Slow or fast, it still confers benefits!
Shannon, I would love to see Josh doing Pilates!!
February 6th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I’m sure you are going to get a variety of interesting responses here! This post makes me wonder what the definition of exercise is? Of course, variety is key; I cannot think of a single form of exercise that gives us everything we need on its own: strength, muscle tone, aerobic capacity, flexibility, mental clarity and focus, increased body awareness (what did I forget?). But for me, the Primary series of Ashtanga yoga comes the closest to incorporating all of those. What I also like about yoga is that I can focus on the asanas I most need: if I’m lacking aerobic exercise I can emphasize sun salutations. If mindfulness is at a low ebb, I can do more balancing poses. I can follow a lot of hiking with hip openers. I don’t know of any other exercise (yes, I do consider it exercise!) that meets so many needs.
Thank you for posting your schedule. I’m trying to get back into my daily practices of yoga and meditation and it is so helpful to see how other people budget their time for different activities.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Just wanted to chime in with a comment regarding cortisol. Many products tout cortisol and stress as the reason we retain stubborn bellyfat. In many cases though, the real reason can be linked (indirectly) to lack of cortisol. A flora imbalance can cause bloating or a sluggish or malfunctioning colon (or both) and this is the reason many people retain weight around the middle and feel tired. Long term flora imbalance, especially when candida is involved, can go hand-in-hand with adrenal fatigue or a LACK of cortisol. This is why people should always have a 24-hour hormone profile (saliva test) done before trying any kind of cortisol reduction supplement. Eating a diet free of refined products and taking a good quality probiotic or kefir will help too. I know I’ve strayed a bit from the topic but I think it’s an important piece of info. By the time my adrenal fatigue was diagnosed correctly it was so severe my doctor thought I had Addison’s. Be healthy!
February 7th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Tara! That is fascinating! Thank you for sharing that…
April 20th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Great discussion! You’ve got a good blog going here.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Hello,
Glad to see your site.
In this occassion I would like to share tips about health.
It is a very effective way how to keep our health from Pennasia Normalization.
- Lie on back without a pillow in anatomic position, namely:
feet in straight position, hands are beside body in straight and relaxed condition and palm are open
- Make physical condition in relax.
- Make condition of mind fresh, or pray to God
- Make condition of muscle and nerve in forehead in relax and unstressed
- Close your eyes during in relaxed condition
- Breathe regularly and in relax condition
- Do it more or less each 15 minutes in the morning and nevening or night.
- After 15 minutes, you can continue or stop the practise.
- This practise can be applied in your lifetime
- You may teach this way to your family and closefriends, but please say to them that it is a way from Pennasia Normalization.
- Have an enjoyable natural health!
NB:
Previously, you may feel less convenient with this practise, but just do it for a few days and you start to feel convenient and want to do it all the time. When lying on back, the pressure in all body is relatively same.
For further information, please see our site at PennasiaNormalization dot com and additional information in a few days later, Pennasia Normalization will launch Technique of Diabetes Therapy for free charge in our site. You can tell your friends or someone that suffers diabetes about this good information. Good luck and God bless you!!
Regards,
Pennasia Normalization
July 24th, 2008 at 12:40 am
great blog! anyone of you ever tried bikram yoga?
October 12th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
p90x…
Quick Question: Regarding the end date of the 24th, will we need to post our final weight on Christmas day? I should be in town, but I’ m just worried I may forget to get on and post it on the 25th. May help everyone what with all the excitement and …
October 24th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Yes surely yoga will have the effect!!But still performing Aerobics is having different experience..So try for that too..It can be mixed too!!