Hot, but not a scorcher
Happy Sunday! How’s your weekend going?
Here’s what we’ve been up to over here:
-I had a little photoshoot- should be able to say what it was for later this week
-We went on our first real date in almost 4 months.
First time wearing TALL shoes in forever:
I usually stick to flats because I’m clumsy.
Livi went to bed at 7 per usual, and Kyle came over to hang out while she slept. I didn’t take my camera with me so I could fully enjoy the night with the Pilot, but we had an awesome sushi dinner at Ra. Sashimi, spicy salmon roll, lobster roll, the hot mess (fried rice topped with crab, pepper, cilantro and jalapeno!!!)), salad, soup and an amazing cucumberita.
-A Bikram and smoothie date with my friend Marisa.
A little pre-yoga toast with almond butter and strawberries:
I wore my heart rate monitor because I’ve been wondering for a while how many calories Bikram really burns. The online sources say up to 1000 for the 90-minute class, and I believed it had to be a pretty high number since I work hard and can feel my elevated heart rate throughout the practice.
The verdict:
Much lower than I expected, and the same amount I’d probably burn leisurely walking around the mall for 90 minutes.
My heart rate monitor is based on my age, weight and fitness level, so calorie burn will vary from person to person.
The reason why I feel like I’m working so hard during Bikram is because of the heat. The body is constantly attempting to cool down, and every time I’m on my stomach, I can feel my heart pounding. I’ve always considered it to be a type of interval training because you hold the challenging poses and rest in between, but when I felt like my heart rate was sky high, I looked down at my Polar and saw it was 102-105ish (about the same as if I were walking). Crazy, huh? I wouldn’t consider Bikram to be a cardio workout because my heart rate never reached my target range (60-75% of my maximum heart rate: 220 – my age) and now consider it to be a low key interval form of strength training. However, there are benefits of practicing Bikram (and other forms of yoga) that a heart rate monitor would never be able to measure.
Bikram yoga is frequently touted as a major calorie burner, but Bikram’s main purpose of the practice (like many other types of yoga) is health, not calorie burn. Bikram is supposed to help with spinal alignment, flexibility, improving blood circulation and detoxification. I always feel like a million bucks after practicing, enjoy the extra stretching and chance to clear my mind. It’s more of a mental workout than anything else and I LOVE the heat.
For the time commitment, I think it’s definitely worth practicing if it’s something you enjoy. Go for health and wellbeing- consider the calorie burn as a bonus. If you’re not a fan of Bikram, there are SO many yogas options- you just have to find the best choice for you. I also love vinyasa and anusara.
Do you train with your heart rate monitor? Have you ever been surprised by your calorie burn?
We’re off to a graduation party!
Enjoy your day <3
xoxo
Gina
Something to think:
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🙂 I am so glad you had an awesome date night!
I talked with my yoga instructor because my HRM came up about the same when I took a 75 minute hot class, and she said you continue to burn after the class which is why the calculators on the web are so much higher!
Yeah it definitely is a common misconception that hot yoga burns a ton of calories…even HOT power yoga doesn’t burn that much! The heat just makes it seem like you are working a lot harder than you really are because your heart race increases more quickly while trying to cool you down. But like you said, I am all about yoga for the health benefits! It keeps me sane and centered so I don’t worry to much about the low cal burn!
I know it can be so frustrating when you’re doing Yoga or another from of activity and you’re pushing really hard and it feels like you’re working really hard but when you glance down at your HR monitor–your HR is not as high as you want or the calorie burn is not as high. I actually spoke to my personal trainer about this–because I was getting really frustrated one day. I was doing a circuit workout with burpees and jump squats and I felt like I was pushing really hard but my HR was lower than when I was sprinting on the treadmill. And sprinting actually felt easier. My personal trainer explained you can’t always go by heart rate. It’s more important how your body is feeling. If you feel that you full body is pushing and you are pushing to your max limit than you are working out in the “zone.” It’s hard to not get so caught up on numbers–that’s my problem too!
PS: Your hair looks great!
i love Ra!!!!! happy hour is the best 🙂
You look great and very fit! It’s always so nice to get date breaks from the baby! Hmmm…happiness never comes from the outside…um what about chocolate almond butter? You introduced me to that and well it makes me happy :). (I get what the saying really means though). I should get one of those heart rate monitors for zumba. I definitely get my heart up doing zumba much more than I do with my uninspired work- outs.
