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Is Yoga Cardio? What Seniors Should Know About Heart-Healthy Movement

Written by Discovery Senior Living | Dec 8, 2025 5:00:00 AM

Is yoga cardio? Depending on the poses you choose, yoga can be great cardio. However, it can also improve your ability to complete strength training workouts to improve your overall health and mobility. 

According to NPR, about one in six people practice yoga. About 80% use it to improve their health, while 30% use it to treat and manage pain. This complementary health approach may reduce stress, which could help lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Is yoga cardio, though? Depending on the yoga exercises you choose, it can serve as cardio, strength training, and flexibility workouts. Using yoga for heart health could benefit your overall wellness and longevity.

Not sure if you're ready to add new senior exercise options to your routine? Read on to learn more about yoga before using it to enhance your retirement in Mt. Pleasant, IA!

Is 30 Minutes of Yoga a Day Enough Exercise?

Yes, 30 minutes of yoga a day is usually enough for you to experience health benefits. Practicing yoga for 30 minutes may help improve your:

  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Mood
  • Stress reduction

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 28% of American adults aged 50 and older are physically inactive. Seniors need about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week (30 minutes a day). They should also add flexibility, balance, and strength training activities to their weekly routine. 

Staying physically active is essential for healthy aging. It can:

  • Support positive mental health
  • Reduce the risk of premature death
  • Reduce the risk of moderate or severe functional limitations
  • Help prevent or manage many chronic health issues

Develop a consistent exercise schedule. You can find yoga classes through your senior living community's events and activities calendar. Consistency is key if you want to reap these health benefits. 

Is Yoga Cardio?

Yes, some senior exercise options are considered cardio yoga, including:

  • Vinyasa
  • Power yoga
  • Ashtanga

These types of yoga can help keep your heart elevated through continuous movement. They involve a fast pace and fluid transitions. Choosing more challenging poses may help boost your heart rate and burn calories.

Most yoga poses are considered flexibility and balance exercises. Restorative, active poses can help strengthen the mind and body. These workouts can involve:

  • Soothing breathing techniques
  • Meditations
  • Physical poses

You can use yoga to improve your flexibility and strength while boosting your heart rate. Improving your balance and flexibility may enhance your ability to complete strength training and cardio exercises. This can improve your overall health, potentially reducing your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease.

Benefits of Yoga for Heart Health

Yoga can benefit the mind and body, improving your overall health and quality of life. Here are a few benefits you may experience after practicing yoga regularly.

Stress Relief

Stress is the body's natural immune response. Chronic stress, however, may trigger a spike in cortisol, causing:

  • Headaches
  • Heartburn
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • A weakened immune system
  • A pounding heart/increased heart rate
  • High blood sugar (increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes)
  • High blood pressure (increasing the risk of a heart attack)
  • Tense muscles
  • Mood swings

Stress can affect your respiratory and cardiovascular systems, increasing your risk of a stroke or heart attack. Yoga is effective for stress relief. It may help you manage stress, reducing your risk of heart problems.

Lowers Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Practicing yoga may help lower your:

  • Blood pressure
  • Blood glucose levels
  • Heart rate
  • Blood cholesterol

It could further reduce your risk of heart disease by improving your blood measurements and waist circumference. These are markers for cardiovascular disease.

According to one study, yoga may help reduce the frequency of a patient's atrial fibrillation episodes. Practicing yoga may help lower inflammation, which can increase your risk of heart disease.

You can also use yoga to cool down after an intense workout. The gentle movement and soothing breathing exercises could help you relax, lowering your blood pressure.

Gentle Movement Aging

Practicing yoga may help improve your flexibility and circulation. This could help reduce your risk of an injury while engaging in cardio or strength training workouts.

Yoga may help improve your mobility. Remaining flexible and mobile as you age will allow you to maintain your independence.

Yoga can help complement your current fitness regimen. Explore exercise classes through your senior living community's fitness program to develop a schedule that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Yoga Is Best for Heart Health?

The best yoga poses for promoting heart health include:

  • Sukhasana
  • Trikonasana
  • Tadasana
  • Paschimottanasana
  • Vrikshasana
  • Bhujangasana
  • Utkatasana
  • Virabhadrasana

Consider joining a yoga class before practicing these poses. An experienced professional can help ensure you use the proper technique. They'll help you avoid potential injuries.

Can I Lose Belly Fat With Yoga?

Yes, you could potentially reduce belly fat by practicing yoga. With consistent practice, yoga may help:

  • Promote body awareness (which may encourage you to make healthier food choices)
  • Improve digestion (improving blood flow may reduce bloating and improve gut health)
  • Lower stress and cortisol (which may cause abdominal fat storage)
  • Boost your metabolism (which helps burn body fat more efficiently)
  • Strengthen your core (which may improve your appearance)

To experience these benefits, try to practice yoga at least twice a week. Pair yoga with strength training activities like weight lifting and cardio exercises like brisk walking.

In addition to working out, consider following the DASH diet. You can find heart-healthy meals through your senior living community's dining program.

Enhancing Mt. Pleasant Senior Wellness

To recap, is yoga cardio? Yes, you can use yoga for cardio, though it depends on which poses you choose. Yoga is more often considered a flexibility or balance workout, though it can also complement strength training and cardio exercises.

Remember, you can find more workout tips through your Mt. Pleasant senior living community. Addington Place of Mt. Pleasant proudly ranks number one in Customer Satisfaction Among Assisted Living & Memory Care Communities in the JD Power 2025 US Senior Living Satisfaction Study.

Discover our exclusive lifestyle programs, including restaurant-style dining with attentive tableside service and chef-prepared meals or engaging activities like yoga and live musical performances. Contact us now to schedule your tour.