Yoga offers your brain peace. It requires you to use your senses and your body in a completely different way. And Yes, it will benefit your fitness level. It will build strength and endurance and it will compliment your regular running or cycling routine. I am certain that a high quality yoga program done once or twice per week can seriously improve your overall health and well being. The benefits of yoga are well documented- such as reduced stress, strength, coordination, flexibility, enhanced cardiovascular systems, and mental health.

If you can get to a yoga class, great! Those of us who are addicted to blogging/are a stay at home mom or are lacking the time to get to a yoga studio, then I suggest a finding a yoga DVD or an online yoga class as an alternative.

I’ve been working with the Vinyasa Flow Yoga Sessions DVD Set for about a month now, and I have to say that it is one of the best yoga DVD’s I’ve ever seen. For one hour and ten minutes, Sean Corn is in your living room giving you step by step instructions for Vinyasa Yoga. The instructional DVD moves fairly slowly because she is teaching you the placement of each body part per pose. I’ve really enjoyed this DVD because I have to think about where each part of my body should be in a particular pose. She itemizes each cue and you practice it several times through. I believe that the premise for Vinyasa Flow is to learn the Sun Salutations and to use a particular breathe technique so that an individual can practice at their own speed. You actually get 2 DVD’s: one instructional and one demonstrated without instruction, plus the interview. She offers a very candid overview of her yoga beliefs, spirituality and life. For $20, this DVD is a bargain. It is as good if not better than a yoga class- without leaving the comfort of your home and can be done on your own time; i.e.. NAP TIME. I’ve made it a goal to do it at least twice per week (as I really do love it!)

Vinyasa Flow Yoga Sessions DVD Set

This one is worth your money!! You can purchase it directly from the GAIAM website and if your feeling like an overachiever or need an extra challenge you can purchase Session 2 as well.

Please feel free to post a comment on your favorite DVD or how you incorporate yoga into your daily or weekly routine.

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Recently, I got the chance to try out the new RealPlayer Plus. This is essentially a video tool that can instantly download streaming videos to your hard drive simply by pressing a button. It’s really cool, once you learn how to use it! Installation took five minutes and I was good to go. The purpose of the RealPlayer Plus is to enable users to go to video websites and with a click of the button, download a video to the player. Once it’s in your library, you can then watch it whenever you want, you can burn it into a DVD or share the link with friends. If given multiple hours to cruise the internet to find exactly the types of workouts you like, I think this is a really awesome tool.

It was fairly entertaining browsing YouTube! I searched “medicine ball workouts” and found TONS of military style, straight out of Men’s Health workouts that I would NEVER do! Then, I searched on mom and baby fitness and found lots of interesting ab workouts while holding your 1-year old baby. Somehow, I even came across 10 Carmen Electra (too sexy for me) workouts. Another cool one I found is Kelli Roberts Upper Body Core- realistic, yet challenging with balance work as well as upper body. Finally, purely by accident, it seemed, I found Julie B! She has a good story to tell and she’s been featured on KTLA channel 5 and channel 11 here in Los Angeles.

Readers, I need suggestions for your favorite workout videos online!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5LInt3o40&rel=1]

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Denise Austin: Fit & Firm Pregnancy

CONTEST!!

How many of you want her body? Admit it! She is seriously fit, toned and sexy. I personally want her abs. She’s had two kids too, so, what’s my excuse?? Too many Iced Mocha’s!

I’ve been getting toned up with the above DVD. This DVD is perfect for the mother-to-be and beyond! There is a fantastic 20 minute cardiovascular set that is low-impact and heart healthy. Two 20 minute strength training routines that will work your entire body. Finally, she has two bonus workouts for core strength and breathing techniques.

Fit and Firm Pregnancy really follows Denise’s own philosophy of fitness. I was lucky enough to talk to her recently, and she simply does thirty minutes of exercise a day. Three days per week she does some form of cardiovascular conditioning, two days per week she works on strength training and toning, and finally, she incorporates yoga on the off day.

I highly recommend this DVD for those of you pregnant mommies out there! It’s a complete body workout that will keep you fit and trim throughout your pregnancy. If you’re just thinking about getting back into shape - this is a good place to start. Fit and Firm Pregnancy is challenging yet can be adapted to your own level of fitness. There’s also a good segment at the end for toning your abdominals after you’ve given birth which I found challenging (my baby is almost 2!).

1 MORE FOR YOU!!

Simply post a comment below with your email address and you will be entered to win this awesome DVD!! Winner will need to provide U.S. mailing address.

CONTEST ENDS FEBRUARY 12TH!!  ***Paige is the winner.

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