Sara Ivanhoe's 20 Min Yoga Makeover - Sculpted Buns & Thighs

Rating:
Summary: Not Sara's Best.......
Review: I enjoy Sara's laid-back personality, but unfortunately her instruction and her routine doesn't seem to suit any fitness level. I agree with the previous reviewer; this is more "stretching" than "sculpting". There are too few poses which are held too briefly to provide much benefit to any fitness level other than a very unfit beginner. Unfortunately, she doesn't give enough detailed instruction to provide the beginner with a safe and effective practice, so I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner, either. A real significant problem with this video is in her instruction of the first pigeon pose, when the viewer is lunged forward on the right foot. Although she performs the pose properly, her verbal instructions are to take the right foot and move it to the right. If anyone follows her verbal instruction, they're putting their knee at risk for ligament injury. This is a serious error, and I can't believe that it wasn't caught and edited out.

Rating:
Summary: Good Practice, but not much for your money
Review: I liked this short workout, but I would agree with the others it's more of a stretching practice than anything else.

I was disappointed in spending $14 and only getting a single 20-minute workout. I would rather spend a bit more and get several 20-minute workouts. This would be better priced around $9.

Please check my other reviews on Amazon for great Yoga DVD's. Shiva Rea's new DVD is wonderful and well worth the extra money. I would recommend Sara Ivahoe's Candlelight Yoga over this one.

Rating:
Summary: A nice lower body focused practice
Review: This nice lower body practice does a good job of thoroughly stretching the legs and opening the hips. Instructor Sara Ivanhoe begins the practice in a standing position with several variations of chair pose; each variation is held for a few breaths. She then moves on to a triangle-warrior series for strengthening the leg muscles followed by a temple pose (a plie squat)-fan pose (wide-legged standing forward bend) combo which really stretches the legs, especially the hamstrings. The practice then moves on to the floor for camel pose, first performed with one hand only on each side then both hands. Finally, there is a lunge-lunge twist-pigeon-cobbler series that is perfect for opening the hips, and Sara finishes the practice with a simple seated yoga mudra (hand placement with breath).

I enjoyed this practice a lot, as I'm always looking to open up my legs and hips. This would be an excellent yoga practice for runners or other sports participants whose lower body has become tight. However, because Sara does not provide detailed instruction, I would not recommend this practice for those with no prior experience to yoga. Finally, I think this routine is too short to provide much "sculpting," but it is an excellent practice for stretching the lower body.