Fits Do Product Reviews: Yoga Sculpt DVDs

By: LL
If you are like me, and either do not live near a plethora of trendsetting yoga studios (like Jess) or do not have the time or money to go to a studio near you, but yet you are still interested in trying yoga sculpt, read on below.

CorePower Yoga
As you might have previously seen on this blog, Jess and I are both big fans of CorePower Yoga. Jess is a frequent attendee at the St. Louis Park studio. But living in KC, where there isn't a CorePower studio, I have resorted to using their at-home options. I started out with the 3-DVD set of yoga sculpt with Jessica. I would recommend these DVDs to anyone looking for a workout that gives you the benefits of Vinyasa flow, but with additional strength training. These yoga sculpt classes use hand weights (approximately 3-5 lbs dumbbells) and need a mat. Jessica takes you through basic Vinyasa flows, but adds the weights and cardio bursts for a more intense workout.

Difficulty Level: This 3-DVD set provides you with a beginner, intermediate and advanced. Throughout every level, Jessica also provides you with modifications for different levels.

Duration: Each class is one hour.

Cost: The DVD set costs about $45 and can be purchased here.

Additional Options: On their website, they also offer the option to register for On Demand classes. This is a monthly fee of about $15 where you can register for classes and take them at your own home. Seriously, this is a great option if you do not live near a studio.

Crunch: Yoga Body Sculpt
Another great option for at-home yoga sculpt DVDs is Crunch: Yoga Body Sculpt. Crunch classes do not use weights, but will require a mat. The classes go through a series of poises (flows) that instructor Bethany Lyons feels are the most ideal for toning your core and legs.

Difficulty Level: Even though these DVDs demonstrate modifications for different levels, they are primarily for an intermediate user.

Duration: 45 minutes for each class

Cost: The DVDs can be purchased at multiple online retailers (i.e., Amazon.com) for about $10/DVD.

Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown
I must admit, I am not the biggest Jillian Michaels fan. However, her yoga meltdown is pretty good and can be challenging. This DVD contains two different workouts. The first is a power flow to burn calories and the second is a toning sequence with more challenging poses for a harder workout. I have actually done them both together, back-to-back for a more intense workout.

Difficulty Level: The first workout is beginner to intermediate and the second is intermediate to advanced.

Duration: Each workout is 30 minutes, including a warmup and cool down.

Cost: The DVD can be purchased at multiple online retailers (i.e., Amazon.com) for about $10.


I would avoid any of the Kathy Smith DVDs. I think that the fact that they can be purchased through websites with the word "oldies" in the title says it all. They are perfect for a good laugh. (Check them out on YouTube.)

I would recommend testing out each of these workouts online first. Demos of each can be found through YouTube or the product website. It is worth a shot, and I hope this review helps out the few of you who have asked me about at-home workouts that pack a punch.

Fresh New Fit:Corepower DVD's!

By: Cool J

After a long weekend with my family celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, we returned yesterday after a full day of driving. This morning I was ready to get back to my regular workout regime.  It wasn't that we were completely lazy over the holidays. The D-man and I did do a 10 mile run (7 miles before the infamous Family Turkey Trot and a 5 miler the next day, as well as plenty of time running around at the dog park and playing on the trampoline.) But we definitely ate a bit more than we should have. 

So I was ready to get back into it, and decided to run an easy 8 miler this morning, and came home looking for a bit more. 

I decided to try out one of my new Corepower Yoga DVD's. 

One of my sisters recently asked me if I could recommend a good yoga DVD for runners. She was concerned about preventing injury, as well as increasing her toning and strength. Though I have tried a lot of different yoga studios in the area, I hadn't previously tried any at-home versions. I decided to purchase a few options from Corepower Yoga- A 3-disc vinyasa series and a 3-disc yoga sculpt series. 

I started with the Intermediate Yoga Sculpt, since I figured the Level 1 might have been a little too easy, as I was already familiar with the basic moves.

Level 2/Intermediate did move a bit slower than a regular yoga sculpt class moves. However, I did think that it gave me a decent workout for an at-home option. The moves were similar. There was a short cardio segment, as well as a sculpt series on both sides with weights. 

Normally, I would do any at-home working out in our basement, but our TV down there recently decided it had had enough, and stopped working on us. So I had to set up my studio upstairs. 

I only had these large 5 pound weights- not ideal, but they did the job.

I mentioned on an earlier post what yoga sculpt entails (here)

Their website describes it as follows: 

CorePower Yoga Sculpt is a total body workout designed to tone and sculpt every major muscle group. Dumbbells, body bars and free weights serve as your own personal adjuster as you move through sun salutations and other yoga postures, enabling extra length and depth in each pose. This intense, but easy to follow program compliments your regular yoga practice while pushing your strength and flexibility to new heights."

Basically, you do a lot of the vinyasa moves while incorporating weights, push-ups, and some cardio. 

A few side planks to work on core strength.

Downward dog...

(yes, there is a sleeping cat next to me- apparently, he didn't find the class very entertaining)

Utkatasana- chair pose

Overall, I thought Level 2/Intermediate yoga sculpt was okay- I would give it a 6 whereas I would give the in-studio classes a 10. I do prefer the shared experience of an in-studio class, the better tunes, the heated classroom (the D-man does NOT keep our house at a balmy 98 degrees in the winter!) I would recommend the class to someone on the road or in a city without a nearby studio, or I would recommend it to someone who has a challenging schedule for making it to an actual studio class. This would be perfect for someone like my sister, who has a young baby at home. She can do the hour long class while her baby naps. Functional Fit!