Today was the third day of the new schedule and I’ve done three different yoga video routines.
I started with the Kripalu Yoga: Gentle DVD. I’ve been doing this routine for many years on and off — I had it on VHS and it was my introduction to Yoga. I love the beginner-level transitions, clear explanations, and with three people they show variations for most poses. It’s a half hour long — there’s a second portion that adds another half hour, but I almost never do that portion.
However, over the years, I bought a bunch of other videos, yoga and otherwise, and I figured it was time to start trying some of those. Thursday I tried the Yoga Now: 10-minute A.M. Energizer routine. Led by Mariel Hemmingway, I must have yelled at the tv a half dozen times inside the 10 minutes. I was frustrated by the speed of the transitions (I was unable to keep up with her “left, and right, and left, and right…”) and the lack of explanation — telling me to move into a pose that I’ve never done is not really helpful. I know both of these are constraints of the 10 minute timeframe, but I don’t need to start my day annoyed. There’s a second video in there, a 10 minute evening de-stressor with Rodney Yee. I’ll try that one in the morning but if I don’t enjoy it, that DVD set might well end up in the little library book box.
This morning I opened the Yoga Zone: Stretching for Flexibility program and it was kind of a Goldilocks “just right” moment. I’ve done the first of two programs and at 20 minutes it was a perfect morning length. The instruction was clear and there were two people doing variations of the poses. It was also the right kind of stretching for me. I’ll try the other program next week and see how it feels, but I suspect it will also be a winner.
Next week I will also try one or two of the routines on 5 Day Fit Weight Loss — it includes a mix of exercise types including walking and yoga — and a couple from 5 Day Fit Pilates to introduce me to those exercises. I’m not sure about Weight Watchers: Punch workout (basically boxercize) but I will give it a shot, too (it reminds me more of the 80’s aerobics videos; here’s a clip). All of these inclued 15-30 minute routines that are aimed at beginners.
Finally, there is Bellyfit: Earth (now available as a download instead of a DVD). At 62 minutes it is a longer program that I don’t have room to do on a weekday morning but I will try it at some point. Alice Bracegirdle, who developed Bellyfit, is based here in Victoria and her routines are really a blend of every kind of dance and exercise style you’ve ever heard of. I’m not keen on bouncy, jumpy exercise so I am not sure whether it will be something I do frequently but maybe once a month to blow out the cobwebs.