Yoga or the gym - which is better to choose for weight loss?

Updated: 01/29/2021 13:31:14
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There are many ways to lose excess weight. Diets, medications, various “stitches” and “codings”... But the effectiveness of all this stuff pales in comparison to sports and a proper diet. Indeed, regular physical training combined with proper nutrition will help not only lose weight, but also do it without negative consequences for the body.

However, what kind of sport or exercise should you choose? Some people think that the best way to lose weight is running. Others think of complex cardio training. The third is that fitness. Fourth – what is yoga.

In this material, we will figure out what is better to choose for weight loss – fitness or yoga, and also consider the effectiveness of each of these types of sports training.

Fitness

This method combines the principles of proper nutrition and a set of special exercises for the overall health of the body, maintaining muscle tone and a healthy weight. There are several areas: dance training, strength training, aerobic training and many more techniques, the list of which is updated every few years.

Fitness classes

For a young and relatively healthy body, fitness is the best way to lose weight , since exercise provides maximum load and allows you to get rid of excess weight faster than other methods. Exercises performed in various types of training require a lot of physical activity, lifting heavy weights, are very exhausting and strengthen the spirit through overcoming one’s weakness and laziness.

Girl in the gym

There are many medical contraindications to this type of exercise, because they put a huge strain on the cardiovascular system and spine. If the exercises are performed incorrectly, there is a high risk of injury. For classes, it is necessary to attend group training or gyms, always under the guidance of a trainer. He will help you create a nutrition and training program, teach you the correct technique for performing exercises, and minimize the possible risk of harm to your health.

Benefit for health

With yoga you can gain flexibility and tone your body. These are the benefits that can be expected with regular exercise. This is a definite plus for human health.

Exercising in the gym allows you to get a muscular body and strengthen your muscles. The figure becomes transformed, slender and beautiful. Only to achieve such results, training must also be regular.

Yoga

Yoga is not only a means to tidy up the body. She sets herself a much greater task - to instill harmony in a person , to reconcile him with himself and with the world around him. Soul, mind and body are the targets of this philosophy. To achieve that cherished balance, yoga uses special asanas and dietary principles.

Yoga classes

Yoga relieves stress , teaches you to switch to positive emotions, trains endurance and flexibility. Regular exercise promotes a slim figure and a positive mood. Thanks to a decrease in the level of stress hormones, the desire to “eat” problems disappears, and fat in problem areas ceases to be deposited under the influence of cortisol. Breathing techniques accelerate metabolism by almost a third, and asanas use muscle groups that a person did not even know existed before.

To practice asanas you do not need to visit a special place . Yes, if there is an opportunity, a mentor will not hurt at first; he will guide you in the right direction and correct mistakes. But you can learn the exercises even without specialized institutions; for this you need to select the appropriate equipment, turn on video instructions from the master, and lay out a mat for practicing. They do yoga in loose, breathable clothing, without shoes or even socks. You can do the exercises anywhere - at home, in nature, in the park, in absolutely any quiet place.

Yoga room and practitioners

There are several types of techniques - hatha , ashtanga , kundalini , power , bikram . The latest yoga technique is the most effective for weight loss. It is carried out in rooms with high temperature and humidity, and consists of two dozen dynamic exercises and techniques. You can lose up to 1000 calories .

You should not expect immediate results from yoga classes. The first changes can be seen only after a couple of months. But it gives a person much more than just physical activity. It also has the advantage of greater safety - there is virtually no risk of injury during classes, and there is a very small list of contraindications.

How to choose your version of yoga for weight loss?

It is difficult to say which yoga is best for weight loss. For example, hatha yoga is similar in its rhythm to strength training. All her asanas are performed slowly and measuredly. Ashtanga yoga is more dynamic and is intended for active individuals.

Here the transition from one asana to another occurs very quickly. In kundalini yoga, the main goal is to cleanse the chakras. A person learns to derive pleasure not from eating, but from something else. This is how weight loss happens.

That is why everyone must independently choose the type of yoga that is suitable for the pace and load. And to do this, you need to assess your physical abilities, analyze the amount of free time and the degree of your readiness for change.

Yoga for weight loss

Important! Some people believe that classical hatha yoga is most suitable for beginners. It does not require special preparation, and mastering the asanas is easy.

It doesn't matter what type of yoga you choose to fight excess weight. What matters is how much you want to change yourself and how much you believe in a positive outcome. A little persistence - and you will succeed!

