My daughter and I took a Yoga and a Pilates class a couple of weeks ago and we both loved it! The problem is that with school, soccer, swimming, road races, mountain bike races and everything else on our calendar we rarely have time to make any of the classes.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a good Yoga and Pilates video or series of videos?
check out www.stottpilates.com. They are the best Pilates videos out there, and some of the only ones available on DVD. I just got the 20 minute series and matwork series for my wife, along with their pro mat and a few other things. I personally went from poo-poo’er to believer in Pilates after my wife’s personal trainer put a serious hurt on me last spring in a short 30 min workout. I like it better than straight weights for supplemental tri/du/running training. The best thing is that it really improves flexibility and core strength, as well as strengthens.
I did some “Iron Yoga” as tuaght by the fella (Anthony) on the cover of Men’s Health last month. I found it to be an incredible workout. Very difficult. I got total sewing machine leg in some of the poses. I would do it again but there are too many girls in the classes and it is a matter of time.
I bought an exercise ball and mat at Target and both came with ok Pilates DVDs. I would take a few classes to learn form and breathing and then try it on your own. I personally like the 30:1 girl/guy ratio in most classes…makes the leg lifts go by faster…:o)
Depends upon what you want to get out of it. Rodney Yee (spelling?) has a series of Yoga videos. I particularly like “Yoga for athletes”. It’s a relatively short workout, about :40, and focuses on the areas where we most often need more flexibility.
I’ve tried the Pilates workouts and videos. Great for core strength, but I personally found they left me feeling more fatigued and detracted from my swim, bike, and run training.
I would do it again but there are too many girls in the classes…
Tom, don’t you mean:
“I would do it again because there are too many girls in the classes…”
Haven’t found any good videos. Have found it very difficult to do yoga at home via video. I miss the adjustments and the little corrections in style and position that a good instructor can provide.
My admiration for yoga has nothing to do with the 20 year olds that can do the splits and put their head on their knee.
I found this to be a good pilates dvd…good as in it was a tough workout… http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3661302978&category=44086 …yoga… http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3387396765&category=41556
I agree that “Yoga for Athletes” is great, assuming stretching is the main goal. It holds the positions for a long time, creating really deep stretches that increase flexibility quickly. It also has lots of description about how to do the poses correctly.
A cousin of mine is a yoga freak and has her own video. I’ve tried it and others, but keep coming back to “Yoga for Athletes” because it has the best stretches and organizes them as appropriate for each type of athlete. (I focus on the cycling workouts.) Just wish the person in the video were female.