DVD Review: Yoga for Everyone

Hemalayaa is back, but this time she’s not burning it up Bollywood style. This sensual and upbeat instructor is all about yoga in her video Yoga for Everyone . Her approach is far from serious. Hemalayaa thinks yoga should be fun, playful, and even make you feel giddy. She says, “when you practice joyfully in your home, then you can take that joy out into the world with you,” making you feel calmer and happier. Don’t expect to do a lengthy 90-minute practice either; Hemalayaa has found doing 20-minute sessions daily to be more beneficial than the occasional longer session. There are two 20-minute sessions included in this video. The first focuses on connecting with your body, shaking off stress, and coming to a feeling of openness and gratitude. The second focuses on strengthening the core and other areas of the body so you can feel more grounded and confident. I really loved the traditional Indian music including sounds of the sitar and tabla. It made me feel peaceful and inspired me to move my body. If you’re new to yoga, you’ll appreciate Hemalayaa’s detailed instructions and the way she eases into opening the body. Those who’ve practiced a lot before may find that this video is good for days when you’re tired or feeling under the weather. It’s not a very active practice, so don’t expect to sweat a lot or feel your muscles burning. Do expect to feel calmer, less tense, and more open, both physically and mentally. Interested in checking out Yoga for Everyone? To see a video clip just read more.

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DVD Review: Yoga for Everyone

Free Video Workouts From Women’s Health

In these tight times, anything that’s free is a major plus in my book. So if you’re looking for workout routines you can download that won’t cost a dime, Women’s Health has got you covered. They offer downloadable video workouts that you can put on your computer or portable media player, so you can exercise at home or at the gym. Right now they’re offering two workouts: Lean and Fit in 7 Minutes 20-Minute Abs The instructions are clear, and the video demonstrations are easy to follow. Many of the exercises were new to me, so these two workouts were fun and very effective. To see a video clip of the 20-Minute Abs routine, read more.

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Free Video Workouts From Women’s Health

Fittingly Mad: "Functional" Junk Foods

Companies are always coming up with new ways to entice customers to buy their products. Recently, a whole line of functional foods has evolved - regular foods that are enhanced with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. These products sound really healthy, so the average consumer sees “Now With Added Fiber” or “Packed With Vitamin A” on the package and places it to the cart without even looking at the label. If they did peek, they would be appalled to see that these products are often just junk food disguised as healthy food. Many of these products contain loads sugar, corn syrup, sodium, and the dreaded trans fat. Food companies are preying on lazy consumers who see buzz words like “antioxidants,” “fiber,” and “omega-3s,” which make us think we’re not getting enough, so we feel compelled to buy these products. The truth is, if you eat a healthy diet full of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins, you don’t need all these enhanced foods. You get enough of what you need from your diet alone. If you’re worried about making your quota of certain nutrients, then opt for eating a food that naturally contains what you’re missing, instead of foods that are artificially enriched.

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Fittingly Mad: "Functional" Junk Foods

DVD Review: Hoopnotica - Hoopdance Workout

After seeing Marisa Tomei’s outrageous hooping skills on The Ellen DeGeneres Show , I was inspired to check out the level two Hoopnotica DVD, Hoopdance Workout ($20). Marisa made those sexy moves look so easy, and even though I’m no hooping master by any means, if she could learn them from this DVD, I thought I’d give it a shot. This video begins with an eight-minute warmup of stretches using the hoop, and also includes some time to brush up on the skills you learned in the level one Hoopdance Basics DVD such as hip hooping, hooping in a circle, and corkscrews. Then it moves on to teaching you some new hoop skills that further challenge your upper body strength, coordination, balance, and creativity. I loved the instructor’s detailed instructions on how to do moves such as the swoop, hand off corkscrews, chest hooping, and hooping in angles. At the end of each chapter, there is a troubleshooting section, to show you how to work through any problems you may be having. This DVD moves pretty quickly, so I found it helpful to pause after every move so I could practice. I’m definitely not as smooth and sultry as Marisa or the instructor in the DVD, but trying out these new tricks made me feel like a kid. If you’ve never tried hooping, it really is a challenging and fun workout. You’ll end up working muscles you don’t normally work. Just make sure you’re using an adult-sized weighted hoop . To see a video clip of this level two Hoopnotica DVD, keep reading

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DVD Review: Hoopnotica - Hoopdance Workout