TGIF! It hit 82F here on Wednesday, the mid 70s on Thursday, and Friday and the weekend are supposed to be great.
I recently received this combo set of 3 DVDs that Yoga Jornal sent me.
Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, and Shiva Rea. Three pillars and all such strong, prominent forces in the yoga community.
I enjoyed the DVDs and each teacher has unique teaching style and so it was interesting to go from Baron Baptiste’s more intense, power-based practice to Seane Corn who incorporates a more spiritual aspect of yoga into her teaching style to Shiva Rea’s free flowing, somatic movement filled dvd. All the dvd’s were different, and all were enjoyable!
I have a comprehensive post on Yoga FAQ’s where I touch on everything from other yoga DVD recommendations, to music, yoga clothing, how to score free yoga classes in your area, and much more.
I’ve been a certified yoga teacher for a decade now (although I am not currently teaching as I explained) but I like to share my yoga info, expertise, tips, and tricks that I’ve picked up along the way in my twelve year personal practice in the hopes of answering some of your Yoga FAQs.
In that post I can also be seen wearing some pink Be Present pants.
And I routinely live in my other Be Present pants. Like when I met up with Marla
Or met up with Amber
Or just about any day of the week, for part of the day, I always have a pair on.
So I was thrilled when Be Present sent me a pair of their new Kona Pants!
Drawstring, lightweight, pockets, cropped at the knee…perfect! I will wear these out, no doubt.
I love Be Present! I have been a fan of theirs for years, long before this pair of pants. They are truly, my #1 go-to for pants not just for yoga, but for day-to-day life. I don’t want jeans. I want my Be Present pants.
From my last post, it was fun to hear what you’ve been plugging along with this week and also great feet talk. Yes, I am a bigfoot. I could talk shoes and feet all day. And so could you based on the fun comments. And thanks to all my big-footed readers for delurking and commenting!
Questions:
1. Do you use any DVDs for your workouts?
About a year or so ago, it seemed that P90x, Insanity, and Turbofire were all over the blogosphere on healthy living and food blogs. Since then, I haven’t seen those mentioned as much but everyone now talks about bodyrock.tv
I have not used any of those.
Why?
Probably for the same reason that I don’t use cookbooks much. I am a wing-it type person with my food and workouts. I like to tweak and create things according to what I am feeling or craving, in that moment.
Whether it’s in the kitchen or with workouts, I don’t like things to be overly scripted. Although cookbooks or DVDs can help to inspire me, I don’t really use or follow them much and when I do, it definitely not verbatim.
I found myself craving just doing what my body wanted to rather than following the dvd’s at some points, but that’s because I am just that way and also coming at the dvd’s from the perspective of a teacher, I am know “what to do”, how to sequence poses, classes, and what things I would have follow other things whereas the average person needs more guidance and much more of a scripted dvd and class to follow.
2. What is your take on podcasts, DVDs, online videos, youtube videos, and at-home workouts that you don’t attend an actual class? Yay or nay?
Here are a few of my pros & cons about working out at home with online downloads or dvds.
Pros:
Workout at your own pace
Workout at a time convenient for you
Fits into your schedule when you have the time
No drive time, parking time, shuffling in and out of gyms, locker rooms, studios, etc.
No one cares if you’re wearing dirty workout clothes with stains on them
You can quit if you’re not into the workout/video without any stigma
You can tweak the workout based on what you want that day
Cons:
No one there to inspire you. Looking around a class and seeing others who are in great shape can inspire me.
No one there to correct bad form or “errors” in form that could lead to injury. This is my biggest caution for newbies and yoga dvds. You really ought to go to classes for awhile before you start practicing at home exclusively because you could be practicing bad form which is a recipe for injury. Learn the ropes from a qualified teacher before you do everything at home. Most people don’t practice or workout exclusively alone at home either, anyway.
Boredom/no group or class energy
At times, a little bit too easy to quit the workout and stay motivated when you’re by yourself
Hard to get motivated to start the workout if there’s no class you’re attending. Knowing you don’t have to “rush” to the gym or studio to make that 6pm class may make it easier to just blow off the at-home workout all together.
What do you think about at-home workouts and DVDs/podcasts? Found anything you love or that’s been working out great for you? Anything you’ve tried that you weren’t into at all?
3. Workout apparel that you’re loving? Or any gym/yoga studio clothes that double as your real life clothes?
I am the queen of my drawstring pants, Target sports bras, and pull on yoga pants doubling as my daytime wardrobe. There are worse things, right? Function and comfort is why I do it! And so do many other women if looking around my area is any indication.
Don’t forget to enter my Coconut Oil Give Away. Winner announced tomorrow (Saturday)!
