Customer Reviews

Iron Yoga

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I scan the top-selling exercise DVDs on Amazon just about every day for good workouts. "Iron Yoga" intrigued me because it had been high on the list for a long time without any reviews (that has since changed). The concept of using hand weights with Yoga looked appealing, since I'm keen on building and maintaining muscular strength with low-impact exercises. Plus it seemed like a good way to shake up my normal Yoga routine. So I got tired of waiting for reviews and decided to try "Iron Yoga" out. It was worth the risk.

The entire workout takes about 55 minutes, including warm-up and cool down. You can do the whole thing, or break it down by chapters. There's also a bonus Yoga rejuvenation and relaxation session separate from the main workout (no weights needed). I found out on the DVD extras that the instructor (Anthony Carillo) created Iron Yoga as part of his training for Iron Man Triathlons (maybe that should tell you something). Mr. Carillo calls well, with a calm and non-threatening demeanor. There are two female assistants on each side of him. The one on his left demonstrates beginner's modifications, while the one on his right does the intermediate versions. He leads the advanced poses. I found that to be a pretty helpful configuration, since by looking at the appropriate person I could easily move into a less difficult pose (or go back into a harder one).

The hand weights are incorporated within a pose by using them in conjunction with Yoga breathing. For example, while holding a pose you would breathe in through the nose, and at the same time do the first part of a bicep curl (contracting the arm). Then, while breathing out through the nose, you would do the second half of the curl (extending the arm). Holding the contraction while breathing is done as well, and various exercises are combined to work the entire upper body. Proper breathing, technique and focus are continually emphasized by the instructor. There are also salutations done without weights, featuring Downward Facing Dog, Plank, and Upward Dog positions. No ankle weights are used, so at first I was worried about neglecting the lower body. But I needn't have been concerned, because holding a pose while manipulating two three-pound hand weights works the legs quite nicely.

Even at the easiest level, it's still a tough workout. The hardest part is trying to correctly utilize the weights while maintaining good Yoga form, especially during balancing poses like Tree, Eagle, and Warrior 3. I'd start out with the hard version, but eventually had to slip into the intermediate and then beginning poses as time wore on and muscle fatigue increased. I really had to concentrate in order to use the weights without falling over. But I wasn't discouraged, since the challenge meant that this is a workout I can grow into.

The only disappointment was the very short abs section (something like one boat pose). The abs do get worked as a byproduct of the routine, but you may have to incorporate your own stomach work if you like a lot of specific midsection exercises. Also, I recommend using neoprene-coated weights (the instructor says one to five pounds is best). They conform to the hand better than metal-handled weights, and the neoprene makes them easier to grip when sweaty (you *will* sweat during this workout). If you like your Yoga more contemplative, feel that manipulating your own body weight is adequate, or struggle with balance due to physical issues, then this workout may not be for you. But I recommend "Iron Yoga" if you want to add some low-impact strength training to your Yoga routine.

I've been doing some really high impact workouts - weights and resistance bands. The kind of workouts that leave you exhausted, sweaty and sore. This is the equal of any of them.

The combination of balance and weight training is amazing. If you're looking for one of those body blasting aerobic workouts, this isn't it. If you want a great full body workout to invigorate, strenghten and build lean muscles, this is the one.

I don't recommend just jumping in and starting. Do the routines without weights a couple times, build up to it then add weights and work up to the moderate, then advanced poses.

This is just like traditional yoga but there is a twist - you use light dumbbells. This adds to the already toning effect that yoga has on you. They use very controlled movements making you aware of every breath you take and awareness of your body. Because of the weights, it's really very challenging, but hey - everyone needs to challenge themselves every now and then right? This is tough but there are great results in store if you use this often.

I have to be honest, I've only used this DVD twice. I found it to be very boring and unmotivating. It wasn't a good strength workout and it wasn't a good yoga workout. They tried to combine the two and it didn't work for me. When I do yoga I feel a sense of well-being and my body feels like it has benefitted from head to toe. This didn't give me that feeling at all! When I lift weights, I can definately feel that I have accomplished something and my muscles are fatigued. This video didn't do that for me either. Maybe it works for some people, but I didn't enjoy it. Also, I think you have to be careful in some of the poses with the added weight.....careful not to put more strain on your lower back.

I first read about Iron Yoga in Prevention magazine, and I wanted to incorporate strength training into my exercise routine. With Iron Yoga I use lighter weights than if I was at the gym, but it's more challenging than other free weight routines. I've performed Iron Yoga for only a few weeks, but I've already noticed a difference in my upper body. I enjoy this DVD because it's challenging and at the same time relaxing.

I love this workout, the weights provides a lot of variety to the basic yoga poses. It's also well constructed - you change it up a bit, instead of going from the poses on the left leg directly to the exact same routine on the right leg. You can make it easier or harder with different hand weights. However, I need to add some warnings. This workout was created by iron-man triathletes, which means it is HARD! You keep the same pose a looooooong time, lots of balancing on one leg. At least a basic knowledge of yoga is extremely helpful, as well as a basic level of fitness (not a great "lets get back in shape in January" kind of workout DVD). I can see why this video of isometric exercises is a nice changeup for someone who bikes, swims, or in my case runs a lot. I highly recommend it, but not for the beginner.

