Can yoga speed up weight loss when combined with certain workouts?

2) Weight lifting: This is effective for building muscle strength and enhancing muscle tone. More light weights and repetitions certainly serve the purpose of toning and increasing strength. The methodology here should be breathing in during the relaxing part and breathing out, during the contracting part. Lifting weights raises resting metabolic rate by increasing muscle mass. This indicates that weightlifters burn more calories than people with less muscle mass even when they are at rest.

3) Aerobic exercise: Yoga combined with an aerobic exercise, like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling or dancing, the kind that raises your heart rate and breathing rate through rhythmic, repetitive movements, works well. It can strengthen your heart and work large muscle groups. Combining activities twice a day helps you lose weight faster. So, if it is swimming in the morning, it could be yoga in the evening. Or a morning yoga could lead up to an evening workout or game, lasting 20-45 minutes and mostly focussing on deep, restorative stretching. This activates muscles just to the point where fat burn sets in.

4) Cross-training: Routines such as weight training, running and cycling cause your muscles to tense up and ultimately lead to pain or discomfort. However, cross-training with yoga can help you relieve this tightness and lower your risk of injury. It can activate the muscles in the body so that you can fully utilize them in full-body movements.

(Dr Mehta is a holistic health expert)