Customer Reviews

Shape: Long, Lean and Strong

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

 

 

I don't much like the s-l-o-w-n-e-s-s of yoga, but I do like the stretching and relaxation benefits. This workout fits the bill - a little breathing practice at the beginning, which I am sometimes tempted to skip, but it does actually help me to focus :-P I love the flow-through poses, and while they are not held for an excessively long time (which I would hate), they aren't rushed through, either, like some of the Power Yoga I've tried. The instructor is encouraging without making me feel like a totally uncoordinated clod. I found the set and music to be quite relaxing. I also enjoyed the short ab-work at the end, although single-leg and double-leg stretches is Pilates, not yoga. The 30-minute length is just perfect!

This workout is set indoors on a nice set w/professional production. Teri seems nice, though not calm. She uses mostly voice overs for instruction. She does cue YOUR left & right though she barely says the Englishname for the yoga poses or if does, it's breezed through. She does give good, limited instruction due to the barely one breath per pose speed.
Breathing - 2 min
Yoga - 18 min
stretching segment, half sun salutations segment, dancing warrior segment, dancer's pose for balance.
Pilates - 4 min
One final yoga spinal twist
Relaxation/breathing

Bonus 6 min
all poses use straps (don't have to) for slower shoulder/arm stretching, reclined single leg stretching & reclined butterfly at a better pace. She talks here as she does it, not a voice over, her voice is more an aerobics instructor stiff rather then yoga.

Teri does each pose for barely a full breath but repeats often which I do not like. She did not seem calm, though she seemed sincere & earnest. This is not for those looking for mind/body or even stretching, but more a cardio workout.

Previews on aol com, collagevideo com, youtube com & more on a search on google.

The DVD: Shape: Long, Lean and Strong

The PROMISE: Re-charge your yoga practice with Shape's: Long, Lean and Strong program, a strength-building, muscle-defining total body yoga workout.

I'm a big fan of Shape magazine and their website is FULL of fabulous resources, workout tips & information. They've been releasing workout DVD's for years and I have a few that I've grown fond of over the years. At this point, I wouldn't call myself a yogi, but I'm familiar with the basics and know when I'm getting a good yoga workout. Let's see how this one faired.

The RUNDOWN:

* Running Time: 38 minutes.
* # of Workouts: 1
* Equipment Needed: Mat. yoga blocks & a strap (or towel) are recommended.
* Trainers: Teri Hanson
* Bonus Features: 6 min. anytime relaxation stretch routine.
* Approx. Cost? $10.99 on Amazon.com

Music: Trance-like yoga. Very background, you won't notice it.

Style: Basic yoga, with some pilates & relaxation breathing.

Difficulty: Beginner. Says designed for all fitness levels, but seasoned yogi's & yoga enthusiasts will find it too easy.

Best Suited For: Those who've never tried yoga or are new to yoga and want to work on their flexibility.

The Morning After: No soreness whatsoever, but felt nice & stretched out immediately after the workout.

The Workout

Shape: Long, Lean and Strong includes a yoga warm-up, 20 minutes of standing vinyasa (breath-synchronized movement) followed by 10 minutes of flexibility poses. There's a meditation at the end if you need it, plus you'll get a 6 minute relaxation workout as a bonus. It's quick, fairly basic & gives you an opportunity to focus on your breath in connection to the movement. It's hosted by Teri Hanson, who instructs you via voice-over for the bulk of the workout.

You don't need a yoga background and it may be better if you don't. Beginners to yoga & pilates can expect to do this a few times before they can master the moves. The flexibility training is great for all levels and yoga blocks (which are optional) can be used to help you modify the moves to your specific body. You'll need to push yourself to your OWN personal limit. There's no right or wrong with yoga. Well, there is. But not in terms of how far you should go or stretch. Listen to your body while maintaining the best form you can.

HOW TO USE IT:
To learn basic poses or delve into yoga for the first time. It's an easy workout, so those recovering from injury or illness might like it to get your blood flowing (or on days when you REALLY don't feel like cardio/weights. You won't get the same burn, but it will get your blood flowing). Do not use this workout for cardio or strength, but it will help flexibility, especially if you're not flexible to begin with.

HIGH FIVE FOR:
Easy to follow instructions & a short workout format. Can be fit into any schedule and Teri is a great instructor.

