Yoga as aerobic workout a bit of a stretch, study finds

But a new study has found that while the eastern-inspired stretching regime is good for getting your body supple, it offers only half the physical benefits of a light to moderate walk.

Nor does yoga on its own produce enough cardiovascular benefits as aerobic activity, and it is not enough to help control weight, researchers at Texas State University have found.

The researchers are concerned that some people might not be getting enough physical exercise because they believe doing yoga alone is enough.

"Yoga’s a good form for flexibility and muscular fitness, but it’s not so good for weight loss and aerobic conditioning," said Lisa Lloyd, an assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation at Texas State.

"Unfortunately, the general public doesn’t realise it’s a good supplemental exercise, but shouldn’t be someone’s sole activity."

An estimated one million people do yoga regularly in the UK.

Joanna Reilly, secretary of the Scottish Yoga Teachers Association, said yesterday that she recommended beginners do other forms of exercise, but those doing advanced classes had a high cardiovascular activity.

"I would accept what the report is saying for beginners who are being introduced to the postures," she said. "In the beginner’s case, I would recommend people to come to yoga classes for the physical, mental and emotional levels, but for the cardiovascular element, I would recommend walking and swimming as well.

"But for more advanced classes, the heart rate is raised, the sweat pours out because they know the postures, and there is a lot of cardiovascular activity."

The eight-week study, to be published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, was spurred by the growing popularity of yoga in the United States and a concern by the researchers that too many people may forego tougher physical fitness activities thinking that yoga alone is enough to improve their health.

The study compared the energy consumption of a 30-minute yoga session with a light walk on a treadmill.

Prof Lloyd and co-author Carolyn Clay said they found that "hatha" yoga - the term for the physical elements of yoga - is not nearly as beneficial as aerobic exercise for cardiovascular conditioning, muscular development or weight loss.

Although a yoga routine produced high heart rates in the 30 college-age women who took part in the study, Prof Lloyd said that may be a result of holding the same position for a long time. The effect was not enough to improve cardiovascular health or control weight, the study found.

Emma Evans, of the British Wheel of Yoga, the national governing body, said yesterday: "Yoga has never claimed to be a fitness programme or a weight-loss programme.

"The study is interesting because it is so specific and focused, but yoga is far more reaching than just a physical form of activity. It is a lifestyle activity that has more far- reaching implications for mind, body and soul."

She added: "People who eat too much or too little or do too much or too little are not recommended to do yoga."