Doing yoga classes in person can seem a little intimidating, especially if you’re a beginner or aren’t comfortable being around other people.
If this is the case for you, a yoga DVD is your best bet as you can exercise comfortably from your own home!
To help you find the best yoga DVD for weight loss.
I’ve reviewed a range of DVDs and looked at their highlights and drawbacks.
After considering all the options our top picks for the best yoga dvd for weight loss were…
How to Choose the Best Yoga DVDs for Weight Loss
Choosing the right yoga video is vital for ensuring that you see effective results.
Here are some points you should consider to make sure your workout is as stress-free and efficient as possible.
Goals/Theme
Your overall goals and what you want to achieve from the yoga program is important, as is the theme of the DVD.
Make sure you look closely at what type of yoga routines the DVD offers to help you determine whether it’s the right match for you.
For example, if you’re looking for simple and relaxing activities to help you ease back into exercise after pregnancy…
Then a program that focuses on pre- or post-natal workouts is a good option.
Level
The target level or difficulty of the yoga program is another factor you need to keep in mind.
Videos aimed at beginners normally introduce the basics of yoga and provide straightforward exercises that aren’t overly challenging.
If you already know a thing or two about yoga…
Then you’ll need a program that offers more advanced routines.
Setting
The right setting is helpful for maximum motivation and effectiveness.
If you’re looking to do more calming exercises or yoga techniques…
Then a DVD that has a tranquil atmosphere with a scenic backdrop might be ideal.
Instructors
The instructor guiding you through the exercises in the video needs to be engaging and likeable to make sure you don’t lose motivation or concentration.
If you’re not familiar with an instructor in a yoga DVD.
It might be worthwhile looking them up to see if they have the right attitude you can workout to.
Price
Lastly, the price of the DVD and your budget is something you need to bear in mind.
While the majority of yoga DVDs are inexpensive, some can be a bit pricey depending on the amount of discs and workouts they offer.
You also need to think about the runtime of the program.
Videos that are a little costlier but offer a lot of content might be a good investment in the long run than cheaper ones that have a shorter running time.
What Happens to Your Body When You Start Doing Yoga?
When you start practicing yoga, the blood flow to your muscles increases, bringing both oxygen and nutrients to the active tissues.
Once you start doing yoga regularly, your muscles become much more flexible.
This makes them less receptive to damage in the future and reduces the strain on your body’s joints.
Can You Lose Weight By Doing Yoga?
Yoga helps strengthen your muscles and improves your metabolism, so it’s definitely possible to lose weight from doing it.
However, the type of yoga and any other exercises you’re doing can affect the amount of weight you could lose.
Bikram or hot yoga is particularly beneficial for burning calories as it puts you into challenging positions that increase your heart rate, with the added extra of a very hot room.
In contrast, Hatha yoga involves delicate poses and stretching exercises that don’t require as much energy.
This type of yoga is ideal for beginners as it’s a little easier to get into.
How Much Weight Can You Lose in a Month with Yoga?
How much weight you can lose with yoga depends on many factors, including nutrition, sleep hygiene, and your overall lifestyle.
When you’re doing yoga to lose weight, you should focus on what you’re eating.
Putting whole, fresh foods into your body is obviously better than microwaveable dinners for achieving better results.
No matter what sort of exercise or diet you’re doing, most people who lose around 1 to 2 pounds each week are typically more victorious at keeping it off.
Is 30 Minutes of Yoga a Day Enough?
Just a few minutes of yoga each day is beneficial for your body, so 30 minutes of yoga daily is plenty for improving your breathing, flexibility, and strength.
Alternatively, you could do a more labor intensive exercise for at least an hour 3 to 5 times per week, then practice more gentle exercises on the other days.
Restorative and hatha yoga are two great relaxing choices.
If you’re new to yoga, it’s recommended to start a little slower and gradually build up the amount of exercise you do each week.
This lets you gradually increase your flexibility and strength without suffering any injuries. You should also give yourself one rest day each week to reset.
Is Yoga Alone Enough Exercise?
While yoga can improve your balance, flexibility, strength, and energy levels, it’s usually not enough exercise by itself.
A lot of people who practice yoga combine it with other exercises like swimming, jogging, and walking.
Others supplement it with weight training and cycling.
However, what you want to achieve from your exercise regime and the type of results you want to see is important, so do what’s right for you.
If you simply want to improve your wellbeing and flexibility, then yoga should be enough by itself.
