Yoga Calories Burned Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/5/2026
Yoga burns about 3.5 MET on average, across all styles. For a 70 kg person practicing for an hour, that's about 245 kcal.
Explanation
Yoga covers a wide range of practices whose actual physical intensity differs greatly: a slow Hatha session, centered on holding static poses and breathing, engages the cardiovascular system far less than a dynamic Vinyasa or Power Yoga session, which flows through poses at a brisk pace closer to a strength workout. This calculator deliberately uses the generic "yoga, general" value from the Compendium of Physical Activities (3.5 MET) rather than a value per specific style: the published figures for each variant (Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, hot yoga...) vary noticeably from one source to another depending on the edition of the Compendium consulted, and presenting a precise figure per style would have risked displaying false precision. At 3.5 MET, yoga falls into the moderate-intensity category (between 3 and 6 MET under public-health thresholds), well below cardio activities like running or jump rope, but with distinct benefits for flexibility, balance, and stress management that this calculator doesn't measure. As with the other calorie calculators on this site, the result remains an estimate based on an average MET value: the style practiced, the session's real intensity, and individual fitness all make the real expenditure vary considerably. See also our daily calorie needs calculator to put this figure in the context of your overall daily energy balance, or our cycling calories calculator for a higher-intensity activity for comparison.
Example for a one-hour session
Inputs
Weight: 70 kg. Duration: 1 hour.
Calculation
Calories = 3.5 × 70 × 1 = 245 kcal.
Result
An hour of yoga burns about 245 kcal for a 70 kg person.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't this calculator let me choose a specific yoga style?
Because the published MET values for each specific style (Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, hot yoga...) vary noticeably depending on the source and edition of the Compendium of Physical Activities consulted. Rather than risk showing a per-style figure that could prove inconsistent depending on the reference used, this calculator uses the generic "yoga, general" value, a reasonable average across all practices.
Can yoga really help with weight loss?
At 3.5 MET, yoga burns noticeably fewer calories per hour than an intense cardio activity like running or cycling. Its main benefits (flexibility, balance, stress management, light muscle strengthening) are real but distinct from a pure calorie-burning goal — it usefully complements a cardio activity rather than replacing it for that specific purpose.
Does a more dynamic yoga style burn a lot more calories?
Yes, generally: a dynamic flow like Vinyasa or Power Yoga, which keeps the heart rate higher throughout the session, burns more than a slow practice centered on long-held static poses. The generic value used here represents an average, not the maximum achievable with a particularly intense style.