Monday, January 26, 2009

Impressions from my new Yoga DVDs

About three weeks ago, I mentioned that I had decided to buy some Yoga DVDs. Well, I've had them for awhile now and am ready to share my thoughts.

What I bought:
I started with an order for three Ana Brett & Ravi Singh DVDs. Specifically: Ultimate Stretch Yoga Workout, Yoga Beauty Body, & Warrior Workout. Ultimate Stretch was backordered, so I ended up adding Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond to my collection as well. I've liked most of these well enough to order another one (Dance the Chakras) off ebay but I haven't received it yet.

General comments:
- I was initially surprised by the combination of flexibility, strength, and cardio contained within these workouts. It's more challenging that I imagined.
- I chose to use these as my six-pack challenge work. There is definately a lot of core included. I'm doing better with the ab stuff as I continue working on it.
- This is way different from the Yoga I have done before.
- These DVDs are really aimed at women. I have a hard time imagining that a man would enjoy these specific ones, but I could be wrong.

What I like:
- These have the "Matrix" option which allows you to customize your workout from a menu of the various components, or you can just run it start to finish.
- I find this yoga style to be engaging and fun, not boring.
- Something about yoga is also relaxing. I feel positive and upbeat afterwards.
- I enjoy the music track on most of theses DVDs.
- The instructions are fairly clear and they give modifications for many poses.

What I don't like:
- Ana needs to wear more clothes. Seriously. Most of the time I have my eyes closed while I do this, so it doesn't bother me as much as it did at first.
- The "tune in" and "mediation" sections are too new age for me, but I use the Matrix options and have been skipping these sections all together
- Ravi makes some health claims that see outrageous to me. I choose to ignore much of that.

Comments Specific to each DVD:
- Yoga Beauty Body - My favorite of the bunch. Includes "the magnificent seven". I like both yoga sets on this one. I'm guessing that I choose this one every other time that I do yoga.
- Beginners & Beyond - I've been going straight to yoga set 2 (Five Tibetan Rites) after the warm-up. Good stuff. Set one is just so-so.
- Warrior Workout - Super challenging. Even the warm-up is challenging! I haven't made it to the 2nd yoga set on this one yet. I'm going to have to work up to this one.
- Ultimate Stretch - My least favorite. Can't put my finger on it, but this one just doesn't do it for me. Might give this one away at some point; maybe someone else will enjoy it.

Overall, I'm glad I spent the money on these. I've been doing them at least 3 times a week, look forward to doing them, and feel that I'm seeing results.

22 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you are enjoying your yoga videos. I really have to get better about encorporating yoga into my weekly routing. It just makes my recovery from my runs, especially longer runs, so much better!

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  2. Nice review. That is great that you have been able to add yoga to the mix and enjoy it. Well done, GQ.

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  3. Thanks for the review! I love hearing about what other people are doing!

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  4. Thanks for the reviews. Keep it up! I hope to get back into yoga.

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  5. i need to be more consistent with yoga too... i seem to do this in spurts. Glad you're enjoying it!

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  6. Thanks for the review. Sounds like you've found a style you like.

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  7. Great reviews. I need to get into yoga again.

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  8. I'm really impressed by how thorough your review of these is...very inspiring for anyone wanting to try something new.

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  9. excellent reviews! I'm still trying to find the yoga style that works for me

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  10. Glad to hear your overall impression of them is good!

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  11. Good stuff! As soon as I'm done with P90X, I want to broaden my yoga DVD collection.

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  12. Good job on the yoga. I used to do pilates and need to start again. I didn't realize how "in shape" I was until I taught a pilates class after taking 3 months off. :D

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  13. So far so good it seems :-)

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  14. I could stand to be more bendy but I don't think I'll be taking up Yoga any time soon.

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  15. It's funny-- the main reason I hadn't tried these DVDs is because something about the (lack of) clothing Ana Brett wears in the print ads I've seen turned me off! Your review makes me think maybe I should give her a chance.

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  16. Thanks for the reviews. I have thought about adding some yoga since I am flexibly challenge.

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  17. Thanks for reviewing the DVDs. I may have to check out Yoga Beauty Body. It sounds good.

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  18. I really wish I'd like yoga and pilates and things like that. But I really can't do it. Seems relaxing and all but my mind is always racing!

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  19. Great review! I've been thinking about getting some yoga DVDs to incorporate into my running training. I love how yoga makes me feel! Based on the lack of clothing I've been hearing about, maybe my husband will want to join me! Just kidding! :) Thanks for the information!

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  20. That's a great review! I'm so glad you are enjoying the DVD's.

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  21. Thanks for taking the time to do this! Indeed, I think doing yoga at home with DVDs is probably going to be the only way I'll do it. Attending a class at my Y is never gonna happen ...

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  22. First comment: great new picture! Second about yoga: it definitely is something that grows on you. I prefer the ones with stretches rather than strength poses because I find them difficult and boring and I already do strength, so I seem to be overdoing it. My gym is adding a Friday class which I will check out. I think with the DVDs though you probably have a better choice of what you do. Thanks for the info.

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