Ashtanga yoga is a physically demanding form of yoga and an efficient way to strengthen your muscles. It is ideal for athletes and those who just want a stronger body for everyday activities. In addition to its strength-building benefits, Ashtanga yoga can burn enough calories to help you keep your fit physique. Always consult your doctor before attempting Ashtanga yoga.
A Moderate Calorie Burn
Taking an hourlong Ashtanga yoga class can help you burn a few hundred calories. HealthStatus reports that a 140-pound person who spends 60 minutes performing this type of yoga burns about 328 calories. During the same hourlong class, a 180-pound person burns about 421 calories.
Hot and Vinyasa Provide a Quicker Burn
Other forms of yoga burn calories at different rates than Ashtanga. HealthStatus notes that Hatha yoga burns significantly fewer calories than Ashtanga, while hot yoga and Vinyasa yoga lead to a quicker calorie burn. A 140-pound person burns about 176 calories in 60 minutes of Hatha yoga and about 445 and 554 calories in 60 minutes of hot and Vinyasa yoga, respectively. A 180-pound person burns about 227, 572 and 713 calories, respectively, during the three types of yoga.