If you’ve taken the course before inside the 105 degree F area, you’ll know how the intensive exercise causes you to sweat more than most sporting activities individuals participate in. Among the most frequent health inquiries inquired is with regards to the number of calories expended in a single session.

A 90 minute session of bikram yoga can burn at least 300 to 600 calories whereas people who perform advanced bikram yoga burns between 500-1000 calories per session. Of course, the more effort you put in to it, the more calories you burn. If you are a person with average weight performing bikram yoga at a moderate intensity, you may be able to burn about 400-500 calories in an hour. The heat in the room helps to loosen the muscles allowing for more flexible movements and helps to avoids injuries. The intensity of the workouts together with the high temperature in the room increases the cardiovascular activities similar to an aerobic workout. Depending on the heart rate, weight and muscles mass of a person, a single bikram yoga session can help burn approximately 500 to 1000 calories. This contributes to one of the most attractive benefits of bikram yoga which is weight loss.

According to the bikram yoga practitioners, the heated conditions in the room increase the energy demands which in turn increases the caloric needs. This demand for calories is met by burning up the fat stored in the body. The approximate amount of calories burned in a 90-minute bikram yoga session can be calculated using the standard “calories burned” formula which is (METS * 3.5 * Weight in kg/200) * duration of the session, where MET = Metabolic equivalent of task based on rate of oxygen used at rest. Since this formula does not take into account a person’s muscle mass or their heart rate while resting or working, the results derived from this calculation are only approximate values.

Burning more calories not only means doing all the 26 poses in sequence but also believing that you can do it. You need to perform the exercises at least 3 sessions a week to burn all those calories. If you can do more than 3 sessions per week, you can burn even more calories and reach your goal much faster. Another important thing to remember is to eat a well balanced diet and to drink plenty of liquids so that you remain properly hydrated. You need to understand the importance and benefits of each bikram pose and perform them correctly in order to burn the calories effectively.

Because of the various benefits that bikram yoga has to offer, it has become one of world’s most popular forms of yoga. More and more people are in to practicing bikram yoga for the obvious benefits, especially burning of calories so that they can achieve their fitness and weight loss goals.