Yogalates for Weight Loss [DVD]

Bought this on the strength of other good reviews and wanting to start some gentle toning exercises five months after a Caesarean section. This was so great I decided to get all of her other DVDs (except Essential Yogalates which I believe is just a compilation of bits from the other DVDs). The workout is suprisingly challenging even though, at the start, it seems so subtle and gentle that you doubt its effectiveness. That's the beauty of it though. I found it easy to get the hang of as a beginner and I really noticed my muscles strengthening after only two or three sessions. The appearance of my abdomen has changed visibly and I feel my posture is much better. I don't have to suck my stomach in anymore when I'm looking in the mirror - my strengthened core muscles are already holding it in like a natural 'girdle'. It's great! :)In addition to the obvious muscle building and flexibility enhancing benefits (with consequent weight-, or at least inch-loss and improvement in fitness) this form of exercise is also really relaxing. I felt brilliant after doing it. It clears your mind because you have to concentrate so hard on the slow, deliberate movements, stretches, postures and breathing patterns that go with them. I've been telling loads of people about this because I really feel I have benefitted from it. Louise Solomon's instruction is very easy to follow, soft and soothingly-spoken in my opinion, and encouraging.I recommend these DVDs highly to anyone. I have found them to be of particular postnatal benefit though obviously you would need to be sensible if you have had a C-section and not do it too soon i.e. not until you know your scar has healed and it is safe for you to exercise. Seek advice if unsure etc. etc. Dynamic Weight Loss is harder than this one and the pace is faster if you are already experienced in Yoga or Pilates. I've also found Ultimate Yogalates, and Firm, Fit and Flexible good.

I bought this dvd last week, as I needed something to get me back into shape but didn't want anything too challenging as I knew I'd struggle keeping it up if it was. This had the best reviews and sounded perfect for what I needed. In the five days I've had it, I've managed to do parts of it everyday (of the three work out options), and a couple of times have managed to do the full dvd. I particularly enjoy the first work out for the arms, the second is harder, but I'm determined to stick at it and hopefully will soon enjoy that just as much.I can't say I've noticed drastic results like some others have stated, but my arms *are* starting to look more sculpted and my thighs have got a teeny bit more definition. Whilst I can really feel it on my stomach, I'm not sure whether you can see any difference on there. With continued use I reckon I will reap much better results.I am absolutely going to stick to this dvd, and hopefully in a week or two buy another of hers so I can vary the routine a little. I wish I had the stamina to complete the full dvd each time I did it, but hopefully just one work out at a time is enough to make some difference.Overall, really impressed and enjoy doing it (I do catch myself putting it off, still, but once I've started I'm okay). It was exactly what I needed to get me back into exercise. Highly recommend for beginners. You might not manage all the moves as well as they do, but you do get better quite quickly.Will update when more results kick in!

I would like to start out by explaining my fitness background so that you know how it could relate to you/or not to you. I am in ok shape. I do not exercise as much as I should at all a lot of the time because I am too tired and just cannot bring myself to do anything other than watch tv hahaha not a great sign really. I also do not eat as healthy a diet as I should (I have a very sweet tooth and not very much willpower). Luckily I am fairly tall for a woman- 5ft 11" - so I do not look like I am fat or anything because my body shape sort of 'stretches' it out. Also I am a size 10/12. However, I definitely have a layer of fat that I am very self conscious about. Anyway, I made a decision a few weeks ago that I wanted to try and be more active because there are certain parts (like the layer of fat) which make me feel ugly and self conscious and my confidence has really dropped because of it. So I realized that I would have to start eating a lot healthier to get rid of the fat and then do some form of exercise to tone my body because I am pretty unfit. However, I also wanted to improve my flexibility, back strength and posture because my height has caused me some posture problems (from hunching so I am not so noticeable among my friends) and I also sometimes have some slight back pain. However I had no idea whether to do yoga or pilates so I started researching and found this which had great reviews and was a combination of the two which seemed ideal so I ordered it and it arrived in about 4 days on the super saver delivery. The dvd is split into two main workouts and and instant abs section and I have been doing the 2 main workouts twice a week and the instant abs once a week and I have to say that they are all a real workout. I was completely new to yoga and pilates and I would say that it would probably be helpful to have some prior experience of one of these but it is absolutely not necessary to enjoy and benefit from this dvd which some other reviewers might lead you to believe. Some of the positions take more practice but after only one week I was able to do a certain position I couldn't do on the first week. I can't hold it for as long as the instructor but I can at least get into the position which in itself is an achievement. There is also a relaxation section at the end of workout 2 which I find so relaxing. I just really like how there is a dedicated bit to relax so you know after your workout you can just lye down and listen to the instructor talking. Its really nice to take that time to yourself. As for the instructor, I do not mind her accent. I did giggle when I first heard her say belly but now I am completely used to it kind of like how I watch american TV all the time but I don't find their accents strange anymore either. Over all I do enjoy this DVD but not enough to want to do it every day which is fine because thats not what it is intended for. I do think my abs have gotten stronger and possible my calves as well. If I keep at it I think I could really start noticing a major difference - especially if I watch my diet too. I also feel more motivated to take up more exercise and I think my confidence has grown so for the BARGAIN price I would definitely recommend this dvd for toning up.