I tried Bikram for the first time this week and it was definitely NOT for me – it was pretty draining (I’ve never been so hot in my life!) and I spent a lot of the class on my back! That being said, I really don’t think it’s a ‘true’ workout – it’s a good stretch and lots of focus on balance, etc, but the ‘cardio’ aspect is just your body struggling against the heat (which I actually found kind of scary!), but that’s just my $0.02. If I have the $$$ for yoga I would choose ashtanga over bikram any day! PS those nude wedges are adorable! 🙂
Your nails look awesome! Love the glittery French mani!
I love your dress! Is it from LOFT? I’ve been tempted by it, too, and it suits you perfectly. You and the Pilot look awesome – glad you had a fun date night! Ra is ah-mazing. 🙂
thank you, friend! yep, loft 🙂 hope you’re having fun in az!
xoxo
Wow, that is mega-disappointing to hear about Bikram yoga. I’m trying to lose weight (20 pounds) and have spent about two months in the practice and am trying to decide whether to keep going or not. It’s a major time and money commitment! But I figured it was worth it because I was burning so many calories. I’m sure Bikram yoga is great for health generally, but with my major goal being weight loss, I wonder if my time and money would be better spent elsewhere? Sad.
Keep doing it! If you can’t afford it or don’t know if Bikram is the right style for you, try other styles or do at-home practices. I promise you it’s infinitely beneficial and it can (and will) change your body in very positive ways. You may not burn tons of calories, but honestly, that isn’t the most important thing. Eat well, treat your body well and continue with yoga and you’ll be doing yourself a lot of good. If you want to do other types of exercise, like intense cardio, then do that in addition to yoga. However, if you’re only doing yoga because you want to burn calories and not because you enjoy it, then don’t do it because you aren’t getting its full benefits.
I’d say keep doing it. My friend started a year ago, does no other exercise, and her body has completely transformed! She’s lost about 30 kg (over 50 pounds) and seriously toned up.
Thank you both for the encouragement!
if you love it, keep going! even though it’s not a huge calorie burner, there are so many other benefits. you’ll probably also make healthier choices when you practice yoga (i know i do) and that will help with weight loss. just make sure your fitness plan is balanced and you include some cardio during the week
Sorry to extend this little in-comment conversation further, BUT, I did a bit of research on this recently. Yoga-girls do tend to lose more weight but mostly this is because of something called the ‘yoga-effect’, which refers to the fact that yoga comes with a ‘lifestyle’ that also embraces things like less stress and clean food as well as friendships with people that also love these things. Yoga, just do it.
As for the extra calorie burn in Bikram, I wonder, does the HR monitor account for calories burned while your body is bringing itself back to homeostasis? I’ve done Bikram and it felt like it took half a day to get back to normal.
I wore my HRM during Bikram awhile ago as I was curious and got the same surprise as you. However, when I practice regularly, I am in the best shape and drop weight very quick, so go figure;). I miss it so much but hope to get back into it. I remember feeling funny wearing it to yoga, but I just had to know, ha ha.
I don’t really understand the point in calculating your calorie burn during yoga. The point of yoga isn’t for weight loss or calorie loss, it’s for the physical, mental and spiritual connection and well being. Westerners try to make it so much about exercise, strength training and calorie burn, when that shouldn’t even be a thought when practicing yoga; save the calorie burn for the gym. I know that you’ve been practicing yoga on and off for a while and say that you should do it for its many benefits, but it sounds as if you’re justifying the low calorie burn because of its unseen benefits, which is disappointing.
i totally get what you’re saying, but the thing is, many people use yoga as a tool for weight loss and bikram has the reputation of burning an insane amount of calories when it really isn’t the case. there are SO many reasons to practice yoga and like i said, the calorie burn is just a bonus. it’s been a big part of my fitness routine for a long time, and it’s 100% due to the fact that it makes me more flexible, relaxed and focused.
There are poses that aid weight loss/metabolism (poses where the uddiyana bandha is locked, like plow pose) but overall, a lot of people are disappointed when yoga isn’t magically making them lose weight because it isn’t a huge calorie burner. If anything, yoga is good for weight loss because it helps you mentally and emotionally – if you have a history with low self-esteem or overeating, then it could really help build your confidence or help you overcome issues with food.
I just don’t want people to stop doing yoga or shy away from it because it won’t burn a lot of calories. If someone is looking to lose weight or burn calories, they should do HIIT or strength train. If they’re looking for a deep physical and spiritual practice that will help them unwind and align, then yoga is supremely beneficial.
By the way, I’m not trying to be argumentative or anything, I just want people to do yoga!
