We’ve dipped our toes into the meditation waters a few times around these parts, so I was excited when Breathe: The Perfect Harmony of Breathing landed in my mailbox. Who doesn’t need to take a moment (or 20) to herself every now and then to just breathe? Turns out, I had to test out the DVD after putting my daughter down for a nap, thus breathing deeply for the DVD while holding my breath that she didn’t wake up too soon.

More of a guided meditation than a workout, Breathe combines elements of yoga with meditation, with the focus placed on breathing (obviously) and moving and stretching with the breath. It’s not billed as a prenatal DVD, so while it wasn’t intense or sweat-inducing—think more cat-cow than warrior poses—I did have to modify some of the positions to accommodate my pregnant belly. There were times when I had to lie on my side instead of lying on my back, and I did child’s pose instead of lying on my stomach, but the gal with normal mobility should be able to follow right along with no worries.

Head on over to Fit Bottomed Mamas for the complete review and to comment to win the DVD!

—Erin

Since I’ve been training for a half marathon, I’ve found myself craving workouts that allow me to stretch my running muscles. There’s been a lot of yoga happening in this household, is what I’m saying, and I’ve really slacked off on the strength training.

Core Fusion Power Sculpt just debuted the week of Dec. 6, and, lucky for me, it offers the best of both worlds. It incorporates the fluid, yoga-inspired moves you expect from Core Fusion founders Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito, but adds in a bit of strength work with light hand weights. And it’s customizable—there are five 10-minute sessions with a bonus stretch at the end. You select the sections you want to do, or choose to do them all and they will flow seamlessly from one workout to the next.

Halfpapp and DeVito are expert cue-ers—is that a word?—they take turns leading sections, and give clear, easy-to-follow instructions. There are three other exercisers with one showing modifications, although she’s not always shown at times when it would be most helpful. I mean, I don’t think any number of downward dogs and warrior poses are going to give me flexibility like Halfpapp, and I’m definitely never going to be able to keep a smile on my face the way she does. That’s just not right.

As is generally the case with Core Fusion workouts, there were quite a few times when I was quite literally begging the TV to stop, and it was right about that time that they switched to a new move or, in some blessed cases, to child’s pose. However, a couple of the sections felt fairly similar, with lots of downward dogs and Warriors, and I would have loved a little more variation, especially when they were automatically played back to back.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):

Instruction: ★★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★1/2
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★1/2

Overall: ★★★★1/2

Fit Bottomed Line: If you want some extra strength work with your yoga and Pilates, Core Fusion Power Sculpt is the DVD for you!

How do you like your yoga-inspired workouts? Straight up or with a strength-training twist? Tell us in the comments below, and we’ll select one U.S. reader to randomly win this DVD! Winner will be notified via email and in the comments. —Kristen

Pretty much all workouts boost my mood and level of energy level, but yoga is especially good at leaving me in a different state of mind. I’m familiar with Shiva Rea, so when her new DVD, More Daily Energy Vinyasa Flow Yoga was released, I was totally game, especially with the time change—I was definitely ready for some extra energy, you know?

This DVD packs in a lot of yoga. It offers a programmable matrix of seven 20-minute yoga workouts, along with a warm-up and a session of Savasana (you know, Corpse Pose), for a total of almost 160 minutes. The seven sessions are split into two groups—lunar, which is designed to be done when you need a calming workout on a hectic day, and solar, created to give you more energy.

And these aren’t easy, breezy workouts, either. Each one had me sweating and really feeling it, and many had advanced strength, flexibility and balance options for poses that the more seasoned yoginis will enjoy. (I stuck with the basics, thankyouverymuch.)

The one gripe—I didn’t feel like the instruction always matched up exactly with what Shiva was doing on the screen, which caused a bit of confusion and could be problematic for a newbie.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):

Instruction: ★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★★

Overall: ★★★★

Fit Bottomed Line: As always, Shiva incorporates a strong mind/body component, so it’s not for those who are turned off by the occasional “Om.” But, if you’re looking for a tough yoga DVD that allows you to truly customize your practice, look no further.

Want to try this Shiva Rea yoga DVD yourself? Leave a comment, and we’ll select one lucky U.S. reader to win a copy. Winner will be notified via email and in the comments in about a week! —Kristen

It’s hard to find a yoga that’s both hippity-dippity and a good workout. One that stretches you out, strengthens you, doesn’t make you feel silly with the airy-fairy stuff and yet relaxes you and allows you to connect to your breath, too. Yep, it’s a tall yoga order. And one that Kristin McGee’s Power Yoga DVD can fill.

Yesterday we loved sharing our chat with Kristin McGee, including her best advice on getting fit and healthy. And we were none too surprised to find that she brings that same sane and balanced approach to her workout-DVD instruction. Giving great cues and showing modifications, it’s obvious that McGee has been teaching yoga for years. She’s relaxing, encouraging, and she gives a workout that’s both calming and quite challenging at times.

The DVD is a total of 50 minutes long. You can either do the full Power Yoga workout in one big chunk (as I did and was left feeling awesome), or you can break it into two 25-minute parts, one that is mostly standing and the other that is almost all floor work. While it would have been nice for the DVD to have different short workouts from the main one, it’s still super helpful to have length options. Seriously, what did we do before DVD menus?!

From sun salutations to this cool form of plank where you put your toes between your opposite ankle (so hard to explain, but it’s both challenging and feels really freakin’ good) to balance work and pigeon pose, it’s the perfect intermediate power yoga workout DVD that includes just enough yoga standbys to make you feel like you know what you’re doing and just enough new stuff to make the workout feel fresh and new. Sure, the DVD set is pretty lackluster, the music is forgettable, and there are some gratuitous booty shots (if I had a booty like that, I’d probably do the same though), but it’s still a great yoga-workout-DVD collection standby. In a nutshell, Kristin pretty much nailed it.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):

Instruction: ★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★
Music: ★★
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★1/2

Fit Bottomed Line: If you take  your intermediate yoga with a little fitness, a little mind-body and a lot of good instruction, this is your DVD!

Want to win Kristin McGee’s Power Yoga DVD and work out with Kristin McGee, too? Leave a comment below with why you’d like to win, and we’ll select one random U.S. reader to win in about a week. The winner will be posted in the comments and emailed directly. Good luck, yogis! —Jenn

Even though we focus on being fit over being skinny here at Fit Bottomed Girls, I’ve learned not to judge a workout by its DVD cover. Plus, Jenn reviewed Bethenny Frankel’s first DVD, as did I, and we both found it to be pretty decent. So, despite the fact that I have yet to watch an episode of “The Real Housewives” of anywhere, I fired up Frankel’s newest DVD, Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Workout, with high hopes.

Frankel introduced a new format—three 15 to 20 minute long yoga workouts that can be done individually or one after another for a longer session—and a new instructor, Mike McArdle. Once again, the set was fantastic with clean lines, great lighting and artwork on the walls that I totally wanted to steal.

Often, multi-section yoga DVDs feel repetitive, with sun salutation after sun salutation, but I was happy to find that was not the case here at all. Each section hit multiple muscle groups, so if you only have 15 or 20 minutes to exercise, you can work a lot of muscles by doing just one section.

Frankel offers quite a few surprisingly helpful insights, giving reminders to breathe right when it’s easy to forget and asking about modifications for several poses. She’s a trooper—these workouts, especially the second one, are no joke, and she pushes right on through them with very little complaint. Fine, I’ll admit it. That skinny Real Housewife kicked my yoga-challenged butt, even though she mentioned several times that yoga is all about doing what you can, and that she enjoys it so much more when she pushes just a little instead of trying to be too bendy. Yeah, easy for someone who touches her toes with ease to say, I guess.

All jesting aside, I honestly enjoyed this workout. It was a great mix of strength and flexibility, with a bit of balance thrown in for funsies. Although, I must say my favorite part is when Frankel’s dog, Cookie, makes a surprise appearance in the background. I love a good canine cameo!

There’s just one thing, and I’d love to know if I’m just being nit-picky or if this bugs you guys, too—the instructor cued left and right based on his left and right. This is a huge pet peeve for me. It’s just not that hard to switch the cues, is it? There were several occasions on which I was listening and following along just fine, but got a little confused upon looking up and finding myself on a different foot.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):

Instruction: ★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★
Music: ★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★1/2

Fit Bottom line:  Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Workout DVD is a step up in difficulty from Frankel’s first video, and I think she’s not only gotten better at yoga, but also at being in a yoga video. It’s a video I’d definitely do again!

So, tell me: Do you have any workout-DVD pet peeves? And if so, do they bother you enough to keep you from getting a good workout? —Kristen

I know, I know. You shouldn’t judge a book (or a DVD) by its cover. But I can’t help it—I feel like a workout DVD gives me a little clue as to what to expect with the photo it chooses for the front cover, and when the promo art for Rockin Models showed five remarkably thin (and gorgeous) women in jeggings, well, I had two thoughts. First, “Are they serious?” And second, “Oh, I’ve gotta try this.”

(Yes, I believe I’m walking that line between totally judgmental and very open-minded. Whatever, it seems to work.)

So, anyway, I began the workout ready to sweat a little and laugh a lot. Because, you know. Jeggings. Led by celebrity trainer Grace Lazenby, it’s a little over an hour long and is a mix of yoga, ballet and burlesque, and features music by Matt Goss, Greg Laswell and Cary Brothers (none of whom I had heard of, but they weren’t bad—a little bit of rock, a little indie vibe, and an interesting choice for the type of workout this provided).

The workout begins with a fast-paced flow yoga interval with pretty standard stuff—a lot of down dogs, a lot of warriors, you know the drill. It got my muscles warm, but didn’t talk much about form, which always concerns me with yoga because it’s so easy to do incorrectly when not done in a live class. But, if you know your downward dogs, you’ll be fine.

From there, it moves into a burlesque section that was a bit repetitive—but really tough. Like, legs-shaking tough. But it doesn’t last too long because you go back to yoga, but slower this time, and then back to “detailing” burlesque/ballet, followed by some solid if not groundbreaking work on the abs, glutes and legs with a lot of moves that felt very Pilates-y.

Now, I really have no beef with the workout itself—it was hard but manageable, there were modifications shown for many of the moves and Lazenby cues well. But I’ve got one major issue with it: The women doing the workout use two hats, a stick and ball, and the DVD cover or back makes no mention of any of this. Now, I guess one doesn’t really need the hat as a dance prop, but it would be nice to be given the heads up. The stick (for balance during the up-and-down burlesque moves) and ball (to be held between the legs during those moves) are necessary. I would’ve loved some warning—heck, even 10 seconds at the beginning of a section requiring a prop would’ve at least given me time to pause the darn thing and grab what I needed.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):

Instruction: ★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★1/2

Best for: Rockin Models is for gals who love the idea of getting a little sexy and having some fun during their workout. If you take yourself too seriously, you might not enjoy it the way you really should!

Do you prefer your workouts with a side of sex appeal, or would you rather bring your sexy back after the post-workout shower? —Kristen

If I’ve learned anything during my time reviewing yoga DVDs and going to all kinds of classes by all kinds of instructors, it’s that yoga is deeply personal. And what one person likes more than another person is highly subjective. Some like the hippity-dippity (I tend to put myself in that corner most days). Others prefer a more traditional-fitness approach. Others want stretching. And then there’s the meditation piece, and, oh yeah, the different types of yoga styles themselves. Dizzy with yoga options yet? It’s for all of these reasons that I’m a fan of this DVD for those who aren’t sure what yoga camp they fall into just yet.

In Yogalosophy, Mandy Ingber (whom we talked to yesterday!) hits a unique chord of doing all of the above, without being intimidating, overly spiritual or too darn intense. Perfect for yoga beginners or intermediates who want a nice mix of relaxation and toning in a yoga session, this DVD features two different yoga workouts. The first is an express 35-minute workout that takes basic body-weight exercises—lunges, leg lifts, push-ups, tricep dips—and combines them with yoga breathing and movements for Mandy’s signature Yogalosophy fitness approach. The second workout is a 55-minute Fully Loaded Challenge that combines more traditional yoga poses (sun salutations, warrior poses, standing balance work) with the express workout and stretching.

The cuing in the workouts is unique. At times, Mandy talks directly to the camera while she’s doing the poses. At other times, it’s a fairly stream-of-consciousnesses voice over. While she does give good breathing and alignment cues, at times Mandy says some pretty random stuff, including her own personal mantra that focuses on having “a nice ass.” I really didn’t mind—and there is an option to do the workouts without cuing—but you should be aware. Also know that you’ll get plenty of butt shots of Mandy in short shorts. She’s got the rear to pull it off (her mantra certainly works!), but it’s gratuitous in parts.

With a few fun extras like an interview with her client Jennifer Aniston, Mandy’s reason for creating Yogalosophy and a look at her own personal yoga mat that doubles as a vision board, you do get a sense of who Mandy is. And I like her. She’s herself, and when it comes to working out, she realizes that it’s about the physical and the mental.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):

Instruction: ★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★
Music: ★★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★1/2

Fit Bottom line: If you’re needing a beginner or intermediate yoga workout that’s a mix of fitness and mind-body meditation, Yogalosophy could be it!

Want to try this yoga DVD for yourself? Leave a comment with why you want to win, and we’ll select one random U.S. reader to win in about a week. The winner will be contacted via email and in the comments. Namaste! —Jenn

As much as I’d love to be someone who eagerly hops out of bed at 7 a.m. and straps on my shoes for an early run, I am not. If I actually manage to get up and start a workout before 8 or so in the morning, it’s almost a given that it’ll be pretty low-key. Mornings leave me feeling sluggish, grumpy and, most detrimental to most workouts, completely uncoordinated. (No, seriously. You should’ve seen me tripping my way around the gym during morning practices in high school. It would have been laughable if I’d been able to laugh that early in the morning.)

But, if I can drag my lazy butt out of bed, I do love to get in a workout before work begins, and an energizing yoga workout is an awesome choice. And I’ve got two yoga DVDs right here that are designed to be revitalizing and invigorating, making them, in my mind, a great way to start the day.

Power Yoga

Power Yoga is an hour-long workout, led by FBG favorite Ashley Turner, and it really has a lot going for it. The setting, right on the Pacific Ocean, is gorgeous and immediately put me in a peaceful frame of mind. The workout consists of a mix of well-known and rarely seen yoga poses, often with modifications offered to increase or decrease the challenge as necessary—a good thing because parts of this workout totally kicked me in the teeth!

The flow went quickly, but not so quickly that I found myself scrambling to keep up, which is an issue for me more often than I really care to admit. Much of the credit there goes to Turner’s voiceover cuing, which made it easy to follow the workout, including proper breathing. And although this definitely falls within the mind/body category of yoga, make no mistake—it’s a solid full-body workout as well with a great focus on the core. (And there are only a couple of chants—other than that, and being called to set your intention several times throughout, it’s pretty athletic.)

FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★★
Music: ★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★1/2
Meets Expectations: ★★★★★

Overall: ★★★★ 1/2

Best for: Those who enjoy the mind/body aspect of yoga and want to energize their body while calming their mind.

Shiva Rea A.M Energy

Not only does Shiva Rea A.M. Energy offer more than 90 minutes of yoga; that 90 minutes is comprised of several different workouts that can be done together or alone to create a customized workout that’s just what you need it to be on that day—this is something I always love, because while there are some days when an hour or more of yoga sounds like bliss, there are other days when you just want to get your body moving and get on with your day. I know at least a few of you know what I mean.

If you’ve never done one of Rea’s workouts, you might want to check out a preview before you order—she’s all about the mind/body connection and connecting your stomach to your heart to your third eye to your sacred speech. She’s so genuine that, while the super-feely approach might bother me with another instructor, hers doesn’t bug me. Then again, that might be in part because I’m incredibly busy trying to bend into half the positions she glides into so easily. Also, she spends a decent amount of time encouraging you to just move and shake it out, finding your own rhythm, and, well, how can I hate on someone who busts into freeform with a big smile on her face? I can’t. It’s the truth.

This is a toughie—although there are modifications offered for many of the poses, if you aren’t terribly flexible to begin with, you might have a hard time flowing from one pose to another in some instances. I would definitely recommend having at least a bit of a yoga background before jumping in because, while Rea explains foot position and posture in the poses, she doesn’t go into great detail on some of the subtleties of poses the way an instructor would do in class, so if you’re not already familiar with some of the basic poses, you won’t always know where your hips should be.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★1/2
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★1/2
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★1/2
Meets Expectations: ★★★

Overall: ★★★1/2

Best for: If you love the traditional aspects of yoga and really seek a tough yoga flow workout with a serious focus on the inside as well as the outside, this could be just the DVD for you!

Fit Bottomed Line: If you’re an beginner to intermediate exerciser looking for a longer yoga workout that is athletic yet relaxing, Power Yoga is your DVD. If you’re a seasoned yogi who’s okay with some hippity-dippity in her yoga but needs shorter mix-and-match sessions, Shiva Rea A.M. Energy is your pick!

What’s your favorite qualities in a yoga DVD? Fast? Slow? Short? Long? Tell us about it! —Kristen

I must be in need of a little rest and relaxation lately because I have definitely been drawn to the more relaxing yoga-esque postpartum workout DVDs. (I am apparently getting enough cardio chasing after my more mobile daughter.) And this Mega-fit Momma workout DVD was right up my relaxation alley.

Both a prenatal and postpartum workout for the mamas in the house, instructor Jillian Moriarty makes you feel comfortable, with her goofy sense of humor, physical-therapy expertise and the fact that she herself is in her second trimester of pregnancy and her workout partner is in her third (and does additional modifications because of that). Jillian also specifies that there are no controversial moves in the workout (hooray!), so you don’t have to worry about lying on your back or doing any headstands here.

Click here to continue reading this pregnancy yoga workout DVD review for moms and moms to be and learn how you can win it, too! —Erin

Kristin McGee is kind of a fitness rock star—we’ve checked out her work a couple of times here at FBG (see here and here). In her latest DVD, YogaTone, McGee pairs traditional yoga poses with light hand weights and standard strength moves to create a new kind of workout.

This isn’t your peaceful, meditative, refresh-your-spirit type of yoga DVD. It’s fully focused on the physical rather than the mental/spiritual aspect of yoga, which is fine with me—I firmly believe there’s room for both in the world, and sometimes, you just want to stretch your muscles, you know? It’s split into two 15-minute circuits that go through the exact same workout, which, to be honest, was a disappointment. When I saw that this was two 15-minute circuits, I assumed there the second half would be something new, in effect providing two different workouts. It could have been billed as a 30-minute workout and had the break in between removed—if someone really wanted to do just half, they could still do so easily, but you wouldn’t feel so gypped when you got a second verse, same as the first.

I do like McGee—she’s cheerful and pleasant without being annoyingly perky, and she provides solid instruction throughout. There were a few times when the camera angle could have been more helpful and shown her full body when she was describing proper form, but overall, it was totally easy to follow. And, for the most part, it was fairly easy to do. I used 5-pound weights, like McGee, but I really should have beefed it up a little to make the workout a bit more challenging.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★
Overall: ★★★1/2

Fit Bottomed Line: Neither the strength nor the yoga moves are overly difficult—beginners will certainly be able to keep up. Even with heavier weights, I don’t see this being a terribly tough workout, though, especially since it’s just 30 minutes.

This wasn’t my favorite DVD ever, but what about you? When you’re shopping for a workout DVD, do you look for something that will push you to your limits or do you prefer something you can handle right off the bat? —Kristen