P.S. Related Posts that may be of interest:
Fitness Experiments – What I’ve Tried, What’s Worked, What Next
Daily Workouts Streamlined – 20 Minutes at Home
I Quit The Gym
Abs: How to Get Them & Tough Love
Morning Workout Tips
1. I love workout videos SO MUCH. Most of the time I like to just wing it, as you say, but that usually takes longer than working out with a video normally would, so 20 minutes on the elliptical turns into 40 minutes and a little bit of yoga turns into me sitting in child’s pose for much more time than I have.
2. Definitely a yay. I feel weird being sweaty around people even if they’re sweaty, so having a home gym and space to do workout videos is such a blessing to me.
3. I live in my lululemon gear, not gonna lie, or at least my lululemon pants. It’s only because I don’t really have jeans anymore (I still technically have them because I feel like I could use them for something. I’m not a hoarder, but I have this fear of throwing things out, or rather I feel guilty for throwing things out because I feel so wasteful. Agh. Hate it, and I have to get over it because unfortunately it’s a part of life) because there’s a huge hole in the knee and one of the belt loops ripped off (don’t buy J brand jeans. I had them for like, three months and this happened. The same thing happened to the last pair of jeans that I bought which were also J brand, and my friend had the same thing happen after three months to her J brand jeans. It sucks because they look SO good until they rip), and the only other pair of pants I have are skinny cargo pants, but I think I’m getting sick of them after wearing them almost every day all winter. So, lululemons it is. I swear I think I’ve gotten my money’s worth already what with how often I wear this stuff. I don’t mind.
I wear whatever is comfy to workout in. I have even worked out in my jammies. I don’t care, no one sees me! haha Comfort is important!!
Agreed on TGIF! And we’re actually getting similar weather here! Very cool on the DVDs and love the pants!
1. Nope, I wouldn’t mind trying some though. Part of me wonders if they’re as good of a workout as my usual cardio/weight routine.
2. Yay as an alternative to going to classes, cheaper and more of a flexible schedule and variety. But they require enough space which was a problem in our last house.
3. My favorite are a pair of Nike running crops for staying cool and dry. Overall my workout clothing selection is pretty ratty and old, it’s been awhile since I’ve bought anything new beyond clearance tees at Target and a sports bra here and there. I rarely leave the house in workout clothes except when going for runs or races, but never to Target or Whole Foods.
I wish I could be a workout at home girl… but I just can’t do it. I have NO motivation at home. I would love to do DVDs but I know 5 minutes in I would think of something I had to do and pause the video… then never come back.
I wear my lululemons like its my JOB. Everywhere, all the time.
Look at that beautiful sunshine!!! You are so tan gorgeous lady!! I was wondering what other vegan sources of protein you would recommend? Lately I have been cravvvving protein like no other, but I am definitely getting more than enough. Suggestions?!
make sure youre getting enough fat too..nuts, seeds, avocados, coconut oil, etc…sometimes I find I need some good hearty fat to really make me satisfied. Try that and see how it goes is my suggestion :)
As you know, I learned yoga from downloads and podcasts and didn’t even step in a studio until my Teacher Training! This was only because there wasn’t a studio anywhere near me, but I truly don’t think I missed out on TOO much by not being in a studio. In fact, DVD’s, podcasts, and downloads all give you the option of practicing with the best and highest trained teachers out there! I still do downloads and podcasts a couple times a week when I can’t make it in to the studio… I really enjoy them!
I remember you learning from dvds and podcasts…feels like a lifetime ago but yes, for ppl in your situation, that is the exact type of person I was trying to describe, something is better than nothing and in your case, was perfect for you at the time and clearly didnt hold you back from accomplishing everything that you have since done on your own yoga journey. So proud of you!
Hi Averie!
I just had to comment to say that I’m NOT a fan of DVDs at all … except for one. It’s the only workout that I actually enjoy doing, and the only one that puts my mind at ease (I wish yoga worked for me!) It’s the Bar Method DVDs. I used to live in Chicago where I was obsessed with the classes and would go at least 3x a week … but now I live in Omaha and there aren’t any studios here so the DVDs are the next best thing. My dream is to open up my own studio here one day :) But anyways, I just had to give Bar a shoutout b/c it’s my favorite!!! :)
Have a great weekend!
-Caroline
It really depends on what is going on in my life. When I did P90X and Insanity I was insanely busy with school, and didn’t have time or money for a gym membership. I didn’t want to do the whole drive there, drive back thing, and I loved having those extra 30 min or so. But after doing them for months or however long it was, I was bored, so back to the gym.
I keep thinking I’m going to do another one, but then I wake up and I want to get outside or just out of my house.
After I posted all those things, I thought of you and your comparison review post on them all but had already posted and didnt go stalking your site for the backlink. haha!
Yes “but then I wake up and I want to get outside or just out of my house.” I know! That’s why I run outside…I HAVE to be outside of the 4 walls of my house!