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Faizan
The cardiovascular and respiratory benefits of exercise are usually high on many people's priority list when considering what type of exercise they should do. Running -- whether for long distances or short intervals -- is a good way to condition the cardiovascular system. Recently, some have turned to Bikram yoga as a way to squeeze in their cardio for the day. While Bikram yoga has fitness benefits, cardio is not one of them.
Bikram Basics
Bikram yoga is a system that consists of 26 Hatha yoga postures performed in a room heated to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The Bikram Yoga website says that this temperature is recommended to keep the participants from overheating. The sequence is generally the same each time with little variation. Even though the sequence always consists of the same 26 basic poses, adjustments and modifications can make the poses easier or harder.
Bikram Yoga and Cardio
Yoga has some heart-related benefits such as reducing blood pressure and the effects of chronic heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, a March 2013 study in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning" found no cardiorespiratory benefits in participants whose sole exercise was Bikram yoga. The study consisted of two groups of people and measured their deadlift, hand-grip, lower back and shoulder strength as well as heart rate and oxygen consumption. The group that performed weeks of yoga lost a little more body fat than the control group and experienced improvements in most areas but saw no increase in hand-grip strength and cardiovascular and aerobic fitness.
Running and Cardio
The cardio benefits of running have been studied at length, and running has numerous heart benefits. In a study of distance running in the "Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine," running regularly was found to prevent and ease the effects of heart disease. The study also showed that distance running decreases resting heart rate, which is a sign of a healthy functioning heart. Another study in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research" on sprinting found that even short, infrequent but high-intensity runs improved cardiovascular performance significantly.
Tips
Combine Bikram Yoga and running to enhance your exercise regimen. According to the Mayo Clinic, Bikram Yoga can improve your flexibility and range of motion in your joints. These benefits may complement running, which can be hard on your muscles and the joints in your legs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that you don't need to run to achieve cardio fitness -- anything from mowing the lawn to biking to the store counts as cardio. Other options include jumping rope, using an elliptical machine or riding a stationary bike. The key to cardiorespiratory fitness is doing an activity that increases your breathing and heart rate for 10 minutes or more.l
Bikram Basics
Bikram yoga is a system that consists of 26 Hatha yoga postures performed in a room heated to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The Bikram Yoga website says that this temperature is recommended to keep the participants from overheating. The sequence is generally the same each time with little variation. Even though the sequence always consists of the same 26 basic poses, adjustments and modifications can make the poses easier or harder.
Bikram Yoga and Cardio
Yoga has some heart-related benefits such as reducing blood pressure and the effects of chronic heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, a March 2013 study in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning" found no cardiorespiratory benefits in participants whose sole exercise was Bikram yoga. The study consisted of two groups of people and measured their deadlift, hand-grip, lower back and shoulder strength as well as heart rate and oxygen consumption. The group that performed weeks of yoga lost a little more body fat than the control group and experienced improvements in most areas but saw no increase in hand-grip strength and cardiovascular and aerobic fitness.
The cardio benefits of running have been studied at length, and running has numerous heart benefits. In a study of distance running in the "Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine," running regularly was found to prevent and ease the effects of heart disease. The study also showed that distance running decreases resting heart rate, which is a sign of a healthy functioning heart. Another study in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research" on sprinting found that even short, infrequent but high-intensity runs improved cardiovascular performance significantly.
Tips
Combine Bikram Yoga and running to enhance your exercise regimen. According to the Mayo Clinic, Bikram Yoga can improve your flexibility and range of motion in your joints. These benefits may complement running, which can be hard on your muscles and the joints in your legs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that you don't need to run to achieve cardio fitness -- anything from mowing the lawn to biking to the store counts as cardio. Other options include jumping rope, using an elliptical machine or riding a stationary bike. The key to cardiorespiratory fitness is doing an activity that increases your breathing and heart rate for 10 minutes or more.l
Posted in: Yoga & Meditation
