Hard Body Yoga

I tried this workout with high hopes. It IS more of a strength workout than a yoga workout and I thought it would be very effective - if I could do it. I’ll leave the breakdown to the good reviews above, but wanted to add my opinion.

This workout is VERY hard on the hands and wrists - especially if you have issues with those joints. As I have arthritis and those are the worst joints in my body, I had a hard time with the many moves that require you to support weight on your hands and wrists. And, when she does give modifications, she usually does late in the cycle of demonstrating that move.

I think this workout could be very effective for those that don’t have hand/wrist issues. Just beware if you do.

Type: Strength using body weight

Set: Unremarkable

Background exercisers: Two

Music: Not noticeable

Length: approx 30 minutes

I thought I was going to love this and didn't. When I read the reviews, I thought the yoga purists just didnt like the flow of it, that was all. They were right; this is NOT a yoga workout! There is maybe only 2 or 3 yoga moves in the whole thing: warrior pose, down dog and a few others. She counts reps, which is odd for a "yoga" workout. After one sequence, you get a separator screen and then she introduces the next move. She shows modifications, but not till the second set. Whats up with THAT?? The bulk of the tape is abs, and its very challenging. A lot of leg lift type moves (like double leg sretch in pilates), side planks, v-scissors to work the inner thigh, etc. If I didnt already have really good abs workouts, this would be worth keeping for the ab exercises alone. Don't be fooled by the yoga title, tho. I am a yoga dunce and even *I* can tell this is NOT yoga! Yoginis will hate this workout, I am afraid. Grade: B

I have done yoga for 5 years, and love a new challenge. This workout combines yoga with strength training, using your body weight for resistance. I am an intermediate/advanced exerciser, and was able to finish the workout, but had to rest during some of the sets. After I was finished, I had the light, stretched out feeling of yoga, combined with the endorphin rush of a difficult workout. I felt wonderful, and i highly recommend this video!

This video is fine for what it is, but it's not really a yoga video. You do work hard and I think it would be effective in helping you gain strength and coordination. Those dolphin push ups are a killer.

What I didn't like was the complete lack of flow between the moves. For example she doesn't tell you how to exit a move and enter the next series. You end one set of reps then you see a intro screen that names the next set. So you have to figure out how to exit the series yourself. It really interrupts the flow of the workout. The music is bad, sort of like "on hold" music. I suppose the video producer didn't like the music any more than I did. It's usually so soft that you don't really hear the music. The workout runs a little over an hour, which annoyed me. By about 12 minutes into the workout I was already bored. When it went past the one hour mark I was starting to lose patience. I was counting down the minutes until it ended.

On the good side, she does always show modifications for beginners. I think this might be a good video for someone who doesn't like the flowy stuff in yoga, but wants to add a "yoga style" workout to their strength regime.

I ended the workout with the pleasantly tired body you have after a traditional yoga class, but didn't have the soothed peace of mind the I always get from yoga. If it's your cup of tea, I'm sure this would be an effective workout.

A second opinion on hard-body yoga

I received my DVD yesterday and did this workout for the first time today.

There is an excellent breakdown of the workout on (thanks Dawn!):

*****

Review of Hard Body Yoga

I received my Hard Body Yoga DVD this morning and have already previewed it. I think I'm going to really love this workout. The DVD is divided into chapters:

Full Workout

Warm up

Body Work

Abs

Final Stretch

The workout isn't a flowing type of yoga workout. After each segment there is a pause and then you start with a new segment.

This workout starts with your basic yoga warm up with Sun Salutations. Here is a list of the exercises you do after the warm up:

1) Prayer Squat: You go into your basic chair pose and hold while pulsing your arms above your head for a count of 5 and you repeat this three times and then you drop into a chair pose slowly for a count of 10, hold and pulse the arms for a count of 10, then slowly raise back up for a count of 10. This is one sequence and you do this three times.

2). Downdog/Updog/Leg Lift: You go into a Downdog position, move into an updog and you repeat this three times, on the fourth time you lower down on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10, raise back up on a count of 10, hold the downdog pose and alternate leg lifts 10 times. Repeat this sequence a total of three times.

3). Warrior Lunges: This is more of a Side Angle series. You start standing and lower into a Side Angle pose and then raise back up, doing this three times, on the fourth time you go down on a count of 10, wrap your top arm around your back and reach your bottom arm underneath your leg and grab your wrist, hold for a count of 10, release and raise into standing position on a count of 10. Repeat this sequence a total of three times and then repeat it all on the other side.

4). Side Plank Series: You do alternating Side Planks slowly about 10 times, then you stop on one side and hold for a count of 10, switch sides and hold for a count of 10, go into a plank position and lower down for a count of 10, raise back up and repeat sequence for a total of three times through.

