YogaWorks DVDs Review
You may recall that I don’t have a very good history with yoga – I have struggled with balance and breathing (and especially those downward dogs!) every time I have tried yoga in the past. BUT, they say it is SO GOOD for runners, so I keep wanting to try it!
I was really excited when ExerciseTV offered to send me three YogaWorks DVDs (Beginners AM/PM, Body Slim and Fit Abs) to review! ExerciseTV and YogaWorks have partnered and offer these workouts free online and OnDemand (available through Time Warner, Bresnan or Comcast). I didn’t realize it until well after I received these, but we have OnDemand at home, and sure enough, these workouts are on there! I highly encourage you to check them out. Steven and I tried them all (a few times) and loved them! If you don’t have OnDemand, you can get to them through exercisetv.tv.
We preferred Beginners AM/PM for relaxation, Body Slim for an invigorating workout, and Fit Abs for stretching. Each DVD has an instructor (a different one for each DVD) with a few students, including one “beginner” student who does modified, easier versions of the poses for beginners.
I think Beginners AM/PM is the best DVD to start with, then move on to Fit Abs, then Body Slim. Read below to hear more about each!
Do you do yoga? Do you prefer studio classes or DVDs?
Beginners AM/PM
I started with the Beginners DVD because I AM a yoga beginner! The Beginners AM/PM DVD has a 45 minute Beginners segment, a 10 minute AM Wake-Up segment and a 10 minute PM Relax & Restore segment.
Beginners Segment
The 45 minute Beginners segment was perfect for me. It went through a variety of poses that made me feel like I was lengthening and stretching my entire body. What I liked about it:
- the instructor guides your breathing
- the instructor tells you which muscles you should be flexing
- it is not ALL downward dogs (maybe 8 in there)
- fluid motions between poses
- you don’t hold the poses for too long – just long enough to feel it, then you go back to a neutral position
- the variety of poses working my entire body
- the specific hamstring stretches (I have tight hammies)
Trying a warrior pose
The only problem is that I don’t have a yoga block or a band to use, but barely any of the poses required it. I just think a band would have helped for the hamstring stretches. Oh, and a real yoga mat would have been nice when I first tried it! Ha ha. The towel is a bit “slippery.”
AM Wake-Up Segment
AM Wake-up is a great way to wake up your body – with some side stretches, sun salutations, chair pose, tree pose, and a minimal amount of downward dog, plank and upward dog. All of that in 10 minutes!
I actually felt like this could be the perfect way to get my body stretched out before running, so I plan on using it for that.
PM Relax & Restore Segment
I used the PM segment many times to calm down before bed. I felt that the nice gentle moves helped me unwind. Surprisingly, it left me craving for more yoga though!
You can see my other comments on this DVD here, here and here.
Body Slim
Body Slim was definitely more advanced than the Beginners workout. It is a 50-minute workout, and begins with some warm up ab moves (which like Anna said, are normal ab moves, but at a slower pace) then moves on alternating between cardio and “slow burn” moves. The cardio moves are sped-up yoga moves. You go through them once, at a normal pace, then go though them at a faster pace (2-3 more times). I kind of thought yoga was supposed to be slow, so this felt weird. Granted, I was sweating, but I wondered if I was doing them right! My only complaints about this DVD:
- I thought the instructor talked a bit too much, but it’s only when she is first explaining the moves (I DO like that she says when to breathe in and out)
- Felt like it was a bit too fast at times
With that being said, I do think this is a tough, good workout. It reminded me of when I tried to do the P90X yoga workout with Steven. I found myself thinking “running is easier than this” and catching my breath during downward dog, which is normally when I am panting. That must mean I am making progress – since downward dogs is when you get to relax in this DVD.
This DVD also made me realize I am not very flexible in my shoulders and back – I need to work on that.
I am excited to keep trying Body Slim and get better at it. It’s killer.
You can see my other comments on this DVD here and here.