Yoga Types of yoga Yoga for weight loss Fitness yoga

What do they have in common?

Despite a completely different approach to improving the body, these two directions have something in common - a mix called “fitness yoga” . This area is ideal for beginners, does not require physical training, and can be performed even by pregnant women. Classes are conducted in a moderate and rhythmic manner, and the emphasis is on performing asanas that work on problem areas.

Unlike classical yoga, this direction does not require meditation or other religious rituals; it only teaches relaxation and tranquility. It is the combination of these two areas that is very suitable for losing weight - it combines muscle tension and breathing techniques of yoga movements with dynamic fitness loads. The load is distributed more evenly, and the results are not long in coming. The main condition for success here is regular training.

Body pain

Yoga has a gentler effect on the body, does not strain the muscles too much, and therefore practically does not cause pain. The gym provides intense stress on the body.

In the second case, there is a risk of injury if something is done incorrectly. You also need to know how to operate the equipment. If you do not have the skills to exercise on simulators, then it is advisable to do this under the guidance of a specialist.

Differences between fitness and yoga

The gym only trains the muscles, but does not pacify the soul, and does not have a special philosophy that changes life for the better. Eastern spiritual practice gives peace, restores the nervous system exhausted by stress and the frantic pace of life. And calmness, as you know, is one of the components of the health of the human body.

Intense training in the gym helps you quickly get rid of hated wrinkles. When performing asanas, you should be patient - the result will certainly appear, but not so quickly.

Spiritual practices do not require mandatory visits to equipped gyms, do not force you to find time to “squeeze” training into your busy schedule, and do not require the purchase of expensive sportswear and shoes.

When performing leisurely asanas, the risk of injury is minimized, which cannot be said about exercises performed in the gym. By overdoing the weight or violating the technique, you can easily cause injury. Many diseases exclude the opportunity to engage in fitness.

Yoga saves time and money; all exercises can be done at home independently.

Is it possible to do yoga or fitness on your own?

Both yoga and fitness are equally suitable for self-practice at home or in the gym. But practice shows that it is optimal to do this in a fitness club with a trainer, because control:

  • significantly disciplines and does not allow you to relax;
  • allows you to correct and avoid mistakes when performing movements incorrectly;
  • significantly increases the effectiveness of training.

The difference between training at home and under the supervision of a specialist is colossal.

Important! You shouldn't set sports records on an empty stomach. It is better to enjoy a light salad, natural yogurt, kefir, a piece of boiled chicken, fish or oatmeal within one and a half to two hours. Immediately after class, drink water, and after half an hour you can already have a protein meal with fiber.

Which one is better, when and for whom?

Any type of fitness will help you achieve a slim figure much faster. In one workout in the gym you can lose 300-1500 calories . If a person who wants to lose weight is young and relatively healthy, this option will help achieve maximum results in a relatively short period of time. For diseases of the musculoskeletal system, heart and blood vessels, this type of activity is not recommended.

When doing yoga, the process of losing weight will last for a long time. The result can be seen not so much on the scales as on a measuring tape, as fat mass will gradually be replaced by muscle mass.

For people with health limitations who do not like noisy places and exhausting struggles with themselves, asanas will become faithful assistants on the path to a slim figure. When performing Eastern practices, there is no humiliating comparison of oneself with the “old-timers” of fitness gyms, and the weight of the weights lifted does not matter at all.

When choosing a method for losing weight, you should proceed from your state of health and personal preferences. Both types of physical activity will reward you with a beautiful and healthy body, subject to diligence and regular training.

SportsComment

Saving

Yoga only requires a mat to get started. No other equipment is used during classes, so it is considered more economical. Especially if you do yoga at home. This can also be done in any place where there is some free space and silence.

A gym is more expensive because of the equipment required. Its purchase is very expensive. In addition, you need to have a room to house all the equipment. If there is no equipment, then you need to go to paid classes with a trainer. And they are expensive.

Yogolates

Proponents of the new technique argue that this combination is an ideal opportunity to combine dynamic muscle training and a state of psychological comfort. After all, psychological relaxation is achieved through deep relaxation and simultaneous pumping of all muscle groups.

Opponents of the new direction believe that it can only “help” beginners. For more “advanced” people, they will need lessons in one direction with in-depth study of it.

Indeed, the load in Yogalates is insignificant, and the exercises are simple, so beginners can easily cope with them. The guidance of an experienced trainer will allow you to quickly master the basic elements of the systems and decide which method is closer.

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