Jul 31, 2010 |
It finally was nice enough yesterday for the great team at Oceanfront Fitness & Yoga in Virginia Beach to take the morning yoga class to the beach. I’ve done yoga on the beach once before on vacation, but I forgot how amazing it is! The sound of the waves, the wind on my face, and the beautiful view add a whole new dimension to a yoga practice and gave me the perfect yoga high.
As I stood in tree and mountain pose, I loved looking out at the beautiful rolling surf. With the sun warming my body and my gaze out over the horizon, I’ve never felt more fierce in warrior 2 pose.
But the best part of beach yoga is savasana. The sound of the waves is the perfect accompaniment to the relaxing final pose of practice, and it just feels so much better on a beach towel on the beach versus a yoga mat on a hard wooden floor.
It’s going to be hard to go back to indoor yoga next week.
Photo: Vivek Chugh
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Jul 31, 2010 |
Over the weekend I was out of town and needed a yoga fix, so I went to the local library in search of a yoga DVD. I was anxious to try a new workout video and hoping to find a great new instructor. Unfortunately, the selection was not the best and included titles like Yoga Weight Loss for Dummies. Yes, I do own a few books in the For Dummies series, but when it comes to yoga, I was skeptical and a bit of a yoga snob, thinking that the Dummies could never do it justice. However, I let my morbid curiosity get the best of me and had to check it out.
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised after I finished the 37-minute workout. It provided a combination of standing and mat yoga postures blended into a flowing sequence that kept me moving and definitely got my heart rate going. I even broke out in a little sweat.
Of note, a standing version of cat-cow that will become part of my regular at-home repertoire to keep my back stretched.
The good: This video is perfect for someone short on time and seeking a combination of yoga and aerobics to get that daily fix of endorphins. It provides helpful tips throughout the workout, along with posture modifications.
The bad: If you are seeking a soothing yoga workout, this DVD is not for you. You will need to block out the unfortunate choice of background music, and there is no savasana at the end. How can a yoga video not have savasana?
All in all, I would recommend trying it if you like to do your yoga practice in the comfort of your home and need a quick yoga fix. You can always add your own savasana! Try looking for it at your library or buying a used version on Amazon.
Yoga Weight-Loss Workout for Dummies
Got a great yoga DVD to recommend? Please let me know – I’m officially in search of great yoga DVDs!