Fit Abs
Fit Abs has two segments – a 40 minute Core Yoga Flow segment and a 10 minute Fit Abs segment.
Core Yoga Flow Segment
The Core Yoga Flow is perfect for stretching out those neglected running muscles – hamstrings and calves (as well as quads, back, neck, shoulders and core). I felt like I started out the workout all tight, and was actually looser in the end. You move through basic moves, but pause and hold them for a few breaths to get the full benefit. Many of the moves from Beginners and Body Slim workout were repeated – warrior, triangle, sun salutations (among others), and of course, our favorite downward dog and upward facing dog.
I felt this was easier than Body Slim, but a little bit more difficult than Beginners.
Fit Abs
I was expecting the 10-minute Fit Abs segment to be killer, like the Body Slim Abs segment, but I didn’t feel it was as difficult. Probably because I had been doing Body Slim though!
You go through “yoga” bicycles, “yoga” crunches, plank, plank on your forearms, and downward dogs with one leg extended, then pulled into your chest. Those are what are killing me – extending that leg out then bending it in and holding it. That is when my hands get all sweaty. I can really feel that work out – all over my body. There is a segment in Body Slim where you do that as well.
You can see my other comments on this DVD here.
Do you think you would like the YogaWorks series?
Again, Steven and I surprisingly really like them. We are excited to keep doing them!
Themocracy
I have tried so hard to like yoga but so far haven’t found one I like. I have p90x and tried to do the yoga. After about 10 minutes I was bored and sore and I turned it off. I don’t seem to have a long enough attention span to do it or I need more activity or something. Staying still in the poses for so long is what usually makes me hate it. Maybe I will have to check this out.
You look so strong and focused in the picture. I love it!
Thanks Tori. I feel like this series is actually pretty fast-paced – you don’t have to hold the poses for too long. Should I bring it over so we can try it together?
Great review! I agree that at times, the Body Slim DVD was TOO fast, but an overall great workout!
It took me a while to find a yoga class I enjoy, but I’ve found one! So, I’ve been going to this yoga class for about two years and have even started another, more difficult (read not as much fun) class to get two sessions in a week. I prefer classes, because at home, I just don’t have the discipline. Kudos to you and your husband for doing this at home 🙂
I have trouble doing yoga DVDs… I need to do some in studio classes first so I can feel more confident in poses I think 🙂
I wanted to like yoga…and I tried…but I hate it. Pilates is much more my style!
I need to try pilates too!
I have never done a yoga DVD – have always gone to a class. These sound good, and good for you for trying them out. I agree – yoga is great for runners and also a wonderful thing to do for our bodies as we get older to keep bones strong, increase flexibility and strength and literally keep us balanced!
I’d probably skip the DVDs. Mostly because our living space just isn’t ideal for doing exercise DVDs. And when I take yoga, I like the room to be on the warm side. Our house is rarely on the warm side. So, I’ll stick to my Bikram yoga classes where I can sweat it out somewhere other than my living room!
Now that I am doing these in our cold house and getting super sweaty, I am worried about trying hot yoga!
I love yoga–though I have to do the modified versions of many of the poses so the block and band are essential to me. I like the DVD’s, love it on the WII, but I haven’t tried it in a class yet. I don’t know why but I feel I need to be better at it before I all on my hiney in front of a class LOL
I think a class would be intimidating! But I bet most instructors are pretty welcoming to newcomers!
I keep telling myself that I should try a yoga dvd or on tv but haven’t yet. I guess I am sort of afraid I would board or disapointed. I think I would like the ab workout one… as I already dedicate one day a week to abs.
Yay for yoga! We must be on the same wave length again, I just posted about my yoga session last night! 🙂 I am just getting back into it at the gym. But have actually never done an at home yoga workout from dvd. It sounds like a lot of fun! I will have to try it.
