Is Running Better Than Yoga?
Yoga and running offer cardiovascular benefits and improve general health. Both activities are slow and steady paths to fitness and weight loss. Running burns calories faster, but the effects of yoga last longer, and on top of that, it helps boost mental strength.
Vigorous exercising with yoga or running can improve flexibility, boost strength and stamina, reduce stress, and ease depression.
Nevertheless, you might need to identify the better option between yoga and running if you cannot explore both activities.
Are you confused about which is better between running and yoga?
This article makes a comparative analysis of these two exercises for weight loss and other benefits.
Read on to find out!
Is Yoga Better Than Running for Weight Loss
There is no debate about the effectiveness of running and yoga for weight loss. They are both proven practically and scientifically. The discussion is about which of the two is a better option.
Both running and yoga are effective for weight loss. The significant difference is that running gives a faster effect, but yoga gives a more lasting impact. Consequently, it is safe to say yoga is better for weight loss since it provides a more lasting effect.
Yoga and running are at the forefront of natural ways to lose weight.
Besides the fact they do not require any special equipment, they are easy to carry out.
Running and yoga also have noticeable effects on weight loss and calorie burn—both work by increasing the body’s metabolic rate and energy demand.
Weight loss is a long-term journey, so you need a method with a long-lasting effect.
Also, yoga helps with mental fitness, which is vital for your weight loss course. Yoga enhances the body’s metabolic rate, which allows you to burn calories all through the day.
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Hot Yoga Versus Running
Hot yoga is slightly different from regular yoga.
Unlike traditional yoga, hot yoga is practiced in a room with a higher temperature. It takes place under humid and hot conditions, which results in intense sweating.
Hot yoga offers more intense effects compared to traditional yoga and running.
Regular hot yoga practice will lead to massive weight loss in little time. Besides the fact that it increases the body’s metabolic rate, it triggers deep heat sweating.
The main difference between hot yoga and running is the number of calories they help you burn at a time. Hot yoga that is not as intense as Bikram yoga will burn more calories than 1 kilometer of running.
According to reports, A 160-pound individual can burn up to 560 calories (for men) and 330 calories (for women) in 90-minute hot yoga practice. On average, a 150 pounds individual will burn about 240 calories after 90 minutes of intense running.
Overall, it is crucial to note that both types of exercises are effective for weight loss. Nevertheless, hot yoga and running have comparable similarities. Some of the similarities between the two activities include;
- They both help with breathing control, focus, and endurance.
- Both activities can regulate heart rate and improve heart functions.
- Hot yoga and running help to strengthen bones and muscle strength.
- Both exercises improve mental fitness, enhance concentration, and boost endurance.
- Running and hot yoga are two natural and effective ways to get rid of excess calories.
Hatha Yoga Versus Running
As much as yoga and running produce similar effects, the intensity and type of impact vary. Let’s take a look at how running and yoga compare under the following considerations.
1. Weight Loss
If you need a natural and effective method to shed some weight in little time, running or yoga in the morning is a great option.
Yoga and running increase the metabolic rate and energy demand of the body.
Consequently, the body is forced to convert excess calories and fat into usable energy. Both exercises use a similar technique, and it is pretty effective. The only difference is in the rate of calorie burn.
Running burns more calories per unit of time compared to traditional yoga. Traditional yoga, on the other hand, offers a long-lasting effect. But hot yoga can provide a comparable weight loss rate with running.
According to the American council on exercise, a 180-pound individual can burn up to 17 calories per minute while running. This gives a better rate than yoga that helps a 155-pound individual burn about 5 calories per minute.
2. Breathing Control
The breathing technique is one of the significant focuses of running and yoga. It includes exercising and boosting the respiratory system with deep and lengthy breaths.
Running helps you to learn how to improve the efficiency of your breathing. Yoga, on the other hand, is better for breath control. Running involves rapid breaths, while yoga involves deep breaths.
Running, particularly high-intensity running involves deep inhaling and exhaling. It forces you to breathe through your mouth since it is more effective.
Yoga teaches you to hold your breath and maintain focus. Many yoga postures force you to hold your breath for a while before inhaling or exhaling deeply.
3. Muscle Strength
The body postures and stretching attached with yoga and running helps to improve body muscle strength. Yoga and running help maintain fitness and even allow professional athletes to perform better.
Running helps you to build muscle strength better than yoga. Yoga focuses more on muscle tone and creating balance. The pose and hold technique of yoga favors muscle balance while running favors muscle strength.
Running is an aerobic exercise that builds muscle strength by encouraging muscle growth. It inhibits the protein that might limit muscle growth and mitigates muscle breakdown.
So, just a 30-seconds sprint at high intensity separated by 5 minutes of light jogging is enough to improve muscle strength around your body.
Yoga increases muscle endurance. Yoga poses involve holding up on a particular posture for a long time. The repetitive exercises of yoga will tone your muscles and create balance around your body.
4. Mental Strength
Maintaining specific postures for a long time requires mental focus.
Practicing yoga is more instrumental in improving your mental strength compared to running. Yoga requires concentration and focus, which helps to train the mind.
Running deals less with the mind. It concentrates more on strength than the mind.
5. Flexibility
Running and yoga will not only improve your fitness and help you appear healthy, but they will also increase your flexibility. They will enhance muscle tightening while also improving muscle strength.
However, Yoga helps to improve body flexibility better than running.
Running increases muscle strength and muscle mass, which can limit flexibility. Yoga, on the other hand, improves muscle tone and endurance, making it the better choice.
Yoga Vs. Running in the Morning
Morning is a good time of the day to work on your body and fitness.
Both yoga and running will retain their effects when you do them in the morning. The only benefit of practicing running or yoga in the morning is that it helps start your day with energy, optimism, and focus. With morning exercises, you are more likely to stay healthy and active all through the day.
Nevertheless, there is no “right time” to practice running or yoga. Regardless of the time of the day, you would still burn the same amount of calories and obtain similar results. The only difference is in the way it influences your day and lifestyle.
Can you Run and Do Yoga on the Same Day?
You can run and practice yoga on the same day. If you are thinking of combining yoga and running, you are on the right track. It is only a question of proper planning and endurance.
Combining running and yoga will create the balance you need for fitness and flexibility. It will also offer more intense effects, including higher calorie burn. Running will help you achieve muscle strength, while yoga will work on flexibility and balance.
Doing both exercises on the same day requires careful consideration. It is best to warm up with yoga before running. This sequence will prepare your muscles and integrate them gradually into intense activities.
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Conclusion
Both running and yoga have distinct benefits, but they still have a lot in common.
The choice of which is better varies with individual needs and preference.
Running works better for those that intend to build muscle strength, while yoga might be better for those that desire flexibility and balance.
Running helps you burn more calories per unit of time, but yoga gives a more lasting effect.
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