Oops, I mean jalandhara bandha (throat lock), not uddiyana bandha (ab lock).
I agree that yoga’s ‘weightloss aid’ is mostly in de-stressing, and FEELING relaxed, lowering cortisol, changing body chemistry, and not only reducing stress eating but also changing the metabolism.
I personally think yoga is not that of a calorie burner but it’s more mentally.
http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/health/40031/relaxation-weight-control-study
I definitely agree. Stress can lead to emotional eating, bouts of depression or anxiety, and feeling tense and tight overall. Yoga helps to eliminate excess stress and toxins, thus making you feel lighter, relaxed and more centered. So, yoga may not directly cause significant weight loss, but it definitely affects it.
i agree 100%, especially when it comes to eating. it could aid in weight loss because it makes you more mindful in general and can lead to healthier decisions all around
I’m so glad you posted this about hot yoga…People think the heat makes you burn more calories, but actually that effect is really minimal. The heat is there to enable you to go deeper into the poses and get a much better stretch.
I prefer to do a power yoga class in a moderately warm room (75-85 degrees). That way it’s a little easier to judge how hard I’m working! But, in general, I consider yoga a workout for strength, flexibility, and mental health rather than cardio.
I have suspected for a while that Bikram really doesn’t burn as many calories as it feels like. But it can’t be beat for getting rid of the “bloat,” which I get at random times and especially around my cycle. It feels so great to get rid of all the excess water my body likes to hold onto! Also, it is such a strength workout for me… keeping my alignment (not hyperextending) when the heat is making my joints even more flexy than normal is a huge effort. So I only go when I feel really up to it. (I totally went to that studio when I was visiting my parents in Tucson this Christmas!)
With regard to Bikram,I’ve always said, if one did those poses in their living room, under normal temps, they are generally not too strenuous for someone who’s decently fit to begin with. It’s the heat that makes them seem so much more taxing, which is why I prefer ashtanga. Much more challenging poses and the heat is built organically, rather than in an artificially heated room.
You and Pilot look great! Glad you had the night out!
Wow! What a bummer! I do bikram regularly and thought it would burn at least 400-500 :/
for some people it does – everyone’s body is different! I started practicing almost 4 years ago and finally decided to wear my monitor to class. The verdict: 550 calories. And every class is different…some days your body works harder than others. If you enjoy it, keep it up. 🙂
Wow! What a bummer! I do bikram regularly and thought it would burn at least 400-500 :/
I love your look for date night, very chic.
The Calorie burn is interesting. I always am curious, but am a bit lazy to put on the chest strap and set my Garmin. I used to have a Polar and it was an easier set up. I should try it every couple weeks just to see, it’s interesting to see how your body responds to different activities. What is your average for Zumba?
Interesting about the Bikram! I did it for a while…but I’ve discovered Vinyasa Flow is much more satisfying for me personally…I feel even clearer after and the room is slightly (very slightly) heated. I do like the heat in Bikram as well, but I’m surprised it didn’t burn more calories…
I love Vinyasa Flow the best too. I *heart* it.
Your new dress looks great!
I still haven’t tried Bikram, but I think the relaxation and flexibility benefits sounds worth it.
Your date night dinner sounds delicious! Sounds like a great time.
Wildly low calorie burn! I wonder if the Polars act up in the extreme heat or something? I wore mine to a Bikram class early last year and it said almost 800 calories! Which I don’t believe. But I also notice lately my HRM is acting up so I think the strap battery might be going. So it’s all probably useless info.
But like I said before, I don’t think heat alone (or the HR increase from heat) burns calories or everyone who works outdoors in the desert would have to eat constantly or fade away. And those sweat suits would be the answer.
I’ve never seen an overweight, regular Bikram practitioner but I think if you have the discipline for that, overeating is probably not an issue. I thought and heard that doing it a lot probably kept you honest on the eating front just due to the potential nausea in there, and due to the tiny outfits. But an instructor told me you get to where you can wolf down a meal then head into class, no problems.
Hmmm. a HR monitor monitors heart rate, not like ‘sweat rate’.
Other ‘fitness meters’ have sensors for skin temperature and sweat levels, so I think they would give you a different level of calories burnt while doing bikram. Would be interesting to know if they capture it.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried the other studio in town, but the studio you go to is not an official Bikram studio. This use “bikram method” and like to add/change things, including the temperature.. I’ve been to a couple classes and none were even over 90 degrees. So, if you want a more accurate number, I would suggest practicing at a true Bikram studio with instructors specifically certified by Bikram.
i have been to the one on oracle. i love that it’s the traditional style but the room was reallllyyyy stinky. they all kind of smell, but that was the worst
all of the instructors at yoga vida are certified in bikram and went to his teaching training. it’s just more laid back and you’re right, it’s not quite as hot
I love your teal toe nail polish!
