Yoga Sculpt

The practice is about 45 minutes long and begins with a quick breathing exercise in Mountain Pose. Then she moves onto the standing series, which is about 25 minutes long. A modified Sun Salutation utilizing Awkward Chair (and no jumping), and then moving into Lunge, Warrior I, Warrior II, Right Angle and Triangle. Then to the floor for work on the abdominals and back with such yoga classics as Boat and Bridge.

Throughout the practice, I was very impressed with her precise instruction and fluid movement into and out of poses. In Boat, for instance, many students flop out of the position after two or three tries. She made sure her students moved out carefully. Also, her instructions on alignment and foot position left little room for error. That is very important, particularly for the standing poses where you need to maintain just the right angle in your back leg. Finally, I loved the classical music she used for the video; it provided just the right rhythm without being too distracting.

I broke a sweat during this practice even though it doesn't look that tough on preview. Because I am an advanced yoga practitioner, I was very surprised that people less advanced would feel this wasn't strenuous enough. I think the key is breathing: if you're not using deep full breaths on your inhale and exhale, you're strengthening and maybe stretching; if you incorporate the proper breathing, this is a more vigorous workout.

The intensity level is somewhere between Total Yoga and Yoga Zone for Power Yoga for Flexibility and Endurance. Beginners may find this too challenging, but Intermediates and Advanced yoga practitioners should find this a good workout.

If you are just starting out, be patient with yourself. Yoga will develop patience, character and strength. Think of each posture as a goal; by the third or fourth time, you may achieve what you see. This video is a combination of Pilates and Yoga.

Ordering a sticky mat is essential (information is included in pamphlets or amazon sells lots of yoga mats and even bags to carry them in...) so you don't injure your muscles by slipping on a carpeted surface.

Karen's calming voice leads you through the poses in her organized way. The music is very relaxing and almost makes this the Nordstrom of Yoga videos. I recommend walking for at least one half hour before attempting the stretching exercises. This helps to warm the muscles and allow for a deeper stretch.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Karen is an excellent instructor who performs the workout fluidly and with flawless form. Her voice is gentle and encouraging, and she provides detailed instruction on how to perform each movement, including attention to breathing. There were a few times when I felt that she failed to adequately cue a change in movement, but once you've done the workout a few times, Karen is easy to follow. She instructs alone with soft piano music in the background. Overall, this is a challenging yet relaxing workout which will add some nice variety to your yoga practice for those beyond a beginner's level.