Customer Reviews

Sara Ivanhoe's 20 Min Yoga Makeover - Weight Loss

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 20 Minute Yoga Makeover: Weight Loss, instructor Sara Ivanhoe connects various series of poses--or vinyasas--in a flowing manner. Although she repeatedly states that the addition of movement in the poses (namely moving the arms while inhaling and exhaling) will keep your heart rate up and contribute to weight loss, the practice isn't nearly aerobic enough for this purpose. However, the practice is well-suited to those who prefer greater movement in postures (sometimes associated with viniyoga) rather than holding static poses for a longer length of time.

Sara begins with a chair pose vinyasa, adding arm movement and a forward bend and linking the series with breath; this is followed by a standing backbend combined with forward bend series. Next comes a vinyasa that is repeated throughout the workout: you move from plank to cobra to down dog, again combining the series with breath. From a 3-legged down dog position, Sara leads you into several series of standing poses: she begins with triangle/revolved triangle, moves on to warrior/side angle pose/revolved side angle in the next series, and finishes with crescent lunge/revolved crescent lunge. She completes the plank-cobra-down dog vinyasa between each series, eventually substituting upward dog for cobra. Finally, the practice ends in a seated position with head-to-knee pose and a brief hand mudra. Overall, this is a nicely flowing 20-minute practice with a standing pose focus.

As you move faster through these exercises, you may feel your body heating and your heart beating a little faster. This is definitely a cardiovascular workout with aesthetic appeal. You have a beach in the background with waves gently lapping at the shore. Sara Ivanhoe exercises on the grass and you feel like you are at the beach.

The deliciously challenging twists were the highlight of this practice session. The Vinyasa sections are exciting and challenging and you move from plank to cobra to down dog. Then she ups the challenge with a flowing series that moves into an upward facing dog.

The active postures make this an invigorating and calorie-burning workout that also strengthens the arms and tones the entire body.

The special features on this DVD include a section where you can select to workout without narration and you can view pictures of the postures.

The 20-minute Yoga routines are very healing and especially fun. If you have 20-40 minutes you can get an excellent workout with added emotional benefits. I always feel spiritually cleansed and physically energized after a Sara Ivanhoe routine. I hope she continues to make more DVDs because I love her positive energy. These 20-minute routines are like Yoga Vacations.

~The Rebecca Review

As my title says, this DVD really does crack me up. First off, let me say that I like this workout. It really is 20 minutes, and it's nice and relaxing. I had never done yoga before, so it was a great introduction in that way. And Ivanhoe is very likeable and instructive.

The reason this DVD is so funny that, well, the workout is tailored for weight loss. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but this typically means that the person doing the workout has a few, or several, extra lbs to lose.

I have a mirror in my room so when I'm doing this workout I can watch myself. If I dare. I look like an elephant who has decided to become a ballerina. Basically, I've had to "modify" some of the moves so that I can actually perform them! It's just not possible for my body to do the same things that a 120-pound body can.

My only other complaint is that the workout doesn't always keep the heart rate high enough. I don't really consider it a "cardio" workout. Overall, I like to use this DVD for a relax-at-the-end-of-a-long-day kind of workout.

This is a nice yoga practice in 20 minutes, I often do this one in the mornings as I find that it's a good way to start the day, plus it's short and I can squeeze it in before work. The title may have weight loss in it, but I don't think one should expect to lose weight with this routine. It does however, increase the heartrate as you are constantly moving and not holding poses for very long, plus you are using a lot of arm movements.

The scenery is very nice, I also like doing this video on days that I want to imagine that I am in a warmer climate. It is very colorful and the yoga outfit that Sara is wearing seems to suit the background, which is the ocean and mountains in Hawaii.

The routine does move pretty fast, especially when you are doing the vinyasa, but you perform enough times so you get lots of practice and eventually you will be able to keep up with Sara. I like the flow of this routine, plus Sara will give you options for some of the poses to make them more challenging if choose.
I would recommend this video for those already familiar with yoga, as there is really no demonstration of the poses and you do move fairly quickly.

Sara Ivanhoe is my favorite yoga instructor, I have her Crunch yoga workouts and am glad that she has her own series. I like her style of teaching and her approach towards yoga, which is non-intimidating. She is friendly and light about it, not serious in anyway which is what I like. I do yoga because I like to stretch and it's something different, she helps make it fun for me. Overall for those looking for short yoga routines, this is a good one to check out.

