This is a 45 minute pilates-infused yoga video by Stott Pilates. Pilates-infused yoga is all yoga, no pilates exercises. What I think they mean with the term pilates-infused is attention to breath, shoulder stabilization, ribcage placement, and alignment as Stott emphasizes in their pilates workouts. I have been practicing yoga for a year with both classes and videos, but am still happily taking yoga basics classes. I've been doing pilates for a few years (videos and classes) and most recently taking classes with a Stott trained instructor.

PJ instructs while 2 women demonstrate the poses. The practice starts sitting in hero pose on a block and focusing on the breath. In that same position you then do a few neck stretches and shoulder stretches (eagle arms, arms extended behind your back palms pressed together, and reverse namaste). Churning is next where you start on hands and knees and lower hips to floor bringing your body forward and back while rotating (hard to describe but it feels great!). The next stretch is sitting leaning on arms extended behind you with knees bent in front and rotating your knees side to side. You then go from cat to dog pose in a flowing pattern with the breath 8 times (lots of downward dogs!) This is followed by lifting one leg both bent and straight out to the side while on hands and knees. Other poses included in this video are lunges, angle pose, 3 legged dog, pigeon, head to knee pose, standing forward bend, chair pose, wide legged standing forward bend, lying twist, a great lying hip stretch with legs crossed and knees bent into chest holding your ankles, lying hamstring stretches, bridge pose, rocking side to side with knees to chest, and savasana.

I really enjoyed this video and felt great afterwards. I was challenged, but not exhausted. PJ's instruction helped me to gain new insight into some familiar poses.

Instructor Comments:
PJ O'Clair is a Stott pilates instructor trainer and described as an accomplished yoga practitioner. She is not as soft-spoken as Moira Stott. Her cueing is excellent. Her instruction is detailed and thorough. She comes across as friendly and very knowledgeable.

Danielle