I consider myself an intermediate yoga practitioner but this DVD really pushed me to the limit. When I first watched it it looked very easy because the exercises are very simple but because of the weights and the slow repetitions it is very challenging which I love!!. At the end I felt very relaxed. Highly recommended if you wanna try something new and refreshing.

My boyfriend pointed out to me, as i told him i would do this exercise before work, that i would be ironing, ironically with Yoga and the daily ritual of ironing my work shirt. But i decided to try this dvd late at night about 10:30, and i just had to start out with 5 pound weights!!! For each arm!! It was hard to keep the poses with the weights, so about half way i went back to three and that did the trick. The instructor is pretty good and seems laid back, and makes all the exercises look easy...of course. What i liked about this video is:
yoga: any yoga is good yoga
weights: were a twist! And he worked them well with the yoga
reminders: everybody has trouble remembering when to breath or when to hold your core muscles, he does a good job in reminding you without distracting you at the task at hand.(he does so with words at the bottom of your screen and he tells you)
breathing: is essential to yoga and i found it helpful to breath, the weights make you want to breath! 2 for one kind of deal
poses: all the basic poses were in there like warrior,eagle, the cat, sun salutations
music: is very soothing and nothing is rushed
be careful: i skipped the introduction but i don't think it was majorly important(i'll go back!), but do be care with your positions. If you get sore back off! Do you think i was really going to tough it out with 2 five pound weights! My neck and shoulders got a little sore but thats because i had to look up to see what he was doing.

If you haven't done yoga before this dvd might be a little intimidating but it is fun to do with his beginning to advance poses(he has two assistance that help). ANd don't use weights to big for your britches people! *cough*
Funny things i notice about the dvd:
* does talk a bit funny, but you get used to it
* back ground is horrible, some kind rusty clockwork and bathrrom clear blocks on the bottom...weird
* the two assistance are very stoic, but he is friendly
* you can buy his book for 1.70 here on amazon(used that is)
* its funny when they talk to you and you can't look up and see what their doing because they tell you to look down

over all its true to its word, i might incorporate into my workout every once and while, good addition to your exercise library!

The main premise of Anthony Carillo's Iron Yoga workout is that you can maximize your yoga session by adding hand weights to increase the challenge. The result is a highly effective, low-impact yoga routine that demands great focus, endurance, balance, flexibility, and willpower.

The 54-minute Iron Yoga workout is led by instructor Anthony Carillo, who designed the routine as part of his training for the Iron Man Triathlon (this should give you some clue as to how effective and demanding the workout is). Although Carillo leads you through an advanced workout, there are two women working through the same routine in the background; one at a beginner level, the other, intermediate. The most obvious difference is that each instructor uses a different set of dumbbells. You can clearly see that the beginner is working with a 2-pound set, while the intermediate instructor sports a 3-pound pair (which is the weight I use). However, I couldn't tell what weight Carillo was working with, and he never mentions it. Aside from lifting different weights, the beginner and intermediate models modify the yoga poses to demonstrate easier levels for less experienced yoga students. In general, the transition between poses is gradual enough that beginners won't have any trouble following along, and the risk of tweaking a muscle with the weights is significantly lowered for all. Consequently, Iron Yoga is a great workout for both beginners and experienced yogis alike: you can vary both the weight and the poses according to your fitness level.

During the workout, Carillo leads the audience through a number of challenging yoga poses, including the triangle, several warrior series, awkward chair, tree sequence, and eagle. Poses that help with stretching and flexibility include the sun series, upward and downward facing dog, locus, pigeon, and child's pose. Throughout the workout, he also incorporates various moves with the dumbbells to work the upper body. Examples include bicep, tricep, and wrist curls, tricep extensions, military presses, and lateral raises. These exercises are performed either while standing in mountain pose, or while holding some of the more challenging yoga poses (e.g., triangle). The dumbbell work, with few exceptions, involves three slow reps of each move while inhaling and exhaling deeply, and on the fourth count you must hold the move at "static peak" for several breaths. Depending on the yoga pose and the dumbbell exercise, this can be much harder than it sounds!

As an instructor, Carillo is great: simultaneously calm and soothing and motivational and encouraging (not exactly what you'd expect from an Iron Man!). On their own, neither the yoga nor weighted portions of the workout are exceptionally challenging; but combined, they make for a very demanding routine. I've been doing yoga for several years now (in addition to some light weight training, as well as pilates, kickboxing, and Tae Bo), and am in fairly good shape, but I still find myself sore the day after I do Iron Yoga. Of the many DVDs I own, this is probably in my top six favorites. It's a fun break from the frenetic cardio sessions I'm used to, but it's still effective, especially for toning the upper body. With both yoga and weights, it's the best of two worlds. Kind of like yoga on (natural) steroids (!).

My only complaint is that Carillo has only made one Iron Yoga DVD to date (hint, hint!).

EQUIPMENT NEEDED: A pair of dumbbells and a yoga mat or carpeted floor. A masseuse for the day after won't hurt, either!

I love the idea of a workout that multi tasks. I don't have a lot of time and I want to get in strength work, stretching, relaxation, etc.

This is great for strength building during a yoga practice but you need a lot of coordination to be able to follow along and stay balanced. I am not quite there yet.

It is probably not a workout I will do again. I prefer not to use props - again a coordination thing. I think for someone who loves gym workouts and wants to include yoga this might be a perfect fit. For a yoga person looking for strength and relaxation I would look elsewhere