Endurance (1998)

Got me into the best shape of my life mentally and physically!
Be prepared for an easy to follow, but challenging work out! Let me tell you, it is harder than it looks! Think you are in shape? Try this workout and then tell me! I challenge you!

One of my favorites
I started doing yoga with the Yoga Zone "for beginners" series a couple of years ago. I definitely recommend that series for people new to yoga (particularly "Total Body Conditioning," also with Lisa Bennett), and I still use them sometimes on days when I'm too tired for a really challenging workout.

Now that I am more advanced, I was delighted to find that this MUCH more difficult Lisa Bennett video is out there. The way she arranges the postures into a flow is wonderful-- I find the time goes very quickly doing this video. When I first started, I could only do the first 35 minutes: the warm-up. Then I would collapse on the floor dripping sweat, and with my legs shaking. It is very difficult to spend ~18 minutes working just one leg, and at first you may hate it. But it's worth it-- it will really give you the results in your legs and thighs that you want to see. After just one workout, you feel a difference.

The poses Lisa proceeds to in the remainder of the session are also advanced. On a couple of them I still can't do even the modified version-- so I have to make up an even more modified version to build strength until I can get there. Even so, I look forward to doing it, and love the feeling that I will be able to do the whole thing soon.

My only beef with this practice is that the only specific ab work is one boat pose near the very end of the video. I assume that I am supposed to be getting abdominal strengthening by keeping my abdomen firm during poses, which I try to do, but this doesn't do enough to get rid of that (baby-related) stomach fat that is one of my main motivations for exercising in the first place. However, this isn't enough for me to reduce my number of stars on this one.

good workout with quality instruction
I read the bad reviews for this video and bought it anyway. Yes, she talks a lot, but most video instructors don't which leads to injury. If you are a practicing yogi looking for more than relaxation, this is a great choice. People who can't accept her talking are more the get-it-done type. Yoga is a process. No static positions. No crunches-til-you-die. Each position needs to be fully discovered and stretched. Her cueing allows that to happen.
Level wise.... it's very challenging. I'm a dancer and was constantly getting bored with the relaxation-focused videos that didn't do anything for stamina or strength. This definitely does. Chatter on, Lisa!