(Anchor Bay Entertainment)
2005
What is it?
A 39-minute Yoga-based workout, half standing poses, and half mat poses. The instructor is Chris Freytag.
Who is it for?
Advanced beginning exercisers. Some experience with Yoga is best — but keep in mind that this isn't strictly a Yoga routine. Some poses are merely Yoga-influenced.
What to expect:
If you're looking for a gentle, refreshing workout that'll build up some heat and lightly tone your body, you'll want to check out this DVD. Chris Freytag offers up a series of Vinyasas (flowing Yoga poses) and exercises that'll stretch and strengthen your body while keeping you moving. While this is called a "Yoga" workout, Freytag freely borrows from non-Yoga sources. For example, she introduces a couple of standing moves, Sunflower and Sun God, that aren't Yoga poses at all, and she adds bicycle crunches to the mat part of the routine. Yoga purists may not be happy with this, but those who are merely in search of a good exercise session will appreciate these additions. As for the "Weight Loss" part of the workout, this routine won't burn anywhere near as many calories as, say, a good aerobic DVD and it won't build muscles the way weight training will, but it's a great enhancer for both these activities. Yoga Weight-Loss for Dummies will give you a nice workout on those days you don't want to go full-throttle, and help you keep the gains you are making as you work towards your fitness goals.