5). Plie Squats: Do three slow plie squats, on the fourth one you lower down on a count of 10, hold while you do alternating arm reaches to the ceiling, raise back up slowly on a count of 10. Do this sequence three times.

6). Wide Leg Forward Bend: Clasp hands and go into a forward bend, continue to raise and lower three times. On the fourth time you go down on a count of 10, place your hands on the floor and alternate raising each arm to the ceiling, clasp hands again and slowly raise back into standing on a count of 10. Do this sequence three times total.

7). Dolphin Push ups/ Leg Lifts: You start in a downdog position with elbows on the floor and you raise and lower your body from push up position into a downdog, on the fourth time through you lower down on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10, raise up on a count of 10 and then go into alternating leg lifts. Do this sequence three times total.

8). Forward Bending Squats: Stand in a forward position. Slowly lower into a squat position with knees together and heels off the floor then go back into a standing forward bend. Do this three times and on the fourth time you lower down on a count of 10 and go back up on a count of 10. Do this sequence three times total.

9). Downward Dog Peels: You start in a downdog position moving into an updog position and this is where the strength part starts. You raise into a cobra position, lower back down and repeat. On the fourth time you raise up on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10 and lower on a count of 10. Repeat for a total of three times.

10). Bridge work: Raise and lower three times and on the fourth time you go up on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10, lower on a count of 10. Next is single leg Bridge work. The first time through, one foot is on the floor and the other is up in the air and you raise and lower 5 times and then on the last time you raise up slowly for a count of 5, hold and slowly lower for a count of 5. Repeat this entire sequence on the other side.

11). Abs/ Inner Thighs: Laying on your back with your legs in the air in an L-position you lower your legs out into a V-position to work the inner thighs. Raise and lower three times and on the fourth time you slowly lower your legs out for a count of 10, hold and pulse your hands through your legs to work your abs for a count of 10, slowly raise your legs back together for a count of 10. Do this sequence three times.

12). Laying on your back, legs in the air, alternate raising and lowering the legs to the floor one at a time for a count of 10, hold the legs in the air on the last one and slowly lower both legs together for a count of 10. Repeat for a total of three times.

13). Ab work: Laying on your back, legs in the air and raised up on your elbows, you have your knees into your chest and you take both legs straight out in front of you keeping them off the floor, bring the knees back in towards the chest, take the legs back out but have them raised up about 12 inches off the floor, bring back into chest, take legs back out but have them close to your face, then you lower your legs back down to the floor for a count of 10. Do this three times total.

14). Abs: Laying on your back, raise your hands towards the ceiling and have your legs straight up in the air with feet up towards the ceiling, raise upper and lower body together and hold for a count of 10, release and repeat two more times.

15.) Final Stretch: Clasp your big toe with your fingers and straighten leg to the ceiling, bring nose to the knee and stretch, release and take the leg out to the side for an inner thigh stretch, release and take the leg across the body towards the floor on the opposite side, release and repeat on the other side.

There is music in the video and it's loud enough to hear without being too loud. Excellent production quality. Filmed in a room with a blue background with two background exercisers. Tari shows modifications for each of the exercises shown. Tari has a great personality and I really hope she continues to make workouts like this.

Dawn

***********

Thanks for turning me on to this. I wanted to add my thoughts about this workout for another opinion.

Dawn said that this workout was similar to Beth Shaw's yoga workouts. I would have to agree. It is what is referred to here at VF as "gym-style" yoga.

Background on me so you take my opinion with a grain of salt :

I'm an advanced exerciser (lifelong athlete) and do Cathe, The Firm, and lots and lots of yoga for years. I'm a certified aerobics instructor and personal trainer. I am really into yoga and have been slow to get on the Pilates bandwagon althogh you all at VF have helped me (I love Lotte vids and Ana Caban's intermediate Pilates, Kari Anderson ALC I and II). I still prefer yoga over Pilates and my favorites are anything by Shiva Rea, Bryan Kest (love his CDs), and I like Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga. I study Iyengar yoga once a week with a certified instructor.

The Good

========

- This workout is tough and very different from other yoga practicies

- As Dawn said, is it more focused on strength than flexibility although you do get flexibility training with the moves and there is a nice stretch at the end.

- For those of you who don't have the concentration to do traditional yoga, this workout is constantly moving and might be for you.

- The poses are held for a longer time than other gym-style videos but Bryan Kest holds his poses forever, especially the CDs.

The-Not-So-Good

=============

- The music was bad IMHO. It was MUSAK from a doctor's office - not yoga-like at all (I guess I'm used to Shiva Rea's music which is so relaxing). At least it wasn't too loud.

- No relaxation pose at the end! That is one of the main things I miss with Pilates so you can take this with a grain of salt.

- No instruction on breathing. I made up my own but I wasn't sure how she wanted the breathing done the exercises.

