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DVD Review: Better Sex Through Yoga – Volume 3

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:30:00 PDT

I just checked out Volume Three ($14.95), of the Better Sex Through Yoga series. I was excited to try it (no, not in that way), because this DVD is the most advanced video of the three.

The first thing I noticed is that the instructor was scantily clad; I think I actually murmured out loud, "Yeah, like I'd ever practice yoga in a short tank top and my undies." If you can get over the costuming issues, the yoga part is actually pretty good. She gives great instruction, and helpful tips appear on the screen like "spread your fingers wide in Down Dog." Then suddenly, that eerie voiceover lady from the first two DVDs starts piping in with instructions like, "Slowly breathe into your sexual core," and "Stretch your sexual core." To top it all off, the camera zooms in on the instructor's crotch and her little undies while doing a Wide-Legged Forward Bend. So unnecessary. I was also entertained by the fact that the instructor and the two yogis following her were spritzed with oil or glitter or something to make it look like every inch of their skin was glistening.

I was expecting this video to focus more on opening your hips and hamstrings, and to work on increasing flexibility in your entire body, which would then enhance your sex life. This video was borderline like a porno, and the only part about it that touched on sexuality was that the people were wearing next to nothing. There are so many better yoga DVDs out there.

A Reader Review: Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD

Fit Community — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:50:04 PDT

Enter to win in the Get Fit For 2011 giveaway by completing any challenges you may have missed, like FitSugar reader oatmealrunner, who shared her review of the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD for the eighth challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway.

I've decided in an effort to stay fit and save some cash, I am going to try a variety of DVD workouts (via Netflix) and give you my review. This way you know what videos are worth renting/buying and which ones you can leave on the shelf. Now onto the review.

I purchased the Yoga Meltdown workout DVD sometime ago but have not thoroughly reviewed it. Being an fairly dedicated yogi (6 years of practice and counting), I was curious to see what Jillian was going to do - yoga and yelling don't exactly mix if you ask me - but I was willing to go into it open-minded.

The DVD consists of 2 workouts: level one and level two. I felt that level one focuses a lot on arms, whereas level two is more about the legs and abs. Each workout is approximately 30 minutes, which is great if you're strapped for time.

See the review when you

PROS:

Jillian Michaels is great at making you feel like she's watching your every move, even if she's just on TV. I felt compelled to complete each sequence and push my self in every pose.
You burn calories! You will sweat, you will burn calories, and be prepared to feel it the next day.
You will move in and out of each pose about 10 times and then at the end you will hold the pose for 15 seconds. Jillian provides you with options based on your fitness level, so as you get better you can try the more advanced poses.

CONS:

If you've never done yoga, this may not be the best workout for you. Jillian moves quickly through poses with little instruction, so if you're not familiar with the pose already it may be hard to keep up.
This is definitely not any type of traditional yoga I'm familiar with. I enjoy power yoga classes, but this workout was much different. If you're hoping for more of a traditional approach to yoga, I would try going to your local studio or gym class first.
Some of the poses (i.e. crow) are a little advanced even for yogis who have been practicing for awhile. Although I'm all for trying something new, without proper instruction, some of the poses can pose a danger if done incorrectly.

All in all I would give the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown a seven out of 10. It's challenging, you'll work up a good sweat, and burn some needed calories - I would recommend giving it a try.

Check out my blog: http://oatmealrunner.blogspot.com/

You, too, can enter to win our weekly prize of a $100 New Balance gift card and our fabulous grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA. Complete any of the previous challenges in our Get Fit For 2011 community group. The more you participate, the greater your chances of winning!

DVD Review: Shiva Rea A.M. Energy

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:36:52 PDT

I've tried hundreds of yoga DVDs, and many of them I've only used once. Videos created by Shiva Rea are different though. Her calming energy, dynamic yoga sequences, creativity, and strength are inspirational. Her Creative Core + Upper Body video is my absolute favorite, but I also keep Fluid Power - Vinyasa Flow Yoga near my DVD player.

I have another DVD to add to my pile of faves: Shiva's A.M. Energy ($20). It begins with a short meditation and includes three 20-minute practices designed to "revive your body, mind, and soul at the start of each day." Plus, there's also a bonus 20-minute Heart Salutation practice from her video Radiant Heart Yoga. Here are my thoughts on the different segments.

Body Mandala: You gotta love Shiva Rea for having you do squats and yogic push-ups all within the first two and a half minutes. She then leads you through a series of poses designed to strengthen your upper body, core, legs, and buns (love the Sage variation!). The sequence is repeated once more with more advanced variations. The 20 minutes just flew by, and my entire body felt calm, open, and relaxed.

