Karen Voight - YogaSculpt

Rating:
Summary: If You Have Bad Wrists...
Review: This is a wonderful workout with easy to follow directions. Might I remind those who rated this low that it is Yoga "Sculpt?" If you have bad wrists, get a different kind of Yoga dvd. Would you buy a how to run book and then complain because it doesn't cater to those with bad ankles???

Rating:
Summary: Awesome workout!!
Review: This is one of the best exerecise DVD's I have purchased. I have been using it for 2 months (3x a week) and have seen a significant difference in my body flexability and tone. Very good for the abs. I only wish it had a bit more workout for the arms.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite workouts
Review: This is probably my favorite exercise videos, other than the ab section with Cher. It was hard at first as I was expecting relaxing yoga. (My introduction to yoga was Lilias for beginners.) After I got going with it, though, I like the more intense yoga better. I do the yoga section two mornings a week before work, and nothing gets this sleepy, non-morning person more ready to start the day! I also really like the second ab section. It's very concentrated and very effective. Great yoga workout that I can see myself doing for many years to come! Karen is such a great instructor and gives such good cues that I would also like to try her Pilates videos. One word of warning, though, would be that all the downward facing dogs might be a little hard on someone with bad shoulders.

Rating:
Summary: awesome sculpting workout
Review: This video rocks! Once again, Karen Voight has made an entertaining and challenging video. I am an experienced exerciser and also a dancer. After doing this video, I felt stronger and more flexible. I definitely felt I got a workout!

I have now done this video three times. Each time, there have been sections that were almost too challenging for me to complete them. I appreciate that in a video, as I have room to grow. I look forward to the day where I can hold downward facing dog through the entire sequence.

This video requires no equipment except an optional sticky mat. It is really great for a road-warrior like myself.

This is a 45 minute video broken into two parts, yoga and a pilates-based abdominal workout. It also includes a stretch and a warmup, as all good videos should. The yoga section is no-nonsense and hard. I can see where this would sculpt your body. At the same time, it has an immense relaxing effect. The pilates section is a great challenge for my core muscles.

Rating:
Summary: boring
Review: too many downward dogs for an exerciser with tendonitis wrists.

Rating:
Summary: Combine Yoga & Pilates to Sculpt & Lengthen Your Muscles
Review: Workout Description: about 40 minutes of toning (25 minute Yoga Flow focusing on lower and upper body strength through traditional yoga poses and 15 minute Pilates matwork focusing on abs) with 5 minute cool-down stretch for a total of 45 minutes
Workout Level: intermediate
Instructor: Karen Voight (fitness instructor since 1978; IDEA Instructor of the Year and Business Person of the Year; an IDEA's 5 Star Presenter; certified ACE Group Fitness Leader). Karen is an excellent cuer and very focused on proper form and technique. She exercises each side evenly and intends for you to mirror her moves.
Class: Karen is by herself. She alternates between demonstrating the move while doing voice-over narration and cueing while demonstrating the move. She uses two different outfits, and I've yet to figure out if there is a pattern (i.e. wearing one while doing modifications) because it appears to be a random thing.
Music / Set: The instrumental music is soft and Classical-inspired. It's very pleasant, relaxing, and appropriate for a yoga / Pilates routine. The interior set consists of a raised platform and some colored banners over a white wall.
Equipment Needed: sticky mat (in a pinch, any mat), yoga block (if your flexibility is limited)
Caveats: Familiarity with yoga and Pilates is helpful.
Additional Comments: This workout does not require much space. (You should be able to lie down with your legs and arms extended.)
Karen does not intend for this routine to be your normal strength routine; it is a good program to throw into your rotation to shake things up. You can't keep working your body the same way all of the time because you'll hit a plateau; this is a good plateau buster that's also great at the end of a week full of hard workouts or stress. Many people comment that Karen isn't that buff from yoga and Pilates alone, and she isn't. (After all, she has a number of weight lifting videos out!) However, both Pilates and yoga can further tone and strengthen the muscles you build up with weight lifting; they will also improve flexibility. And you can't say that Karen's not flexible . . .
The focus of these routines is athletic; Karen wants you to focus on performing each move, not the mystical beliefs behind it or even its name. If you're looking for a challenging yet genuine yoga flow that isn't "New Agey," this is a good candidate. You do not need to know yoga to do it, but beware that beginners may find that this challenges their strength, flexibility, and balance a little too much at first.
The DVD allows you to do the entire program, just the yoga flow (25 minutes), or just the Pilates routine with the stretch (20 minutes). I haven't yet done the program all together, as I've added on the yoga or Pilates segments to other strength workouts. This identical program is also available on DVD with (Pilates) Core Essentials (aka Core Plus More) as Yoga & Sculpting.