Calories Burned: Yoga
Yoga is a light-intensity activity with a MET value of 2.8. A 155-lb (70 kg) person burns about 98 calories in 30 minutes and 197 in an hour. Adjust the weight and duration below for your exact number.
How to use this calculator
Yoga is pre-selected. Set your body weight and how long you exercised, and the calorie estimate updates instantly. You can also switch to any of 40+ other activities using the category buttons.
Understanding your yoga calorie burn
The estimate uses the MET formula: calories = MET × weight (kg) × hours. Yoga's MET of 2.8 means it burns 2.8× more energy than sitting at rest. It's classified as light intensity — actual burn varies with your effort, fitness level, and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Calories burned: yoga by weight and duration
Calorie burn scales directly with body weight — the same session costs a heavier person more energy because they are moving more mass. All figures use yoga's MET value of 2.8.
| Duration | 125 lbs | 155 lbs | 185 lbs | 215 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 40 cal | 49 cal | 59 cal | 68 cal |
| 30 min | 79 cal | 98 cal | 117 cal | 137 cal |
| 45 min | 119 cal | 148 cal | 176 cal | 205 cal |
| 60 min | 159 cal | 197 cal | 235 cal | 273 cal |
Common calorie targets
How long a 155-lb person needs to do yoga to hit common burn targets:
- ·Burn 100 calories: about 30 minutes
- ·Burn 250 calories: about 76 minutes
- ·Burn 500 calories: about 152 minutes
How yoga compares to other dance & yoga activities
Same duration, same 155-lb person — only the intensity (MET) changes:
| Activity | MET | 30 min at 155 lbs |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga | 2.8 | 98 cal |
| Zumba | 7.5 | 264 cal |
| Pilates | 3 | 105 cal |
| Salsa dancing | 5 | 176 cal |
| Tai chi | 3 | 105 cal |
Related calculators
Calories burned in other dance & yoga activities
Same calculator, different intensity — each page shows that activity's numbers by weight and duration.