No, doing yoga for weight loss won’t detract from your practice. (Part 1)

May 18, 2018 Ashley 0 Comments

“Counting calories burnt in yoga? That’s ridiculous!”

Yep. This was the sad commentary I saw while reading an article on weight loss and yoga.

The author was just trying to share how many calories you can burn doing each brand of yoga. (They’re just estimates – but it’s still amazing how much fat you can blast off your as-sana on the mat. Truly.) But, then, the commenter went on to chastise him (the author) for inviting worries about weight into such a sacred, thousands-year-old practice. How dare he, right? Well, I’ll tell you how he dare. Because, sometimes, just an itty bitty dose’ve empathy can give us this lovely side effect called perspective. For example, consider the following: What if you couldn’t bounce around during exercise? What if you didn’t have enough time in the day to do both cardio and yoga? What if you’re a diabetic grandma who can’t do high impact activities or move around for too long before neuropathic leg pain sets in, but you’re interested in yoga and want to lose weight? Might that lady wanna tether weight loss and yoga together if she could? You gonna deprive my hypothetical granny of that? You didn’t think of that, did you? No, you only think of yourself

(I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Empathy: So easy, even a Beavis could do it.)

Sorry, shade launching commenter. I don’t mean to judge the judgmental. Actually, I just wanna educate you

So here we go.

6 reasons not to hate on weight loss via rapid asana practices:

1. It’s a sweet low impact option

If something like running jars your joints, then you’re probably looking for a new form of cardio. Something softer. Ellipticals are expensive AF to implant in your home. (And, let’s be honest – machines are pretty boring, in general.) Youtube videos are annoying to try and follow. (A micro sized person on a screen can’t compete with an IRL instructor who can help you.) And recumbent bikes are the bane of your butt bones’ existence. Fast paced yoga is a fabulous alternative to all that.

2. It instructs you how to suck air properly while you pump your bod

So, if all the machines suck – you might wonder – why not opt for a traditional HIIT or body pump class instead’ve yoga (which should apparently be reserved for slow breathing and pan flute paced movements)? The answer’s simple. Focused breathing and awareness shouldn’t be reserved for glacial paced activities. In fact, the faster you go, the more crucial tuning into your breath is. And how may “Insanity” classes have you gone to that urge you to calm your oxygen gobbling rate as you bust your bum? Not many. With powered up yoga classes, you may inspire a little quicker, but keeping that in ‘n out breath rate even is still imperative. And the teacher won’t slack about keeping you on track with that. (It’s kind’ve the point’ve yoga.) Bonus? That breathing technique’ll carry over to your other kinds of cardio, allowing you to go longer, harder, and faster. And that’s invaluable.

3. It’s a nice segue into the slower stuff

When I decided to go AMA and give pills the finger (I know; not very yoga-y of me with the language. No one’s perfect), it was initially awful. (Worth every second of hell later, but awful during the withdrawal.) And one of my chief side effects of eschewing pharmaceuticals was anxiety. I wanted to calm myself with yoga. I’d heard wonderful stuff about it. But every time I tried to do the slow moves, I got so frustrated with the lack of activity, that I’d quit. Then I found kundalini and faster hatha practices. This served a purpose on two levels. The first? The extra sweating helped me shed toxins still in my body. The second? It was a beautiful segue that eased me into appreciating the slower practice eventually. These days, I mix up the two, depending on my mood. Sometimes my body’s got energy it wants to burn. Others, a more gentle flow’s what I require.

(Some guidelines for those former kinds’ve days.)

And isn’t that what yoga’s about?

Honoring your authentic feelings – and keeping opposing energies balanced?

(Continue reading for 3 more reasons you should practice cardiyoga. And, yes, I just made that word up. I think.)