Review: 10-Minute Solution Yoga (DVD)

I'm always excited when I get a new workout DVD - sometimes I don't do anything but the new one for a few months! I'm trying to keep myself on a more varied rotation these days, but this new one I just got just lends itself so perfectly to the short workout time I usually have available.... I had this one on my Amazon wishlist for a while, but I wasn't sure it would provide me with a good enough workout, so it took me a while to actually order it. I've had it for a few weeks now, and am extremely happy with it.

10 Minute Solution Yoga is part of the 10-Minute Solution series of workout DVDs, and is one of the most highly rated in the series by users.

It consists of 5 different 10-minute yoga sessions, which can be combined in any order for a longer workout, or done individually as a stand-alone workout if you only have 10 minutes.

The 5 sessions on the DVD are:

Yoga Basics - Designed as the "first" session, this workout takes you through several basic yoga poses at a nice pace and flow. I thought this one would be too easy, but it really wasn't. The rather quick pace was a little unexpected the first time through, but even now that I'm used to it, it's still challenging enough and a lot of fun. So far I'm liking this session the best.

Yoga for Buns & Thighs - This session works the larger muscles in the lower half of the body, with poses such as Chair and some of the Warrior poses challenging your thighs and butt, but without ignoring the rest of the body.

Yoga postures Navasana (Boat pose) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yoga for Abs - This session is all about the abs, and boy does it ever work them! As someone who has done Pilates for over 10 years, and yoga for two, plus lots of other ab-focused workouts over the years, I didn't expect this one to be so challenging for me. By the end of the 10 minutes, my entire mid-section was totally burning! This session features Boat pose, and other core-focused poses.

Yoga Burn - I've only done this session once so far, and I wasn't as impressed with it as I had expected to be. It seemed slower than I thought it would be, although it did have a few more challenging poses. I may come to like it better as I get used to it though - maybe I just was distracted by concentrating on the instructions the first time through.

Yoga postures Shavasana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yoga for Flexibility and Relaxation - Flexibility is something I really struggle with, with all the back problems I've had in the past. I could really do this session every day. It really stretches all of my tight areas like hips and butt, and it's a nice, relaxing pace to end the workout with. I do wish it included a longer Shavasana pose at the end though - I know they were trying to fit it all into 10 minutes, but it would have been nice to have like a "Bonus" optional 3-5 minute Shavasana at the end (I usually just do one anyway).

Overall, this is a really nice beginner-to-intermediate yoga DVD. It could stand to have better music - the music seems a little canned and boring - but it doesn't really bother me.

My favorite thing (and I love this and think ALL workout DVDs should have this feature) is the "Create Your Own Workout" feature. This allows you to choose which sessions you want to do, and in what order, before beginning the workout. This makes it easy to pick two or 3 sessions and play them all, without having to stop in the middle of your workout time and find the next session you want to do. It's really cool!

Since a lot of times I only have 10-20 minutes to work out, this DVD fits really well into my schedule. I do have several other yoga DVDs I really like, but sometimes I don't have enough time to do the whole workout, so now, rather than skipping a workout that day, I can just pull out this one and play a session or two. I've found myself getting a workout in a lot more often lately, which was my goal in purchasing this DVD - and I'm really enjoying it!

Whether you're pressed for time, like me, or you just want to add another good yoga DVD to your rotation, this is a great one to grab - and you can find it for less than $10 on Amazon.com.


This & Other 10-Minute Solution Workouts:
   

What Is A YogaFit Workout?

I'm sure you're familiar with yoga, but one fun exercise trend you may not have tried yet which is growing in popularity lately is called YogaFit.

Yoga Class at a Gym (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

YogaFit was created in 1994 by an experienced certified yoga instructor named Beth Shaw. Beth noticed that traditional yoga principles did not always translate well into the group setting that is commonly found in today’s health clubs.

YogaFit differs from more traditional yoga practice in several important ways. First, YogaFit does not strictly adhere to the ancient Sanskrit names of various postures and poses, which makes YogaFit more reliable and easier to pick up for many participants. In addition, YogaFit does not incorporate the traditional “chanting” that is sometimes done in certain yoga stances. This helps to distill the various yoga exercises into the most “user friendly” experience possible.

What Are the Benefits Of YogaFit?

YogaFit is based upon the time tested principles of Hatha yoga. This style of yoga combines exercises and poses that work to develop a practitioner’s balance, strength, power and flexibility. Yoga poses and movements are ideal as a low impact and safe way to exercise nearly all of the muscles of the body without weights or complicated machinery.

Balasana pose in Hatha yoga, commonly known as child pose (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

YogaFit also has the benefit of greater accessibility. Some exercisers may be intimidated by (or simply don't relate to) the “spiritual” elements of traditional yoga, so YogaFit offers them a way to take advantage of all of the fitness benefits without having to get up to speed on the nonphysical ones.

How to Get Started with YogaFit

There’s a good chance that YogaFit is currently being offered in a health club or gym near you. Because YogaFit has proven so popular with so many individuals, a number of yoga studios across the country have added YogaFit classes to their traditional yoga offerings. If you have a yoga facility located close to where you live, then this might be the best place to take your first YogaFit class.

If you’re already a member of a fitness facility, ask the staff if they offer YogaFit. If not, then tell them you’re interested. Even if a health club doesn’t have a particular offering, they are likely to consider adding it if enough of their members express an interest.

Wherever you decide to take a YogaFit class, make sure that your instructor is properly certified. YogaFit trains its teachers through various levels of expertise, and also offers three different levels of certification. YogaFit also works to keep its instructors fresh and up-to-date on new techniques through a continuing education program. Many of the YogaFit instructors choose to receive their continuing education at various conferences that are conducted each year throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many of these conferences also have programs that permit students to participate. For individuals who are fully embracing the YogaFit lifestyle, these conferences can be a great way to better their understanding of the exercises they are doing.

You can also find YogaFit workouts in DVD or book format, so you can try this at home whenever you like. Beth Shaw's version is probably the most popular and well-liked, and you know you're getting great instruction, since she is the founder of the method! See below to pick up a copy for yourself.


YogaFit Resources For Home Workouts: