In 2004, I got into stretching workouts as a way of relaxing myself and dealing with really tight muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders. Since starting this, I have seen some real flexibility gains and have loosened up my neck and shoulder area. In putting together a combination of tapes, I have several athletic stretch tapes/DVDs and several yoga workouts that are mostly stretch oriented.

Then, I ended up getting Suzanne Deason’s Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss and really enjoyed it. For the first time, I saw how yoga could be used for strength (and it could be enjoyable! (smile)). However, I don’t do this workout as much as I would like – mainly when I want some strength work, but am too tired to do my usual strength training. I tried Yoga Zone’s Flexibility and Stress Release, but didn’t enjoy that workout. I thought it would be nice to have a shorter workout that I might use more often. So, I decided to try this workout.

I enjoyed it and will keep it to see if I will use it often enough to justify having it on my shelf. I felt relaxed, but like I had put in some work at the end of it. I liked Kirsten Stroehecker’s manner and found her motivating me to try a harder position that I might normally go for. Her cueing was pretty good – there were places she could have given a bit more instruction, but wasn’t bad and I usually could follow her fine. When I couldn’t, I looked at the screen and caught up. The music was fine – nothing special, but a more significant presence than with some workouts. I agree with everyone else who couldn’t figure out why they wouldn’t place the modifier where she can be seen more often. All they would have had to do would be to place her as one of the two people behind the instructor.

For people with wrist issues, be aware that there is a series that involves the cobra into a downward dog that is repeated multiple times. I am someone who doesn’t feel the need to do everything they do in a workout, so I hung out in child’s pose while they did that combination. In the future, I may try going straight into the downward dog at times. There are also multiple moves that start in a table position. Those moves I can do okay with my wrists, but others may have trouble.

Overall, I enjoyed this workout. But, then, I’m one of those non-yoga people.

Instructor Comments:
She has a straightforward manner and gives pretty clear explanations about what she wants you to do. There were a few times I wish she had included a few more details. She did motivate me to try the more advanced position with several moves.

Laura S.