This DVD also contains trailers of Sara's other DVDs in the 20 minute yoga makeover series as well as her on the ball workout. There is also a photo gallery.

ok...well my uncle lives in santa monica & he takes classes with sarah ivanhoe in person, & he really enjoys it...its just very strange because he weighs like 250 =) haha..i luv him though.. he came down 4 christmas & gave my brother this dvd with a yoga mat, but i stole them =) yess

I have been using this specific dvd alone since 2 days after Christmas and two days ago i weighed myself [on New Years Eve] & it helped me lose 3 pounds in less than two weeks!! some people may not think thats a significant weight loss, but i do not have that much wieght 2 lose, so for me it is =)

But, i am also seeing an HUGGGEE difference in my body, i have more energy, i eat less, i don't have as many cravings for junk food & such & i am seeing definition in my abs, legs, arms, and back etc.. A LOT OF PLACES!! i would definetely reccomend this dvd if you want 2 see defintion, maybe not if you have 30 pounds to lose.

I do this workout 2 times a day, consistantely, everyday, & after purchasing this weight loss dvd, i bought 2 more dvd's in the sarah ivanhoe series..[abs,thighs & butt] i didn't purchase the overall body sculpt with weights because i HATEEE weights..with a passion =) BUY THIS.. YOU WON'T BE DISSAPOINTED!!

I am so excited about Sara's 20 Min.Yoga Makeovers! I own all 5 and use them everyday! I feel that I get a super workout and really enjoy her enthusiasm. She does an excellent job explaining poses and reminds you of your breathing! Because it is such a well-rounded, quick program, I know I can get through it even before I start. This is what keeps me popping in the dvd each morning and evening. The yoga poses are manageable for even the very beginner! I only wish I lived in Santa Monica where she teaches classes...good thing I have the tapes! :-)

This DVD is really good when you are pressed for time, or would like to break your workout into different segments. (Example, 20 min. aerobics and 20 yoga.) As usual, Sara's instruction is very clear.

While I did not expect weight loss, I am very surprised at how toned I have become because of this dvd. I don't enjoy lifting weights at the gym, however, my arms look more defined by doing this dvd at least 3 times a week than weight training. Every time I do the dvd it is a challenge! Yet, because it is only 20 minutes, it is over quickly. Therefore, there is always time to squeeze this into my schedule. Ms. Ivanhoe is a great instructor. You can tell that she enjoys doing the routine as well as instructing it. She has a relaxed enthusiam as is never annoying. Also, the outside setting is very beautiful and relaxing. This is a great workout and after doing it regularly, you really see your body tone up nicely!

This is set on in a tropical area with an ocean behind. The music is calming w/tropical feel. Sara is alone teaching & no props are used. The dvd comes in 2.0 & 5.1 dolby & has health tips & for washing your mat.
The beginning emphasizes standing fwd bends & chair & mountain pose, but in the opposite order I feel would be of best benefit to have a deeper standing fwd bend.
Dr. Beth Cholette & Rebecca Johnson both did a great job telling you the rest of the poses that are done.

I didn't sweat at all or barely work on this. During crescents I did it in a high lunge instead, etc. I have been doing yoga 1-2x/week for about 5 years & consider myself a beginner/intermediate in terms of strength but even better flexibility. I had trouble with getting into this dvd as the same as her Yoga Makeover - power sweat - she seems friendly & sweet, she gives great instruction, she tells you when to breathe, she seems to enjoy the poses, but I still felt she seemed distracted & not enough body awareness. Also this is best for beginners as she gives emphasis on basic foot placement, etc. as though the audience has never or almost never done yoga before & this might annoy seasoned yogis.

Trailers: her 5 other yoga dvds on collagevideo com & on guba com

I have tried quite a few work out at home, lot of them are good but it always seemed to be too long. I owned Sarah Ivanhoe Fat burning 50 minutes routine ( from Crunch), liked it, so when I found the 20 minutes, bought to try it, and immediately loved it. Even though the first 10 minutes, the routines was at the normal pace, the last 10 minutes she hurried up a little bit as it gets to the timing. This routine is short, so you always find time to do it regularly which is the key to achieve the weight loss and I have achieved the muscle tone in no time on top of it. Being a busy working person, and at my late 40, this routine is great for me.