Yoga + Weights

Full disclosure: I received a free review copy of this workout.

I wanted to REALLY like this DVD and while I liked it, I didn't love it. Part of that is due simply to my arthritic hands and wrists. There are a number of segments that flow from plank to hovering, to up dog to down dog and my hands and wrists just can't take that over the long term. However, I did the entire workout anyway, because I really wanted to see what it was like and in those segments I used what I learned from the ChogaFlow DVD and did the moves on a chair.

Despite my issues with my wrists and hands, I thought thought the workout was really well designed. She suggests using light weights and in the Q&A section on the main menu, she says that she uses three pounds. So, of course, that's what I chose to use! The moves with the weights are done very slowly - deliberately - and you generally do 5 reps. It may not seem like much, but I was feeling some of those moves! She gets into the first main section and leads you through that flow I described. Then, you stand up and do Warrior with a shoulder press. Then, you do the flow again and do Warrior with a shoulder press on the other side. Then, you do the flow again and then do another Warrior pose with another upper body move on one side - etc. And so on. You do the plank/up dog/ down dog flow before starting each new exercise and as a way to transition to the opposite side. To me, this section just seemed like it really flowed nicely.

Then, you move onto the mat porition. Moves in this section include:

Side arm balance

Yoga push up

Child pose

On knees with raise

Upright row

Seated tree with side arm stretch

Cobbler's pose with chest fly

Boat with a burn

Lower back stretch

Dead bugs with chest press

Bridge with overhead extension

Kimberly does the workout by herself in what looks like the empty corner of a room. However, as the workout goes, there are shots interspersed from a class in which they show different exercisers doing moves and sometimes Kimberly correcting the form of someone. She does stress form and gives form pointers, but doesn't really tell how to do the moves. This would not be a good choice for someone who has never done yoga before. The workout is done in voice over. Usually, the timing is pretty good although there were a few places where her instruction was a little late.

If the section I enjoyed the most wasn't such a strain on my hands and wrists, I would keep this DVD, because I did like it.

Kimberly works out alone in a nice brick studio but the camera flashes to a live class from time to time. You will only need light hand weights for this workout and the dvd is done in voice over. Kimberly provides lots of intensity/ modification options. This workout is basically a vinyassa routine that adds in static lower body holds & light weight upper body work. Typically Kimberly has you perform 5 reps of each exercise on each side.

After breath work and a stretch, exercises include: chair pose w/ tri extension & overhead press, then to the plank, updog, down dog, warrior (1, 2 or 3 & crescent pose) flow, she adds preacher curls, overhead tricep work, lat raise to overhead reach, bicep curl. Then moves into side planks, yoga pushups, hero w/ a lift, seated upright pose, seated tree w/ cross raise, cobblers pose w/ a chest fly, boat drops, dead bug w/ chest press, bridge w/ arm sweeps & a leg raise and concludes with a stretch.

I really like adding light weights to yoga routines & this one fits that bill. Doing this in voice over makes it a bit dry and therefore not super exciting. It does move fairly slowly as it is still a yoga workout. This is the perfect workout for the yogi that wants to incorporate strength work into their routine. Effective & well flowing and Kimberly provides great cuing & form pointers. I received this dvd to review.