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Love yoga but looking to make it more intense? It may be as simple as adding some new poses to your routine. Dr. Enette Larson-Meyer, yoga instructor and metabolic energy researcher at the University of Wyoming, told the Huffington Post that certain yoga poses may count as moderate-intensity exercise. Larson-Meyer reviewed research investigating the amount of energy burned while performing 37 common yoga poses. While most of the poses could be categorized as light-intensity exercise, she found that four advanced poses fell into the moderate-intensity category, specifically: Dandayamana-Janushirasana (standing head to knee); Dandayamana-Dhanurasana (standing bow); Trikanasana (triangle pose); and Tuladandasana (balancing stick). In addition to these specific poses, Larson-Meyer also recommends the following to get the most intensity out of your yoga routine:

• Try to incorporate more standing and balancing poses.
• Add in quicker movements when transitioning to different poses.
• Practice, practice, practice. It seems that experienced practitioners expend more energy than beginners, likely because they know how to deepen the poses to make them harder.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to seek out guidance to make sure you are doing any pose safely. Also, keep in mind that yoga has other benefits besides being a possible source of moderate-intensity exercise—for example, it can have a relaxing effect that may make even the lighter-intensity poses worth it all on their own.

Source: Huffington Post