🧘 Yoga Calorie: Calculator

Estimate calories burned during yoga, by style and intensity.

kg
minutes
CALORIES BURNED
0 kcal
for your selected style and duration
MET Value Used
0
Calories / 30 min
0 kcal
Calories = MET × Weight (kg) × Duration (hours)

How the Yoga Calorie Calculator Works

This calculator estimates calories burned during a yoga session using MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) values, a standard measure of exercise intensity used throughout exercise science. Different yoga styles demand very different amounts of energy — a slow, restorative session held mostly in stillness burns far fewer calories than a vigorous, continuously-moving power yoga or hot yoga class.

Calories Burned = MET × Weight (kg) × Duration (hours)

Why Yoga Style Makes Such a Big Difference

Restorative and Yin yoga involve holding gentle, mostly seated or lying poses for extended periods with minimal muscular exertion, giving them a low MET value of about 2.0 — only slightly above resting metabolism. At the other end of the spectrum, Power Yoga, Ashtanga, and Hot Yoga (Bikram) involve continuous, vigorous movement through demanding poses, often in a heated room that adds cardiovascular strain, pushing their MET values up to 5.0-5.5. Vinyasa or Flow yoga sits in the middle at around MET 4.0, reflecting its moderate, continuously-linked movement between poses.

MET Values Used in This Calculator

The MET values used here — Restorative/Yin (2.0), Hatha (2.5), Vinyasa/Flow (4.0), Power Yoga/Ashtanga (5.0), and Hot Yoga/Bikram (5.5) — are drawn from the widely referenced Compendium of Physical Activities used in exercise science research, and follow the same simplified MET × weight × duration formula used by this site's other activity-based calorie calculators, such as the Swimming and Rowing Machine calorie calculators.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which yoga style burns the most calories?
Hot Yoga (Bikram) and Power Yoga/Ashtanga burn the most per this calculator's MET values (5.5 and 5.0 respectively), since both involve vigorous, continuous movement — Hot Yoga's heated room also adds extra cardiovascular demand.
Why does Restorative or Yin yoga burn so few calories?
Restorative and Yin yoga involve holding gentle, mostly seated or lying poses for long periods with very little muscular exertion, giving them a low MET value (about 2.0) only modestly above your resting metabolic rate.
Does a hotter room actually burn more calories in Hot Yoga?
The heat in Hot Yoga (Bikram) increases cardiovascular strain and sweating, which is reflected in its higher MET value compared to a similar-intensity session done at room temperature, though most of that increase is fluid loss rather than pure additional calorie burn.
Is yoga a good form of exercise for weight loss?
Vigorous styles like Power Yoga or Hot Yoga can contribute meaningfully to a calorie deficit, but yoga is often valued more for flexibility, strength, balance, and stress reduction — for weight loss specifically, it's most effective when combined with an overall calorie-conscious diet and other exercise.
How accurate are MET-based calorie estimates for yoga?
MET values are population averages from research studies, so actual calorie burn varies by individual fitness level, body composition, and how vigorously specific poses are performed within a given style — treat this as a solid estimate rather than an exact number.

🏆 About This Tool — Accuracy & Trust

🔒 Data Privacy: All calculations run entirely within your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you enter here is ever transmitted to our servers, stored, sold, or shared.

📐 Accuracy Note: This tool uses standard, widely published formulas and guidelines. Results are estimates for informational purposes; for financial, medical, or engineering decisions, consult a licensed professional.

📅 Last Updated: September 2026.