New Workouts: Yoga for Strength and Flexibility

Title: Element: Yoga for Strength and Flexibility

What’s the goal? To build strength and flexibility in the mind, body and spirit. The strength practice offers sequences that tone all major muscle groups, build endurance and improve mental focus and energy levels. The flexibility section is designed to increase range of motion and decrease tension in the body.

Who’s it for? I don’t consider this DVD right for the beginning yoga practitioner, but it is perfect for those with varying degrees of experience. Poses such as standing splits and full wheel are included in the strength section, which makes it a bit more advanced.

Format: The DVD includes two sections of approximately 30 minutes each: “Yoga for Strength” and “Yoga for Flexibility.” They can be combined fora one-hour practice or enjoyed separately. There is also a bonus 7-minute guided meditation at the end.

What’s to like? The poolside garden that overlooks the Pacific Ocean provides a beautiful setting for the practice. Ashley Turner is an accomplished teacher and offers modifications for some poses. She teaches using voiceover with a combination of English and Sanskrit terms.

The strength program begins with neck rolls and forward fold, and then moves quickly to holding plank and side plank. There is not a vinyasa series to warm up the body. Holding plank and sideplank accomplishes this task. The program includes a nice core workout on the floor with leg lowering moves, crunches and moving in and out of boat pose. A cross-legged twist leads to the final relaxation before sitting and ending the segment with “ohm.”

Attention to breath is emphasized in the flexibility program, bringing additional warmth to the body during half sun salutations, and cat and cow combinations. Lateral splits, revolved head-toknee and twisting forward fold are offered before wrapping up with a brief shavasana.

Distractions? The instructions given are sufficient for those familiar with yoga but not detailed enough for the beginner. I love the flow of a vinyasa practice but found the transitions in some of the sequences to be a bit bumpy.

Necessary gear: a mat and a peaceful environment

Instructor’s credentials: Turner has taught yoga in the Los Angeles area for more than 10 years. Yoga Journal named her in the “Who’s Who of Power Yoga.”

Price: $14.98

ActiveStyle, Pages 23 on 02/17/2014

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