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Calories Burned Yoga 15 Minutes: 44–78 cal (By Weight)

15 min of yoga burns 44–78 calories: 130 lb = 44 cal, 155 lb = 53 cal, 230 lb = 78 cal. Hatha vs power yoga compared with weight tables and MET formula.

A 15-minute yoga session burns approximately 44–78 calories: a 130 lb (59 kg) person burns ~44 cal, a 155 lb (70 kg) person burns ~53 cal, and a 230 lb (104 kg) person burns ~78 cal at standard hatha pace.

Fifteen minutes of yoga is ideal for a morning wake-up routine or a quick midday stretch. Sun salutation sequences in particular combine strength, flexibility, and light cardio in a time-efficient flow that elevates heart rate more than static poses.

Fifteen minutes of hatha yoga burns roughly the same as 15 minutes of slow walking. Power yoga and vinyasa flow increase the MET to 4.0–5.0, bringing the burn closer to brisk walking. Hot yoga (Bikram) can push MET values to 5.0+ due to thermoregulation demands.

Use 15-minute yoga as a daily non-negotiable habit. Morning yoga improves posture and mental clarity for the day ahead.

Direct answer: 15 minutes of yoga burns an estimated 44–78 calories, depending on body weight (180 lb / 82 kg: ~62 kcal). Intensity assumed: General studio class (mixed pace) (MET 3). This is an estimate, not a measurement.

Calories burned by body weight

Body weightCalories burned
130 lb (59 kg)~44 cal
155 lb (70 kg)~53 cal
180 lb (82 kg)~62 cal
205 lb (93 kg)~70 cal
230 lb (104 kg)~78 cal

How this is calculated

Example: At MET 3, a 180 lb (82 kg) person doing 15 minutes of yoga burns approximately 62 calories: 3 × 82 × 0.25 h ≈ 62 kcal.

Limitations

Other intensities of yoga

There is no single universal calorie figure for this activity. At 180 lb (82 kg) and the same 15 minutes:

Style / effortMETEstimate
Hatha / restorative2.5~51 cal
Vinyasa / flow4~82 cal
Ashtanga / power yoga5~103 cal
Bikram / hot yoga5.5~113 cal

Frequently asked questions

How many calories does 15 minutes of yoga burn?

An estimated 44–78 calories, depending on body weight. A 180 lb (82 kg) person burns about 62 kcal, calculated as MET 3 × 82 kg × 0.25 hours.

How many calories per minute is that?

About 4.1 kcal per minute for a 180 lb (82 kg) person, or 0.8 kcal per kilogram of body weight across the whole session.

Why do heavier people burn more calories doing the same yoga?

Because the MET formula scales directly with body mass: a 130 lb person burns about 44 kcal here versus 78 kcal for a 230 lb person — a 77% spread for the identical session.

Where does the MET value of 3 come from?

From the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities, the reference database of measured MET intensities for physical activities. Every figure on this page uses that value in the formula Calories = MET × body weight (kg) × duration (hours).

How accurate are these yoga calorie estimates?

They are estimates from population averages, not measurements. Individual results commonly land within about ±15% of the figure shown; actual intensity and pace, body composition and fitness, terrain and technique all shift the real number. The values are gross calories, so they include the energy you would have burned at rest.

Use the interactive calculator

Open the yoga calorie calculator to enter your own weight, intensity and duration.

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