Whilst giving a talk to female students, I was asked if yoga was as effective as strength training sessions, in toning/ shaping for summer. Perhaps; if you've never done any strength training and your particular yoga is challenging enough to make your muscles feel worked as you hold the asanas/ poses. For beginners, Pilates and Yoga have some effective toning tools, and novice exercisers do improve their strength, but as you get stronger, you'll reach a point where to progress, your muscles definitely need harder work.
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