Yoga is one of the most effective forms of exercise for weight loss and has rapidly grown in popularity within the past few years. Yoga provides an overall approach to health that encompasses physical health and mental and spiritual health.
Many people are interested in learning yoga but may have certain constraints or fears that keep them from attending in-person practice. Luckily, yoga is widely available on digital learning platforms and can be accessed through online streaming services and traditional DVDs.
Although the use of DVDs for yoga was popular throughout the early 2000s, online streaming services have become increasingly popular and enable people from all across the world to participate in yoga at any time, anywhere.
The following are some of the primary reasons why people have started to use online services and streaming for yoga over the traditional use of DVDs:
- Online services are more cost-effective in the long term when compared to a single purchase.
- Online services provide greater flexibility and more options for the types of classes available and their duration and difficulty.
- DVDs risk wear and tear, unlike online services.
- Some online services provide live streaming, which provides a more authentic experience.
- Many online services provide a community-based approach to yoga through the use of group challenges and communication boards.
- Streaming and online services provide access anytime, anywhere, unlike DVDs which rely upon system requirements.
- Most online services provide a multifaceted learning approach to yoga by accessing articles, blogs, courses, and more.
In this article, we’ll review the best DVDs for weight loss yoga, including online services and traditional DVDs. We’ll also discuss why yoga is effective for weight loss, along with some of the best poses for promoting weight loss.
Comparison of the Best Yoga DVDs for Weight Loss
Best Yoga Subscription for Weight Loss: Yoga International
Looking for the best yoga dvd for overweight beginners? Yoga International is an incredibly diverse yoga website that offers live-stream and pre-recorded yoga classes for yogis of all levels. It provides a community-based, multifaceted digital learning platform where yogis and practitioners can further their practice and gain a more profound knowledge of yoga, meditation, holistic health, and mindful living.
Yoga International currently serves over 300,000 members per day and offers a free 30 day trial for new members. Membership options are available for $19.99/month or $119.88/year.
Members of Yoga International will enjoy access to:
- 500+ experts in yoga therapy, meditation, persona transformation, and more.
- Video classes, digital workshops, in-depth articles covering a wide variety of yoga topics
- 1000+ classes of various lengths, styles, and levels of difficulty
- Monthly themed challenges and multi-day training sessions are available
- Live stream classes and offline classes
- Yoga International app that’s accessible through the phone, tablet, TV
Class options are available for all levels of yoga practice, and there are also specialized classes available for Hatha, vinyasa, and other significant forms of yoga. Some of its best classes for weight loss include the 15-for-30 Challenge and the Yoga for Strength and Endurance Challenge.
Yoga International has received ratings of 4.7 and 4.0 on the Apple app store and Trustpilot, respectively, from among thousands of ratings and is held in high regard by the yoga community.
Pros:
- 1900+ classes and 500+ expert teachers
- Live-stream classes and offline classes are available
- Accessible anywhere, anytime through the Yoga International app
Cons:
- Some customers have reported issues with customer service and billing
- Some customers have noticed issues with audio or lagging on the app
- Customers have mentioned that Yoga International has a small selection for its 60-min classes
Yoga for Weight Loss
BodyWisdom has developed one of the best programs for yoga for weight loss.
This DVD pack contains 3 CDs which include 35 different routines that vary in style and duration. Each CD is focused on weight loss, flow yoga, and power yoga, respectively, to build strength, gain muscle, and improve flexibility.
This DVD is for yogis of all levels and includes a program that can be used by anyone willing to try it out.
Beginners & Beyond: Yoga For Weight Loss for Beginners
Beginners & Beyond is the perfect yoga DVD for individuals with a basic knowledge of yoga. This program contains workouts for individuals with an intermediate level of experience as well.
The first section geared towards new yogis focuses on the mastery of basic yoga poses and provides an effective workout for those who want to burn calories and lose weight.
The second and third sections are best for individuals who have some form of experience with yoga, and they provide an intense workout.
Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown
Yoga Meltdown is the perfect DVD for women who want to lose weight.
This DVD program contains full-length level 1 and 2 workouts that provide warm-up exercises and cool-down routines. It also has interval sessions to promote weight loss.
Yoga Meltdown provides extra guidance for those who want to learn or practice back-bending and balance poses.
Yoga For Weight Loss
Yoga has become a popular form of exercise for people looking to lose weight. Not only does it increase metabolism and lean mass, but it also helps people establish a stronger mindset towards reaching their weight loss goals and establish healthier eating patterns and attitudes towards food.
Thus, yoga provides an approach to weight loss with positive behavioral, physical, and psychosocial effects.
Some of yoga’s significant health benefits of yoga concerning weight loss include:
- Significant reduction in body mass index, body weight, body fat, and waist circumference
- A moderate increase in caloric expenditure
- Increase in lean body mass
- Weight loss experience that’s multifaceted and focuses on all aspects of health
- Enables people to feel more connected to their bodies and in control of their habits and actions
- Increased awareness of satiety
- Reduction in stress may lead to unhealthy earning patterns as a form of coping
Yoga Poses For Weight Loss
Several types of poses enhance overall weight loss. Some of the best poses that recruit the most muscle groups and require endurance include:
- Warrior I, II, & III (Virabhadrasana A, B, & C)
- Boat Pose (Navasana)
- Plank Pose (Chaturangadandasana)
- Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara)
- Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
- Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)
- Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
- Twisted Chair (Parivrtta Utkatasana)
- Bow (Dhanurasana)
Conclusion
Yoga is an incredible form of exercise for weight loss, and it is recommended to practice yoga at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes to maximize results. If you are new to yoga, you can start any of the above programs slowly and increase the intensity of the practice according to your ability.
Keep in mind that you will need to incorporate rest days with gentle and relaxing yoga to help calm the mind and reduce stress to further the weight loss process by lowering cortisol.
References
- A. Ross, A. Brooks, K. Touchton-Leonard, G. Wallen, “A Different Weight Loss Experience: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Behavioral, Physical, and Psychosocial Changes Associated with Yoga That Promote Weight Loss”, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2016, Article ID 2914745, 11 pages, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2914745
- Bernstein, A. M., Bar, J., Ehrman, J. P., Golubic, M., & Roizen, M. F. (2014). Yoga in the Management of Overweight and Obesity. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827613492097
- Parasuraman, S., Wen, L. E., Zhen, K. M., Hean, C. K., & Sam, A. T. (2016). Exploring the pharmacological and pharmacotherapeutic effects of yoga. Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biomedical Reports, 2(1).
- Tosca Braun, Crystal Park, Lisa Ann Conboy; Psychological Well-Being, Health Behaviors, and Weight Loss Among Participants in a Residential, Kripalu Yoga-Based Weight Loss Program. Int J Yoga Therap 1 January 2012; 22 (1): 9–22. doi: https://doi.org/10.17761/ijyt.22.1.y47k2658674t1212