Keep reading to hear about the rest of the video.

Secrets to Saving on Your 7 Favorite Indulgences

Emily Co — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:25:48 PDT

We all have our weaknesses, and yours may be a Starbucks addiction or even an avid book reading habit. Although we advocate saving, we're also a big fan of being able to indulge on occasion. After all, if you keep denying yourself, it might be counterintuitive because you may end up buying on impulse. Here are some ways you can still enjoy your favorite purchases, yet save at the same time:

Starbucks: Sign up for a Starbucks card and you can accumulate rewards such as free drinks. Once you buy five drinks, you get free syrup or soy milk and free refills on brewed coffee, iced coffee, or iced tea. You'll also get a free tall drink if you buy a bag of coffee beans. Once you buy over 30 drinks, you get a free drink for every 15 drinks you buy. As a card holder, you'll also get a free drink of your choice on your birthday.

Frugal secret: You can make your own Starbucks drinks in your own home. Check out Squawkfox's recipe for a homemade Starbucks Frappuccino that costs only 32 cents to make. Don't forget to also check out YumSugar's Starbucks-inspired pumpkin spice latte recipe.
Books: If you got a thing for books, there's always the library of course. But for those who just love permanent additions to their budding book collection, you can consider joining book clubs like Barnes & Nobles, which sends regular discounts and coupons to your inbox. You can also get really cheap indie ebooks for free or for 99 cents on Amazon. Some of the books are actually really good, but check out the reviews before buying if you don't want to waste your time on a dud.
Frugal secret: Shhh, don't let anyone know, but you can get free books from authors, even the acclaimed and famous ones, if you try this trick. A lot of times, you can even get the book ahead of its release. All you have to do is start building up a nice repertoire of really solid and detailed book reviews on Amazon or Good Reads, the social network for book recommendations. If your Amazon reviews are good, people will start voting on them, which may qualify you for Amazon's Vine program, an exclusive club that "invites the most trusted reviewers on Amazon to post opinions about new and prerelease items." And if you're a popular Good Reads reviewer, authors will start reaching out to you to review their books.
Yoga: You can save on yoga classes by subscribing to daily deal sites and keeping an eye out for discounts at your local yoga studio. Lululemon also offers free yoga classes, so you might want to check out your local shop. A lot of studios have free or donation-based classes on occasion, so you might want to check with them, too.
Frugal secret: Become a yoga teacher to get access to free classes. You don't have to worry about teaching taking up too much of your time because I have friends who teach only once or twice a week and still get the perks of a full-time teacher, such as being able to attend classes for free. You can also offer to trade services (writing, graphic design, admin, or whatever skill you can provide) with the studio in exchange for free classes.

Read on for more.

5 Reasons Your Workout Isn't Working

Shape — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:44:13 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Have you been working out consistently for months (maybe even years) and yet the scale is creeping up? Here are five ways your workout could be keeping you from losing weight, and what our experts recommend to start shedding pounds again:

1. Your workout routine is making you eat too much.
Is your workout causing you to use the "I burned it, I earned it," excuse when it comes to your diet? "Studies show that people tend to eat more calories when they take up exercise," says Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Auburn University Montgomery, and creator of the Perfect Legs, Glutes & Abs DVD.

Think your 45-minute morning run was enough to burn off that slice of chocolate cake on the dessert menu? Consider this: the average, 140-pound woman burns about 476 calories (at a 10-minute mile pace) running for 45 minutes. The average restaurant dessert clocks in around 1,200 calories (or more), so even if you only eat half of a slice, you'd still easily eat away your run - and then some - in less than 10 minutes.

The solution: Make your workouts count by pairing them with a healthy diet that stays within the appropriate calorie range your body needs in order to lose or maintain your weight. Olson recommends writing down what you are eating to keep track of calories consumed, and then subtracting the calories you burned, for your true daily number.

See even more reasons why your workout isn't working after the break!

3 More Fitness DVDs Reviewed by Our Readers

FitSugar — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 04:00:34 PST

For the eighth challenge of the Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, we're asking you to review a fitness DVD or workout - tell us why you love it or why you'd leave it. Besides getting the chance to win some fantastic prizes, you'll also be sharing valuable information with the FitSugar Community. Check out what readers are saying about these workouts from trainers Shiva Rea, Denise Austin, and Shape magazine.