However, if you want faster results and desire a super toned body, then you might want to consider adding other types of activities to your exercise routine.
Does Yoga Burn Belly Fat?
Yoga can help you burn belly fat, but resistance training is generally better for targeting your stomach area.
Like with any exercise, your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, and the amount of physical activity you do all come into play for the amount of fat you can burn.
How Long Does It Take to See Results from Yoga?
Many people see results in a few weeks after first practicing yoga.
During this time, workouts might seem a little easier and you might notice your flexibility and breathing begin to improve.
However, for results like weight loss and increased muscle tone, it could take at least 12 weeks to see any visible difference.
Best Yoga DVDS for Weight Loss
Top Pick
Biggest Loser: Weight Loss Yoga DVD
The instructor guiding you through the workouts is Bob Harper, a fitness guru. He clearly explains each exercise and shares his knowledge on good nutrition and physical fitness.
Biggest Loser: Weight Loss Yoga DVD
The exercises featured in this weight loss yoga DVD have been adapted from the NBC show “The Biggest Loser”, so it’s a great choice if you’re a fan of the program!
Even if you haven’t seen it, this video is still my top pick as it’s challenging and effective.
The instructor guiding you through the workouts is Bob Harper, a fitness guru.
He clearly explains each exercise and shares his knowledge on good nutrition and physical fitness.
Not only is this helpful for learning more about being healthy, but it also allows you to gain maximum effectiveness from the plan.
Variety
Bob mixes up standard workouts like fuses and lunges with yoga poses that are great for burning calories.
The runtime of the program is 55 minutes if you decide to watch it in one sitting. Each section is divided up into 3 different workouts that target a different area of your body.
In the DVD’s menu options, you can choose which workout you want to do if you don’t want to watch the whole thing. There’s a 5-minute cool down and warm-up between each workout, too.
The first workout in the video is aimed at core strength with planks, stretches, and lunges. The second focuses on abs and the third features a more traditional gym-type workout.
One of my favorite aspects of this yoga video for weight loss is that the individuals shown in the workouts are not model-esque actors. Their posture isn’t always perfect, which makes them relatable.
Challenging
The yoga exercises featured in the Biggest Loser DVD are challenging and you’ll definitely feel worn out afterwards. If you keep at it, the workouts are pretty effective.
However, if you’re new to yoga, then the workouts in this DVD might seem a little tough and overwhelming.
It might not be the best choice for beginners for this reason.
Additionally, the overall approach of the program is a little cheesy and involves a fair amount of dialogue.
Specs
- Instructor: Bob Harper
- Number of Discs: 1
- Runtime: 55 minutes
- Release Date: December 15, 2008
Pros
- Challenging but effective exercises
- Split into 3 workouts to target different body areas
- Informative
Cons
- Not very beginner-friendly
- Can be a little cheesy at times
Best for Beginners
Body Wisdom Yoga for Weight Loss DVDs
A great yoga DVD for beginners as it features options specifically for newcomers.
Body Wisdom Yoga for Weight Loss DVDs
The Body Wisdom program is a great yoga DVD for beginners as it features options specifically for newcomers.
Various Routines
It’s also simple to follow and allows you to fully customize your workout routine.
The video has 35 routines that span over three discs, with each one focusing on a different workout.
Yoga for Weight Loss is pretty self explanatory, but the other plans are Flow Yoga and Power Yoga for Everyone to improve flexibility, build strength and relieve stress.
While the program is targeted more for beginners, it’s also suitable for those looking to expand their introductory knowledge on yoga.
The runtime of the weight loss yoga DVD is 600 minutes, so it’s great value for money.
Easy To Folllow
I really like the learning style of the program as the instructors are motivating and make everything very simple to follow.
That said, if you like workouts with a little more activity, then this yoga for weight loss DVD might not be for you.
Each plan is relatively slow-paced and therefore may feel a bit boring for some people from time to time.
Specs
- Instructor: Various
- Number of Discs: 3
- Runtime: 600 minutes
- Release Date: December 27, 2011
Pros
- Great for beginners
- Easy to follow
- Good value
- Lots of different plans, including Power Yoga and Flow Yoga
Cons
- Slow-paced
Best for Middle Age/Seniors
Gentle Yoga: 7 Beginning Yoga Practices for Mid-life (40s-70s)
Gentle Yoga DVDs are ideal for people in their 40s to 70s as they focus on simple but efficient workouts.
