Crunch - The Perfect Yoga Workout

Rating:
Summary: Energizing and enjoyable yoga
Review: Both workouts are really fun to do and help get you moving. The instructor comes across as friendly and down to earth. The explanations are terrific and easy to follow. Some of the poses are a bit challenging without being over-whelming to someone who is new to yoga.
I was worried that the practices would be too much like the MTV dvds, which I was not fond. Instead, this dvd offered two nice workouts that will I include in my regular practices.

Rating:
Summary: Quick Workouts when you don't have all day!
Review: As the title would suggest, "Crunch" yoga is clearly not for a spiritual yoga experience, but for the person who is trying to reap the physical benefits of yoga. Hardcore yoga junkies will scoff at this, but I say HOORAY for the quick and beneficial workout. It is motivational to do a workout that is not an hour long like some of them. I have been doing this practice regularly for a couple of weeks without boredome.

Rating:
Summary: Great DVD, I feel toned at 38.
Review: I've been doing yoga on and off since 1978, mostly Hatha Yoga on PBS. Decided to start again. When I first bought this DVD, it seemed too tough for a beginner so I put it away and tried it a few months later. Wow, I recommend this for anyone that used to be flexible and needs to get it back. I've been doing the workouts alternating daily for a month and not only can I do all of the poses but I can concentrate on breathing and pressing into each one for strength. I feel great thanks to this DVD. I am much stronger and feel complete after the workout. I felt like the Joy of Yoga was too easy so I moved on to the fat burner. I needed variety so I tried it again and since I was stonger and more flexible the Joy of Yoga workout got harder. If you don't enjoy or can't move into Downward Facing Dog, don't bother with this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Aerobic class tone
Review: Some people love very spiritual yoga; they love the meditation, the chanting, etc. On the other end of the spectrum, some people are looking for new ways to get fit, and enjoy yoga as the newest workout at the gym. This video is firmly for the latter. The instructors are perky...perhaps too perky. If you prefer to avoid any hint of a spiritual practice, this may be the DVD for you. If you feel a little weird doing yoga with an aerobic-instructor tone, you'd probably like something else.

Rating:
Summary: Two very good yoga practices for beginners/intermediates
Review: The philosophy of all videos in the Crunch line is to make working out accessible to all people, regardless of size or experience. Their yoga videos are no exception, as they take a non-mystical approach and are taught in a very straightforward manner by instructor Sara Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe's down-to-earth style (she frequently uses words like "scooch") is completely non-intimidating; she comes across as a friendly workout buddy.

Joy of Yoga begins with a focused breathing series involving forward bends and down dogs (there are many repetitions of this position) and then moves on to additional standing poses, including warrior, lunges, and twists. The floor portion of the workout consists mostly of relaxing stretches, but there is one tough segment which alternates arm/leg stretches with yogi pushups. This practice is about 35 minutes long. Fat-burning yoga is a more active practice, although not quite to the level of aerobic conditioning or power yoga. Again, the practice begins with breathing and then introduces the use of vinyasas: several poses are combined together in a flowing sequence and then the entire sequence is repeated several times. After a brief warm-up, there is a long, sun salutation-type vinyasa containing lunges, push-up pose, simple backbends, and many repetitions of downward dog. For each repetition, a slightly more difficult variation is introduced, and by the end of this series, your arms and shoulders have gotten an intense workout. Additional vinyasas include twisting lunges, proud warrior, triangle, and side angle pose. This practice ends with a short abs section containing a few boat poses, seated backbends, and two Pilates-like exercises. Finally, there are some brief seated stretches and an even briefer relaxation pose for about 45 total minutes.

Ivanhoe's cues are detailed enough for those new to yoga, and both practices are probably doable by most beginners, especially with the modifications provided. However, for complete yoga novices, I think that some prior familiarity with basic yoga postures would be beneficial. Also, it is important to keep in mind that both of these practices contain some fairly intense moves which demand some pre-existing fitness capacity; Fat-Burning Yoga in particular is a more strenuous practice that will challenge even intermediate yogis. Finally, Ivanhoe's strong emphasis on breathing is a plus for all levels of yoga practitioners, and those who like her friendly, no-nonsense style are likely to enjoy these videos.

Rating:
Summary: Breaking the tension
Review: This is good for stretching, balancing, and gaining a little strength. The Joy of Yoga is relaxing, and the Fat Burning Yoga is more for stability and flexibility. Pretty easy, but ok once a week.