Exercise

Yoga

How quickly will it make a difference? After eight weeks of thrice-weekly sessions.

How many calories does it burn? 102 per hour for a general, stretch-based class. Power yoga burns 245 per hour.

Will it keep me motivated? Yoga is all about attaining a sense of unity between body and mind rather than setting and achieving personal targets. However, you will feel accomplishment as you master the postures and there are many different types to try.

Specific benefits In a study for the American Council on Exercise (Ace), Professor John Porcari found that women who did three yoga classes a week for eight weeks experienced a 13% improvement in flexibility, with significant gains in shoulder and trunk flexibility. They were able to perform six more press-ups and 14 more sit-ups at the end of the study compared to the beginning.

Risk factors Don't fall for the line that celebrities get fit on yoga alone. According to Ace, even power yoga constitutes only a "light aerobic workout".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/mar/06/healthandwellbeing.health