Yoga gets a very mixed reaction. As both a personal fitness trainer and a yoga instructor, I understand both sides of the argument. Some are loyal devotees who wouldn’t step foot in a gym or don a dumbbell in their home workout area, while many people (typically more competitive, Type-A) folks think that yoga is a waste of time.
I cringe when I hear, “Isn’t yoga just a bunch of stretching and breathing?” When I hear that from a potential client (particularly a guy), I take that as a challenge and think, “Game on!” I’ve heard former pro football players say that a power yoga session at the studio where I was trained was the toughest workout they’ve ever had.
While I’ll save more in-depth discussion on the benefits of yoga for another day, today I want to give you my recommendations for finding a yoga video that will give you a GREAT workout. Unfortunately, most of these, in my opinion, are not what you find on the shelves in the big box stores.
Gaiam is the yoga giant whose videos appear in stores like Barnes and Noble and Target, and whose internet ads appear prominently under any google search for “yoga dvd”. Gaiam, while making pretty and functional yoga mats and accessories, doesn’t feature the type of yoga in their DVD’s that I like my clients or students to try. (This is obviously one trainer’s opinion only—they may be just right for you if you’re brand-new to yoga and don’t want anything too challenging.)
Eoin Finn’s videos are the first place I send anyone who is looking to use yoga as a way to significantly improve strength and raise their heart rate, while deriving all the mental and flexibility benefits of yoga. Many of his videos are now available on-demand through Vimeo as well. Here are the ones I personally own and love:
- Power Yoga for Happiness
- Power Yoga for Happiness 2 (Surf Edition)
- Power Yoga with Eoin Finn
- Pure and Simple Yoga for Stiffies
Baron Baptiste is another great power yoga instructor, although he tends towards more live events and teacher training programs these days than home workout DVD’s or videos. He has several affiliate studios across the country, so if you happen to live close to one you may want to give it a try.
My final suggestion is a unique slant on yoga, called Joga with Jana. She coins her method as “yoga for jocks,” which I think it entirely accurate. She combines some fitness elements and challenging twists to already-challenging poses, for the purpose of conditioning and cross-training athletes.
I can personally say that I did her workouts a TON between Marathon #1 and Marathon #2, and can report that during my rigorous training for the Frank Meier Juneau Marathon, I had virtually no recurring aches or injuries to speak of of the entire four months (including after the race)! But be warned–this workout is a toughie! If I’m short on time, I’ll go onto iTunes through my AppleTV and watch just the introductory segment called “Fire-Starter”. In this breakdown, she tends to hold the poses longer than in the actual full-length flow. So if I only have 30 minutes and need the most bang for my buck, I’ll go there. Plus, if any guys out there are still holding out on trying yoga, Jana is as pretty as they come. 😉
Try these out and let me know what you think! I’d love to hear your reactions. Namaste!
