7 Yoga Poses That Burn Major Calories

This article was written by Amy Schlinger and provided by our partners at Prevention.

Many write off yoga as an "easy" workout. After all, chanting and stretching might put you into a meditative mindset, but it's not exactly going to melt fat away—or is it? The truth may surprise you.

"Yoga is equal parts strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance," says Mandy Ingber, celebrity yoga instructor, author of Yogalosophy for Inner Strength. She estimates that yoga can torch anywhere from 180 to 600 calories per hour, noting that there's a large range because there are so many different types.

While you'll generally burn more calories in a Bikram or power yoga class than you would in a restorative one, the specific yoga poses that you (or your instructor) select matter a lot, too. Looking to torch fat? Make sure these seven poses are a regular part of your practice. (Get a flat belly in just 10 minutes a day with our reader-tested exercise plan!)

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