I used to do Bikram regularly and never wore my HRM for just that reason — I didn’t want to get caught up in the calorie burn. Since getting my HRM I tend to get caught up in the numbers of it and forget that there are more benefits from exercise than just calories. And since I knew that Bikram was a great workout, I didn’t want to start thinking that I needed to be doing more to reach some number.
I’ve worn my HRM during Bikram and experienced 400-500 calorie burns… but this was when I first started, so I’d be interested to check again… I wonder if it has something to do with getting used to the heat/poses?
that could have a lot to do with it
I used to do Bikram. I began working with a personal trainer (who works with professional sports teams) and strongly urged I stopped practicing hot yoga. She then had me read this article by Jill Miller (who is incredible) and it all made sense.
Just thought I would share.
http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/is-too-much-stretching-bad-for-you-one-yogini’s-story-from-floppy-to-fit/
I don’t what that article has to do with Bikram. It seems to say “combine strength training with stretching-type exercises, don’t just stretch to extremes in isolation”, which I think is fairly common knowledge.
I tried wearing an HRM to class one day, but I have no idea if I got a good reading. Which heart rate monitors do you guys recommend? Are the chest strap ones the way to go? (Mine is a wrist only model.)
i use the polar ft40- yes a chest strap helps give a more accurate reading
250-1000 calories. wow that’s a big difference. gotta love those heart rate monitors!! i was surprised at how many calories i burned doing zumba. pleasantly surprised:)
shaking burns a ton of calories 🙂
I love that quote and your dress! So glad you had such a fun date night. And I’m excited to find out what the photoshoot was for!
You guys look so adorable in that date pic!! Love that dress, too!
thank you! 🙂
My local Bikram studio has a billboard posted right now that says you burn over 1200 calories in a Bikram class! I’ve worn my heart rate monitor to class before and burned around the amount amount as you. I think it’s good for people to know the calorie burn quotes Bikram studios throw around are often extragerated.
In general, I like heated vinyasa more than Bikram – not for calorie burn reasons, I just prefer the style of teaching more.
You and Tom look great in that photo. I’m glad you had a fun date night!
I love hot yoga….and anusara and vinyasa. Actually, I started doing hot power vinyasa first, but then really learned what the heck I was doing in Anusara (and did the teacher training in that)…now I can do vinyasa and heated more effectively (without over stretching and stuff).
Love the sweating part…till my mat becomes a slip and slide. lol.
I’m so glad you tested this calorie thing—now I’ll tell my clients. I wasn’t sure before, so I just didn’t really comment on it. But I know some of them are doing the heated yoga to replace cardio!
Gina,
Thanks for posting what your heart monitor read after your Bikram session. I do Bikram 3x a week since I started in January. I have found there are many benefits to the practice other than a huge calorie burn that has been beneficial to me personally in other areas that are contributing to my overall fitness goals.
Bikram helps me:
Sleep>>>I sleep like a rock the days I take class. Sleep is important to overall health and weight loss.
Flexibility>>>I’m so much more flexible which allows me to go deeper when lifting, especially when do deadlifts, squats, etc.
Balance>>>My balanced has improved since practicing Bikram. Again, I notice when doing one-legged squats, deadlifts, etc…
Focus>>>My ability to focus, especially when reading or writing is where I’ve seen the most improvement. I’ve learned to be in the now and focus on what I’m reading or writing.
Breathing>>>There’s a term in yoga, “As long as your breathing, your doing yoga.” So, true. The ability to breath properly has helped me when doing cardio and when lifting, and because of it my energy level and ability to go for longer periods of time has improved!
Releasing of Toxins>>>Bikram releases the toxins in your body and regulates your hormones. I noticed during my TOM I’m less emotional and the cramping has pretty much subsided completely.
Although the calories burned are not what we may have thought, the other benefits from Bikram should be taken into consideration too when deciding if it’s worth the time and investment. I vote, yes!
One last note, my hubby started taking yoga with me and 3 weeks in he quit his 30+ year smoking habit with no assistance and it’s been 9 weeks. So for me, that alone is worth going! 🙂
You and your hubs are so good looking, hope your date night was wonderful. I love your blog and appreciate you sharing everything you learn!!!
you’re right, there are so many amazing benefits!
thank you- we had a great night <3
that means so much to me. thank you so much for reading!
xo
I love Bikram! I think I’ll stick to my cardio workouts for calorie burn and take the other benefits from yoga. It’s cool that you did that little experiment. Hope you and Pilot had a great night out!
