Sometimes there are just too many things to do, and not enough hours in the day. I understand. I wake up at 6a.m., need to be at work by 8:30a.m. and don't get home until 6 or 6:30p.m. on some nights. After work, the last thing I want to do is workout.
On normal days, I get home from work, shower, eat dinner, and lay in bed and watch TV. I like to utilize my mornings as much as possible. Mornings are my time. I need "me" time in order to be more productive at work and happier around my fiance and friends. That being said, I love a good yoga DVD. When I don't have much time to spend on driving to the gym and working out there, I like to pop in a DVD and get to it!
Here are some of my favorite yoga DVDs that I've found.
Yoga For Beginners - Barbara Benagh
This DVD is great for beginners because the instructor, Barbara Benagh, explains each pose and goes at a slower pace than most yoga DVDs. The DVD was released by Body+Soul magazine and includes some shorter targeted routines and some longer sequence-driven videos. The targeted routines go in depth about each yoga posture and fully explain the mechanics of doing the pose. If you haven't done much yoga, I recommend trying this video as it allows you to truly work on your form in each pose.
The videos are less than 30 minutes, so it's perfect for before work. The longer videos run from 30 to 70 minutes and include a warm-up and relaxation poses towards the end.
Yoga Anywhere: The New York Sessions - Tara Stiles
This one is definitely not for beginners. The video features 60 minutes of intense calorie-burning yoga. So if you have a bit more time to spare in the mornings or after work, this is a great video for you. Tara Stiles shows you the basics up front, but guides you through advanced phases. The video is set in different landmarks in New York and includes rock music, which is very different than most yoga DVDs. If you're into fun, power yoga, I recommend trying this one out. You'll get to see Central Park, the Flat Iron Building and much more. The goal of this video, in my opinion, is to get you to think outside of the box and realize that yoga can easily be done anywhere (as the title implies). You just need to be creative.
Yoga Transformation: Strength & Energy - Deepak Chopra and Tara Stiles
This is another video that I don't recommend for beginners. I would classify this as intermediate to advanced. Tara Stiles and Deepak Chopra team up to build strength, activate inner energy and stimulate the mind. The goal of the video is to work on your breath and your movement in tandem. This is a power-yoga DVD, but it also includes a 15 minute meditation section. So, if you're not in a rush, there's no need to skip out on the meditation! I've found that when I meditate before starting my work day, I'm more focused and can comprehend things faster because my mind isn't in 20 places at once. The power-yoga series is 50 minutes, so if you have more time I would strongly suggest doing that video then the meditation to get the full experience.
Nicole Kennedy is a healthy living blogger and publicist living in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Nicole's blog, Simply Nicole, documents her daily life occurrences as she balances working full-time, blogging, training for races, practicing yoga, eating healthy and planning her wedding. You can connect with Nicole via Facebook and Twitter for real-time blog updates, tips and tricks to living a healthy lifestyle, and more!