I love yoga! I’ve been doing it since 1999 and I think it’s changed my body and mind immensely. I used to go to a studio twice a week that I loved, but then I moved, and now I only get to the studio here a few times a year. I have my own little routine I do at home, picked up from my old studio. Also, I love Dave Farmar’s podcasts (www.davefarmar.com) and “Inhale” with Steve Ross on the Oxygen network every day at 6am (I DVR it. He’s a big goof, but it’s actually a good morning practice). It’s so cool that you tried these DVDs. I have a list of yoga DVDs I want to try.
Great review. I have been doing yoga for a little more than a year now and I really love it. It took me many starts and stops to get going though. I think I have a tiny bit more patience now that I am getting older!
I tried one of those OnDemand (might have been the beginner one) and thought it was just okay. I love standing poses (Tree pose is one of my favorites) and downward dog is okay (I can tell if I did it on a regular basis my hamstrings would really stretch out), but I HATE sun salutations. Hate hate hate. And yet that seems to be all they want to do on those DVDs and in the one class I took. I need to find a yoga class that doesn’t do sun salutations or just stick to Pilates.
I’m intrigued by your description of the Fit Abs segment. I’ll have to see if I can find that OnDemand.
Oh yeah, most of the moves do start out with a sun salutation. And that damn chair pose…
The Fit Abs one is good though. I think it just helps that you are doing the ab moves much slower. It burns 😉
I do yoga DVDs, because it’s all but impossible for me to find a class at a time that I can actually go… but I really think I prefer classes. Oh, well.
<3 <3
Im all about doing DVD’s – theyre cheaper than classes. But I find that they tend to be really slow and boring. Its hard finding good ones.
I love all kinds of yoga!! I have Bryan Kest’s PowerYoga series, Rodney Yee’s Power Yoga – Total Body Workout, the Total Yoga series (Earth, Water, and Fire) and …a handful of others I’ve picked up. There are so many different styles and each one works my body in different ways. And I love to take classes when I can just for a change of pace.
I have not yet figured out how to work yoga back into my training routine except to do it on days I’m not doing running or strength. Which is lame, but for now that’s just the way it is.
I am only able to fit yoga in on strength or running days if I do strength or running during lunch then yoga right away when I get home… and I kind of rush to do it, which isn’t very yoga-y! I guess what I am saying is, it’s HARD to fit it all in!
The gym I just joined has yoga for FREE – I’m so pumped! (You have to pay extra at my current gym). I love taking classes in person, but it definitely depends on the teacher. Yoga is one of those things that I keep putting off, but when I do it, I LOVE it (um…kind of like how strength training used to be for me?!). Thank you so much for the review…I’d like to get a yoga DVD for home, and the one I have is super lame!
I cannot wait to hear about the classes at the gym! I hope you find one you love. I was the same way with strength, but you encouraged me to do it and I learned to love it! I am getting that way with yoga now too 🙂
I want so desperately to be a yoga person but I just can’t deal with it for some reason. I think it has to do with feeling a little intimidated in the classes plus my lack of coordination and flexibility.
Where on OnDemand do you find these? I can’t seem to find any exercise channels..
I will look at our OnDemand when we get home this weekend and let you know! It took us awhile to find the Fitness section, then the yoga section.
Here is how you get there:
On Demand > Sports & Fitness > Exercise TV > Yoga
(there is also an AM PM section that has yoga as well)
i much prefer classes to dvds, when i work out at home i always end up just lying down on the floor and watching…not exactly the point of an exercise dvd is it?
Ha! We had one DVD like that – it was ALL lying on the floor. LAME!
Yay! Thank you for these reviews. I’m excited about the beginner’s one, especially since I can find it on OnDemand. 🙂
That said, I always feel so silly doing yoga, so it might take me awhile to work up the courage to start.
I feel silly too. That is why I like doing it at home 🙂
Yoga sometimes, at home for sure. I don’t have all the moves exactly right yet to want to go to a studio.