I love RA! I was there on fri night. Have you ever been to Ginza Sushi? Sooo yummy! The Bimbap chirashi is awesome! I get it over brown rice. Check out “session yoga” online. New hot yoga studio in tucon… Not open yet though. I moved to San Diego for 6 months and so many cool places have opened since I’ve been gone…yah!
no, i haven’t! there are so many great sushi places here but we always end up at sushi garden or ra
I love sushi–yummy!!
And yes, HR monitor doesn’t say it all, but it’s true that a hot yoga class is more about the sweat that gets the HR up and not the actual large muscles groups moving together rhythmically (which usually makes for a higher caloric burn and/or HR)
Have a great Sunday!
Hi Gina, what kind of heart rate monitor watch do you use? I’m looking into getting one to wear during high aerobic classes, running and yoga.
i have the polar ft40 and love it
Does it tell you calories burned and kilometres/mileage if running?
no, but the garmin 305 does
I love wearing my heart rate monitor to gage my level of intensity. There have been many times that I thought I was working much harder than I actually was. I also find that it helps me push myself a little when I start to slack off 🙂
I’ve tried Bikram a few times and it’s just not for me. I prefer flow or power yoga. Also it’s really not safe to be stretching in such a heated environment because your muscles are more relaxed and more prone to tearing or injury. And I really didn’t like how the Bikram yoga teachers were always telling me to lock out my knees since that’s how you mess up your knees! But I definitely do yoga for how it makes me feel versus how many calories it burns.
Sounds like a yummy feast! I love date nights, glad you got to enjoy one 🙂
I’m still not on the yoga train, but after I run my half (Memorial Day weekend) I’ll be starting up 3 months with a Groupon deal I have, so we’ll see!
hope you love it, and good luck on your half!
I used to do Bikram and thought I was burning hundreds of calories. I had no idea it was actually that low, especially for 90 minutes of what seems like the most intense workout of all time. I just bought a HRM and was also surprised how strength training can actually burn a lot of calories and get your heart rate up just by doing reps and exercises that incorporate more than one muscle group.
You might burn different calories on different days. I’ve only worn my monitor to class once in 4 years, I’d be interested to compare it a few times.
The calorie burn was definitely not what got me into Bikram, but the 30 pounds that melted off was a welcome surprise. 🙂 Who’s to say it was because of the yoga though? I like Bikram because you do the same thing every class so I feel like I can see progress more and gauge how hard I’m pushing myself in comparison to last week (or 7 months ago in my case – sad face). Can’t wait to get back in there!
AND can’t wait for date night in TWO WEEKS!!!!!!
I’ve never done hot yoga before, but I’m surprised the calorie burn is so low! I’ve always thought it was so much higher. But despite that it still seems like a good workout and I really want to try it soon!
I love Bikram. I don’t consider it a major calorie burn. I would still do it – I feel awesome after I’m done.
Interesting about the calorie burn from your HRM. Though the purpose of yoga/bikram yoga is not about the amount of calories spent but the intense meditative practice that it can be. Yup you get in shape physically but for me, bikram is a lot about the 90 minute moving meditation!
I’ve done bikram for 43 days straight as of today and am feeling awesome! Mentally and emotionally i’m much more calm yet focused. I have detoxed a lot and am way more grounded. Physically i’m stronger and getting ripped. Stomach is flatter and abdominals are coming in yet i’ve gained about 3lbs from before starting (i don’t need to lose any weight). I attribute this to muscle mass increase:) i love bikram yoga and what it has to offer!!
43 days! that is AMAZING 🙂
Adorable dress! You looked gorgeous for your date night. You’re one fit momma that’s for sure.
SO interesting! What kind of heart rate monitor do you have?
PS- You look amazing.
Just kidding, just looked up at the other comments!
That really surprised me about how many calories you actually burn in a bikram class. I always feel like I have worked much harder than 230 kcals.
It’s interesting, I’ve taken Bikram for several years now. I’m probably taller and weigh more than you do, and I think I burned 425 calories when I wore my heart rate montior to class, which was not bad for yoga but way less than what my instructor and some Bikram enthusiasts claim (600-1000 calories). I will say that I’ve done both Bikram and regular vinyasa flow yoga and have seen much better results with Bikram.