Since I'm not a huge fan of gym-style yoga, I'm not sure I like this. It reminded me more of a pilates workout than a yoga workout. I'll have to do it a few more times. You definitely work! And since I'm starting to really like Pilates, I may do this one more than I think right now.

Hope this helps.

The DVD is divided into chapters:

Full Workout

Warm up

Body Work

Abs

Final Stretch

The workout isn't a flowing type of yoga workout. After each segment there is a pause and then you start with a new segment. Very strength oriented but with a yoga flavor.

This workout starts with your basic yoga warm up with Sun Salutations. Here is a list of the exercises you do after the warm up:

1) Prayer Squat: You go into your basic chair pose and hold while pulsing your arms above your head for a count of 5 and you repeat this three times and then you drop into a chair pose slowly for a count of 10, hold and pulse the arms for a count of 10, then slowly raise back up for a count of 10. This is one sequence and you do this three times.

2). Downdog/Updog/Leg Lift: You go into a Downdog position, move into an updog and you repeat this three times, on the fourth time you lower down on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10, raise back up on a count of 10, hold the downdog pose and alternate leg lifts 10 times. Repeat this sequence a total of three times.

3). Warrior Lunges: This is more of a Side Angle series. You start standing and lower into a Side Angle pose and then raise back up, doing this three times, on the fourth time you go down on a count of 10, wrap your top arm around your back and reach your bottom arm underneath your leg and grab your wrist, hold for a count of 10, release and raise into standing position on a count of 10. Repeat this sequence a total of three times and then repeat it all on the other side.

4). Side Plank Series: You do alternating Side Planks slowly about 10 times, then you stop on one side and hold for a count of 10, switch sides and hold for a count of 10, go into a plank position and lower down for a count of 10, raise back up and repeat sequence for a total of three times through.

5). Plie Squats: Do three slow plie squats, on the fourth one you lower down on a count of 10, hold while you do alternating arm reaches to the ceiling, raise back up slowly on a count of 10. Do this sequence three times.

6). Wide Leg Forward Bend: Clasp hands and go into a forward bend, continue to raise and lower three times. On the fourth time you go down on a count of 10, place your hands on the floor and alternate raising each arm to the ceiling, clasp hands again and slowly raise back into standing on a count of 10. Do this sequence three times total.

7). Dolphin Push ups/ Leg Lifts: You start in a downdog position with elbows on the floor and you raise and lower your body from push up position into a downdog, on the fourth time through you lower down on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10, raise up on a count of 10 and then go into alternating leg lifts. Do this sequence three times total.

8). Forward Bending Squats: Stand in a forward position. Slowly lower into a squat position with knees together and heels off the floor then go back into a standing forward bend. Do this three times and on the fourth time you lower down on a count of 10 and go back up on a count of 10. Do this sequence three times total.

9). Downward Dog Peels: You start in a downdog position moving into an updog position and this is where the strength part starts. You raise into a cobra position, lower back down and repeat. On the fourth time you raise up on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10 and lower on a count of 10. Repeat for a total of three times.

10). Bridge work: Raise and lower three times and on the fourth time you go up on a count of 10, hold for a count of 10, lower on a count of 10. Next is single leg Bridge work. The first time through, one foot is on the floor and the other is up in the air and you raise and lower 5 times and then on the last time you raise up slowly for a count of 5, hold and slowly lower for a count of 5. Repeat this entire sequence on the other side.

11). Abs/ Inner Thighs: Laying on your back with your legs in the air in an L-position you lower your legs out into a V-position to work the inner thighs. Raise and lower three times and on the fourth time you slowly lower your legs out for a count of 10, hold and pulse your hands through your legs to work your abs for a count of 10, slowly raise your legs back together for a count of 10. Do this sequence three times.

12). Laying on your back, legs in the air, alternate raising and lowering the legs to the floor one at a time for a count of 10, hold the legs in the air on the last one and slowly lower both legs together for a count of 10. Repeat for a total of three times.

13). Ab work: Laying on your back, legs in the air and raised up on your elbows, you have your knees into your chest and you take both legs straight out in front of you keeping them off the floor, bring the knees back in towards the chest, take the legs back out but have them raised up about 12 inches off the floor, bring back into chest, take legs back out but have them close to your face, then you lower your legs back down to the floor for a count of 10. Do this three times total.

14). Abs: Laying on your back, raise your hands towards the ceiling and have your legs straight up in the air with feet up towards the ceiling, raise upper and lower body together and hold for a count of 10, release and repeat two more times.

15.) Final Stretch: Clasp your big toe with your fingers and straighten leg to the ceiling, bring nose to the knee and stretch, release and take the leg out to the side for an inner thigh stretch, release and take the leg across the body towards the floor on the opposite side, release and repeat on the other side.

There is music in the video and it's loud enough to hear without being too loud. Excellent production quality. Filmed in a room with a blue background with two background exercisers.