Yoga Shakti with Shiva Rea - FitSugar reader shaneelyse loves that she can personalize her workout with Shiva Rea's Yoga Shakti DVD by using the matrix to pick and chose poses. The DVD is set in India and the Maldives, but what's even more inspiring than the scenery, she writes, is "Shiva Rea's instruction. It is clear and concise, and the practices, which range from advanced beginner/intermediate to very challenging, are filled with options and modifications."
Shape: Ultimate Bikini Body Workout - sleepydean was pleasantly surprised by Shape's bikini body DVD. She found the trainer is tough but likable and explained: "I have various other circuit type training DVDs but this one changes things up with cardio bursts that I haven't seen before."
Denise Austin Fat-Blasting Yoga - ladyboarder9669 likes how Denise keeps the workout moving: "I think it's perfect for the intermediate yogi. It doesn't have too advanced poses but great poses that help you work up a sweat by the end of the workout."

Be sure to share your DVD review in our Get Fit For 2011 group to enter our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card and a chance to win our grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA, which includes a nutritional consultation with the C&J Nutrition team!

3 Fitness DVDs Reviewed by Our Readers

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:00:51 PST

For the eighth challenge of the Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, we're asking you to review a fitness DVD or workout - tell us why you love it or why you'd leave it. Besides getting the chance to win some fantastic prizes, you'll also be sharing valuable information with the FitSugar community. Check out what readers are saying about these workouts from trainers Elise Gulan, Hilary Burnett, and Jillian Michaels.

Yoga Fitness Plus with Elise Gulan - FitSugar reader TiVo loves celebrity fitness trainer Elise Gulan's Yoga Fitness Plus workout because the routine is fast paced and even though it requires flexibility, "you don't have to be a contortionist to feel the burn, and trust me, with this 45-minute routine you'll definitely feel the burn." TiVo's only complaint is that some of Elise's comments can be on the cheesy side.
Hilary Burnett Pilates Advanced - If you are trying to up your Pilates game, reader ladyboarder9669 says this is the DVD to try. The 20-minute workout will get your heart racing while challenging you to improve your form: "I would highly recommend this workout DVD to anyone who loves Pilates, but is a bit bored with beginner/intermediate."
Jillian Michaels: 30 Day Shred - We're in agreement with nnmarie about 30 Day Shred from Jillian Michaels being a solid workout. Even though nnmarie is not into home workouts, it's the one fitness DVD that she'll make an exception for: "It's hard; it challenges you to challenge yourself . . . and it leaves you with a burn that lasts for days."

4 Ab-Focused Workout DVDs Worth Trying

Angelica Marden — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:00:22 PST

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.

Want more options?

A Reader Reviews the P90X Extreme Home Fitness Program

Fit Community — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:00:28 PST

FitSugar reader debnicole shared this fitness DVD review for the eighth challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, and you should too!

I incorporate various workout DVDs in my exercise regimen. Lately it's been mainly the P90X series. My husband and I started two months ago on P90X and are halfway through. It's definitely an investment to buy the set; but I definitely feel like the money was well spent. It's a 12-disc collection with a variety of workouts.

What I love about the collection:

You never repeat the same workout two days in a row.
Variety is key! There is cardio, strength, abs, yoga, and stretch workouts.
It's pretty fast-paced . . . there isn't much (if any) resting between sets.
You don't have to have a gym membership - the kit came with resistance bands. Even if you don't own free weights, the bands work great.
The trainers encourage you to work at your own pace.
My favorite workouts are: core synergistics, back and biceps, shoulders/triceps/chest.

Find out what she didn't like about P90X when you

Take it or leave it:

The diet plan - if you have horrible eating habits presently, it may be a good jumping off tool.
I personally feel like this is geared more towards men. The women are almost always in tiny shorts and a sports bra while the men are sporting shirts and shorts. I'm not speaking out of jealousy (the women having amazing bodies) just out of equality - the men should lose their shirts!
On days when I just went to get through it, the instructing gets really annoying. Luckily you can silence the DVD and you have the option for just the cues.

So what's P90X done for me? I've gained strength in my upper body - I can now do 20+ consecutive push-ups, I can even properly do the Chaturanga pose during yoga (the Chaturanga push-ups are insanely hard for me . . . still). I've noticed muscle tone in my back - and in my abs! (Holler!) No chiseled six pack by any means, but it's nice to jump in the air and not continue shaking five minutes after you've landed back on the ground. Speaking of jumping, the plyometric workout (aka jump training) has totally helped my runs - granted I think the entire combination of the workouts have helped my run - but specifically, with the plyo one, I've noticed a difference in my endurance and breathing. I've also seen more definition in my legs, and even feel like my rear has firmed up.

So if you're in the market for a new workout series, look into P90X! I do suggest though: get a workout buddy! It will make you more committed.

Share a fitness DVD or workout review in our Get Fit For 2011 challenge group to enter to win a $100 Nike gift card and a chance to win our grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA!