This time last year I had very negative feelings about yoga. I knew the amazing benefits but tried a yoga class a few times and felt very bored. I could not relax my mind and would have rather spent my hour doing intense cardio. My feelings about yoga completely changed a few months ago after I tried a Core Fusion Yoga class. It was different from any other yoga class I had taken in the past. I actually felt like I was getting a great workout while stretching and relaxing at the same time. I took Core Fusion Yoga a few more times and decided that I in fact, did enjoy yoga! I was very excited when I heard that a Core Fusion Yoga Energy Flow class would be coming out on DVD. Now I could do intense yoga in the comfort of my own home for free!
About Core Fusion Yoga Energy Flow:
Reduce inches, tighten, lift, and tone with this unique combination of yoga, cardio, and core conditioning. An energetic, fast-paced practice, Core Fusion Yoga Energy Flow seamlessly blends traditional yoga postures with toning moves for the whole body. Get the calorie-burning benefits of cardio, the sculpting effects of Pilates, and the flexibility and balance of yoga and Chi Gong–all in one workout!
Fred and Elizabeth, the founders of Core Fusion, lead the DVD. I was happy to see that 3 of my favorite teachers, Kate, Erin, and Bergen are in the background! It is so cool to do a DVD when you know the actual instructors in real life!
The DVD is divided into five segments of 10 minutes each. I chose to do the DVD without introductions so that it would be as similar to a live class as possible. Elizabeth leads the first section which is called Energy Flow. There is arm and leg stretching, downward dog, child’s pose, and plank variations. This was a great warm up and the planks reminded me of the beginning of a live class!
The next two sections are called Sun Salutations 1 and 2. This includes Chaturangas, up dog, down dog, chair pose, push ups, and some other intense stretches. This section really got my heart pumping! It was pretty fast-paced and could be hard for a beginner but Bergen does a modified version of the moves. I still consider myself a yoga beginner but was able to do all of the modified versions at least.
The next section is Chi Gong & Hip Opener Stretches. This involves flowy arm movements while standing in a wide squat. This section also includes standing splits with pulses and curtsies. I loved the cool Chi Gong movements. This whole section felt really nice.
Next was Core & Gluteal. I did not realize I needed blocks for this section so I kind of just watched the core part! They suggest using books if you don’t own blocks but I knew that if were to get up to find books, I would have just stopped the DVD all together. The core part involves resting your hands on two yoga blocks and lifting your body up using your core strength. I’ve done this in class before and it is very intense. I was able to do the glutes section which involved lifting my legs while balancing on my forearms. Of course it would not be Core Fusion without the curl at the end! Luckily this part was short and sweet (I have a very tough time with the curl). It also seemed harder for me to do on my hardwood floors rather than the nice carpet at Exhale!
The bonus section of the DVD was Savasana and Stretches. This is something that I look forward to at the end of every live Core Fusion class. It feels so good to just lay there and do nothing after such an intense workout. I never take the time to relax and breathe when I am at home so this was a wonderful end to the DVD.
I definitely recommend this DVD! Some of the other Core Fusion DVDs are not like a real class but this was very similar. The only difference is not having a teacher to come around and correct your form. I actually liked doing it in my home since I am so inexperienced with yoga and don’t like other people watching me fall over! I was able to relax more and focus on myself instead of worrying about other students in the class. I also don’t usually last through an entire exercise DVD at home but the time went by super fast and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was drenched by the end and it made my muscles feel a lot better after being sore from so much intenSati! Core Fusion Yoga is now my favorite exercise DVD and I plan to do it every week!
Giveaway!
The wonderful folks over at Acacia are offering one of you a copy of your very own Core Fusion Yoga Energy Flow DVD!
To Enter:
1) Leave me a comment telling me your thoughts about yoga. Do you like it? What kind of yoga is your favorite?
2) Tweet this giveaway. “@MissyMaintains is giving away a #CoreFusion Energy Flow Yoga DVD! Enter here: http://bit.ly/bPL8Fq”
I will choose a winner this Thursday, September 2nd. Good Luck!
Related posts:
I have fallen in love with yoga over the last year and a half. It does something for my mind and body that no other workout can do — it is physical and emotional and spiritual for me. I like intermediate/advanced vinyasa classes the best, mainly because I like doing more inversions and balances.
caronae recently posted..Mysterious Caronae
[Reply]
What I love about yoga is that it gives me a chance to escape and focus on the moment. It helps keep things in perspective, and I love love love how my body feels refreshed, relaxed, and re-energized after the class has finished! My gym has a class called “sports yoga,” and it kind of reminds me of the yoga you enjoy, because I truely feel like I’m getting a great challenging workout. Sports yoga works my body from the inside out; by focusing on my breath and how I feel inside my body I can successfully do the more intense poses that are incorporated in this type of yoga practice. Thanks for doing this post on yoga!
[Reply]
As someone who has struggled with disordered eating, yoga allows me to connect with my emotional and spiritual needs. It relaxes me and helps me to become intuitive with myself, which ultimately helps me to understand what my body needs and how much it needs (food wise).
[Reply]
Like you I used to think yoga was incredibly boring and I always hated doing it (even though I knew it was so good for me). I still am not 100% into it, but I like it a lot more than I used to. I can really only do about 30-40 minutes of it (no 60 minute classes for me!). I would LOVE to try this DVD though, as I seem to do really well with yoga videos (I mainly use exercise TV).
I tweeted!
The Candid RD recently posted..And I Thought I Hated Coleslaw!
[Reply]
I LOVE a nice long stretchy yoga sesh. During the year it keeps me sane with the craziness of life as a college student. My favorite kind of yoga is Vinyasa, but I’m always completely open to trying new kinds!
[Reply]
I love yoga – it does help me relax and I always feel so loose after. I’ve been looking for a DVD since I can’t always make classes…this would be perfect!
[Reply]
i love yoga but have the hardest time fitting it into my schedule. for some reason i always push it to the next day…and then the next. but i do also have becoming a registered yoga teacher as a life goal of mine, so i need to stop procrastinating with my practice.
[Reply]
I never feel like I am getting a good enough work out when I do yoga. If i do yoga I have to do cardio also. I know it is good for me and I should be doing it, but I have tried so many times and have not been able to “get into it”. Maybe the Core Fusion would help me since it feels like more of a workout?
[Reply]
What I love about yoga is that it makes me feel so free and liberated. It’s my personal time to focus on me with no interruptions. I am a huge fan of bikram yoga but since Summer is SO hot I just stick with power yoga or ashtanga yoga which forces you to hold poses that make you use the own weight. I can really work up a sweat!
Lauren recently posted..Zucchini pancakes!
[Reply]
I LOVE yoga – or at least how I feel after it. I know that you can’t be “bad” at yoga, but I’m really bad at yoga. I like it bc I find it insanely challenging. My big goal for the year is to do a lot more yoga to get more flexible – these would help!
Ellen recently posted..Marathon Monday- A Walk in the Park
[Reply]
I love yoga after a yoga session rather than before it. I guess I have a hard time seeing yoga as something to release stress because I’m more used to running. But when I actually get my butt to do some yoga, it feels so wonderful…hopefully a video like this will inspire me to do more!
[Reply]
I love hot yoga! I know it’s not for everyone, but I love the added heat! I got back and forth between hot power yoga and hot bikram style, the 26 posture set. It’s amazing what it has done for me physically, and mentally!
Jaclyn recently posted..Crackwrap
[Reply]
[...] am choosing the winner of the Core Fusion Yoga DVD [...]
I’ve had an on and off (mostly on) relationship with yoga since my freshman year of college 9 years ago. But I’ve always known that time on my mat = a better and more at peace Sarah. For the past two years, I’ve increased that mat time and found a hot vinaysa flow studio that I adore. I’m counting down the hours until I can get back on my mat for a 6 o’clock class.
And beside the fitness benefits, I lucked out into a dating a wonderful guy whose mom and stepdad are yoga instructors. That means lots of free classes and fun yoga goodies at holiday times. Nothing says celebration like a new yoga mat
[Reply]
I love yoga! It complements running perfectly! I love Baron Baptiste’s workouts they are great.
[Reply]
I used to have a great yoga practice, and then I went to grad school. I’ve always loved the benefits of a great practice: calmness, ease of my constant muscle tension, and the camaraderie of meeting strangers in a class and making friends through a series of poses.
I have always wanted to try the core fusion class, but haven’t made it there yet… here’s hoping for a DVD to try it at home!
[Reply]
I’ve learned to love yoga recently. I broke my back 2 years ago, and now yoga is one of the only things that makes me feel right again. From what I’ve read, Core Fusion seems to be the way to go to stretch out and get into shape.
I think what I like best is I don’t hate exercising with yoga. Seems like just a nice, peaceful thing to do.
[Reply]
i learned all my yoga skills just by watching yoga videos online and just immitating what they do ,~;
[Reply]
viagra for women au
[Reply]
Finally I found a post on this interesting topic, but it was not easy. Are You making any SEO for your blog?
Sofia recently posted..iPhone phenomen
[Reply]