Gentle Yoga: 7 Beginning Yoga Practices for Mid-life (40s-70s)
Gentle Yoga DVDs are ideal for people in their 40s to 70s as they focus on simple but efficient workouts.
Tailored Routines
Seniors or the middle-aged often have poor energy levels due to a decreased metabolism, which can cause weight gain and other unhealthy habits.
The program takes these factors into consideration and is split into several parts.
Each workout has different runtimes, with the longest one being 34 minutes and the shortest being 8 minutes.
All the parts have various exercises that target different areas of your body, such as a relaxing evening practice and a core strength and flexibility routine.
All of the exercises have been designed to accommodate the average lifestyle and stamina of someone middle-aged or senior.
Relaxing
I really like the backdrop in this fitness DVD for weight loss as it’s incredibly tranquil.
The video was filmed at the Glacier National Park, which provides a beautiful and calming atmosphere to workout to.
Unfortunately, the sound quality of Gentle Yoga DVDs is not the best as it can be a little muffled.
The instructor featured in the weight loss DVD also isn’t very attention-grabbing or engaging.
Specs
- Instructor: Jane Adams
- Number of Discs: 1
- Runtime: 187 minutes
Pros
- Great for older adults
- Relaxing atmosphere
- Offers lots of workout plans
Cons
- Sound quality is not the best
- Instructor isn’t very engaging
Best for Post-Pregnancy
Yoga Pregnancy: Pre and Post Natal Workouts
One of the best for post-pregnancy yoga dvd as it’s relatively short and focuses on postpartum body recovery, painless childbirth, and reducing your stress levels during pregnancy.
Yoga Pregnancy: Pre and Post Natal Workouts
This DVD is one of the best for post-pregnancy as it’s relatively short and focuses on postpartum body recovery, painless childbirth, and reducing your stress levels during pregnancy.
Yoga is beneficial for expectant parents as it helps clear your mind and reduce pain or cramps associated with growing a tiny human.
The video assists with childbirth, controlling weight gain, and alleviating back pain by providing effective and helpful exercises.
Easy and Simple
As it’s important not to overexert yourself either pre- or post-pregnancy, the routines are easy and straightforward.
They typically involve breathing exercises and simple poses.
Both the pre-natal and post-natal plans are 30 minutes each, making the runtime a total of 60 minutes.
This is perfect for when you have some time spare between growing or raising a baby.
The instructor featured in the DVD is Heather Seigniger who is experienced in teaching yoga.
Relaxing and Motivating
I really like her teaching style in this pregnancy weight loss DVD as her attitude is relaxing and motivating.
However, if you’re looking for more challenging routines or an advanced yoga plan, then this DVD might not be for you.
The program is very light and doesn’t provide overly difficult exercises.
Specs
- Instructor: Heather Seigniger
- Number of Discs: 1
- Runtime: 60 minutes
- Release Date: December 10, 2007
Pros
- Straightforward exercises
- Offers both pre-natal and post-natal yoga plans
- Relaxing and motivating atmosphere
Cons
- Routines can be a little too simple
Conclusion
Let’s take a quick look at all our top picks…
Top Pick
After looking at a variety of yoga DVDs, I think the best program for yoga weight loss is the Biggest Loser: Weight Loss Yoga DVD.
It provides a challenging and effective workout routine that’s divided into three parts. Each one targets a different area of your body to ensure you do the right yoga for strengthening a specific area.
The instructor, Bob Harper, also shares useful tips on nutrition and being healthier in general to make sure you get maximum results from the program.
Unfortunately, the exercises in the video can be a little tough for beginners, so it’s better suited to individuals who understand the basics of yoga.
The instructor can also have some cheesy dialogue, which might break your focus from time to time.
Great Alternatives
The other two best yoga DVDs for weight loss are Body Wisdom Weight Loss Yoga DVDs and Gentle Yoga: 7 Beginning Yoga for Weight Loss Practices for Mid-life. The former is an excellent option for beginners as it’s easy to follow, while the latter is an ideal choice for older adults.
Sharing is Caring
Thanks for reading, I hope that this best yoga dvd for weight loss article was helpful to you. Feel free to share this article with your friends and loved ones. I also reviews for workout wear like this plus size yoga pants review and this crossfit shorts review.
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And if you are thinking of giving a gift to a fitness buddy, you might want to read this article about the perfect gifts for weightlifters.
