Fitness DVD review

For yoga or Pilates buffs looking to incorporate some focused strength training into their routines, Kristin McGee's newest workout DVD, S3 — Strong, Sexy, + Svelte ($17), does not disappoint. The three 25-minute segments can be performed on their own or all together for one long and intense workout.

The Strong workout combines classic yoga postures with dumbbell exercises, while the Sexy workout focuses on Pilates with blasts of cardio. And finally, yoga lovers who have heard the rave reviews of Kristin's flow can enjoy some straight-up power yoga in the Svelte sequence.

Keep reading to learn more details about each of the segments after the break.

For any yoga student who is beyond a beginner practice, a standard DVD can leave a lot to be desired. Typically, there's tons of instruction, very basic postures, and long breaks in the sequence. While all four of the DVDs in the Tara Stiles This Is Yoga DVD Set ($20) offer wonderful instruction for students of all levels, I was particularly taken with the first DVD of the set, Daily Yoga For Everyone. Both of the flowing practices on this DVD challenged my body, provided easy-to-follow instruction, and exceeded my expectations.

The first flow on this DVD was an hour-long, thoughtful sequence that brought heat to my body and worked my core. Plenty of options were available for beginners throughout this Strong Flow sequence, but I also appreciated all the variations that allowed my body to move deeper into each posture. I was particularly taken with a Three-Legged Dog variation where I was instructed to lower my forearm to my mat and shift my hips over my shoulder. With this creative variation offered so early on in the sequence, I knew that this DVD was the real deal. Keep reading to hear my thoughts on the second sequence on the DVD: Relax Flow.

If you don't have the time or money to practice in a yoga studio, then popping in a DVD at home is the next best thing. I've always been a huge fan of Shiva Rea's videos because of the strong and creative posture sequencing, her calm and inspirational personality, and the gorgeous background scenery and upbeat music. Shiva's latest DVD, Core Yoga ($17), isn't completely new, but rather a compilation of her three core-centered DVDs: Creative Core Abs; Creative Core + Lower Body; and my personal favorite, Creative Core + Upper Body.

As in her past videos, you can pick and choose which of the segments you want to follow along with, depending on your mood or how much time you have that day. All sequences are geared toward strengthening the core, and because it's yoga, you'll feel your abs burning without a single crunch. These challenging sequences will also tone your thighs, tush, upper back, and arms.

The "creative" in the title of these three videos really doesn't do them justice. Get ready to do unique variations of poses you've probably never tried before. And you won't be standing still holding them for five breaths. Shiva's style is all about moving and exploring — almost a dance-like flow — which is why her sequences are so effective at strengthening and opening the entire body. She encourages you to move in ways that feel right to you, which is different than typical yoga videos, making this DVD suited best for intermediate students or those who've had experience with traditional yoga before.

Keep reading to see a clip from Core Yoga.

When you're looking for supereffective, easy-to-follow fitness DVDs, the line of Core Fusion does not disappoint. These workouts are inspired by the husband-and-wife team Fred Devito and Elisabeth Halfpapp, experienced fitness instructors who founded the exclusive exhale mindbodyspa. I'm a big fan of their Thighs & Glutes and Pure Abs & Arms workouts, so I was excited to see this 30 Day Sculpt DVD ($14, originally $20).

This workout contains segments from four of their well-known DVDs: Lean & Toned, Bootcamp, Yoga: Energy Flow, and Cardio: Pure Intensity, so it's like four workouts for the price of one.

The video is broken down into five six-day weeks of 20-minute workouts (one day is devoted to rest). And these 20-minutes don't mess around! Expect to get your heart rate up and feel your muscles burning. What's great about being able to choose a different workout every day of the month is that through cardio, strength training, and stretching, you'll target every inch of your body and never get bored doing it. Plus 20 minutes is totally doable, so you're more likely to stick with the plan for the entire 30 days.

The best way to get a sense of this workout is to see it for yourself. Continue reading to see a clip from the 30 Day Sculpt video.

I love my Gaiam BalanceBall, but I've been on the search for a simple, at home way to do resistance training, especially since the wet, wintery mornings can impede my trips to the gym. The Gaiam Covered Resistance Cord Kit ($15) is an affordable and compact way to strength train in a small, indoor space.

See our rating.

Inspired by the dancer bodies from Dancing With the Stars and Black Swan? If you're home and want a solid workout that's fun and pumps you into a cardio zone, try a dance DVD. Here are three DVD workouts FitSugar staffers have tested and reviewed that will deliver passionate, sweat-inducing moves and make you groove.

• Julianne Hough's Cardio Ballroom ($10). Right from the start, Julianne's upbeat personality gets you excited about the warmups and choreography, and before you know it, you're doing the cha-cha, the jive, and paso doble. This is also the perfect workout video to do with some girlfriends.
• Bar Method Dancer's Body Advanced Workout DVD ($20). Led by cheery and pretty-to-look-at-while-you-are-sweating Bar Method teacher and actress Marnie Alton, the DVD offers a variety of the method's staple moves. Like the class, it starts off slow with leg lifts and light arm exercises (it's recommended you use two- to four-pound weights) and then jumps into the method's secret sauce: intense leg work at the barre.
• Tracy Anderson's Cardio Dance Workout DVD ($30). Anderson believes that dance cardio is the perfect aerobic workout for creating long, lean muscles and a feminine, toned physique. This workout is high-energy dancing full of hopping, jumping, high kicks, and even the '60s dance step the Pony. The eight combinations that make up the workout are like a jazzy version of petite allegro (the jumping section of a dance class).

If you only have a short window of time to spare but want a solid workout, a DVD concentrated on strong and sculpted abs is a smart pick. You don't need a lot of space, you won't get terribly sweaty, and if you do it just right, ab work can be an incredibly effective workout. Here are four DVD workouts FitSugar staffers have tested and reviewed and will deliver moves to strengthen your core.

• Fit in 5 Total Body Tone ($15): If the core is what you have in store, the abs workout by Fred DeVito and Elisabeth (Liz) Halfpapp will surely meet your needs. The core fusion workouts (there are two separate 10-minute routines) require nothing more than a mat and a wall. You will push your way through 45-degree sit-up positions, participate in roll downs (similar to Pilates), and crunch the 20 minutes away.
• Shiva Rea — Creative Core Abs ($10): The sequencing is very fluid and dance-like, so the time goes by really quickly. It definitely doesn't feel like yoga. Shiva encourages you to explore your range of motion, and even though this video was focused on the abs, the movements strengthened and stretched my upper and lower back, hips, quads, shoulders, and neck too.

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