CAUTIONS & CONCERNS if...
You're a yoga person. You won't get much out of this workout, unless you're planning on taking it easy. Also concerns for people with injuries: Take it easy. Don't get yourself twisted in a knot trying to be a gymnast. Listen to your body.

WINS
The workout is well formed, easy to understand & follow (which is rare off the bat with yoga DVD's. How can you watch the screen if you're upside down or twisted the other way!?). All levels will be able to do it; it's easy. You'll find it challenging if you're not used to the moves, but they aren't difficult to follow at all.

The DVD avoids much of the spiritual part of yoga, except in the very beginning & in the meditation in the end with the breathing. If you've been averse to yoga because of the spiritual bits (like i was), this is for you. Although it's not very intense, I actually liked this as a morning workout. It got my blood flowing, stretched out yesterday's soreness & energized me. Because of its low intensity, it wasn't hard to push play in the morning at all.

FAILS
Well... it's too easy for me. It's hard for me to judge what the benefit might be on someone who doesn't have my background. You'll have to use your own judgement. If you're completely new to yoga, this might be a good place to start. If not, meh.

I've been doing yoga steadily for over a year and I started on a very intense yoga streak. This DVD is NOT designed for people like me, so I had a hard time saying I'd use it regularly. Even though I liked the short format, I would have liked a longer, challenging workout more.

MY VERDICT

Short verdict. If you're looking for an easy DVD for flexibility & to learn yoga, go right ahead. If not, look elsewhere. I'd use it on days when I didn't feel up to a workout, but wanted to get some blood flowing. 'Nough said?
Find me on Twitter: @fitvillains

I use this video at night as part of my evening routine. It is so far my favorite yoga video. I ordered two other videos ( Shiva Rae vinyasa flow and kundalani yoga) just to add variation to my routine. I love the fact that my breathing flows with the move. It is so easy to follow. Love using it during m stressful days. Not really meant to build muscle or tone (I use pilates videos for that in the morning). I guess if you want to unwind, then this is a good one to use.

Gave it four stars for speed of delivery but I need the yoga tools to workout. A video for more experience yoga enthusiasts; I was a first time user and felt a little lost but with practice I will get there.

I really, enjoyed working out using this video. It really helped me get flexible, and even though it is a yoga work out, it got me sweating.

I decided to try a stretching/yoga video to incorporate into my routine. I really like and enjot this one. The video is just long enough-30 minutes, and the stretches feel sooo good when done right. She does do the workout pretty fast paced, but it keeps you going. Its a bit hard at first when she breezes through it, but after doing it a few times i love the quickness of it. I reccommend it.

This yoga-based workout is a faster style than all other yoga workouts I've seen before. That in itself makes this a bit of a challenge. It's a bit more energetic too. There is a lot of yoga compacted into a short space of time. It's almost done too quickly. There are standing moves that are geared towards increasing strength and balance and then the floor moves are for building flexibility and for relaxation. There is an ab toning workout at the end of the dvd. The instructor Teri Hanson is a good cuer which is why I like this because you don't need to be constantly looking at the tv (you can visualise what's to come next because of her good instruction) and that makes this easy to follow. All up, it's about 40 minutes long, but I personally like a slower workout that is more relaxing, and makes you stay in positions longer to get better stretching. I'll still do this every now and then, but it's not my first yoga workout of choice.

I might have been able to enjoy this workout were it not for the stiff, robotic instructor, and inauthentic--sometimes eerily downbeat--new age/zen music. It would have been nice if the instructor kept better eye contact, spoke as though she was there with you in a natural setting--rather than read mechanically from a prompter. She also has this strange head-nodding tick that just became another distracting turn-off. The DVD reminds me once again that with any lesson, the instructor can make it or break it.

Shape: Long, Lean And Strong With Teri Hanson with personal trainer and certified AFAA and ACE fitness expert Terri Handson (who is also the Assistant Fitness Editor for "Shape", "Fit Pregnancy", and "Natural health" magazines), is an informative, instructive, "user friendly", 38 minute, full color, DVD exploration of the basics of yoga. Visually guiding viewers through the easy-to-follow, daily fitness program of yoga exercises, Shape: Long, Lean And Strong showcases productive yoga movements and exercises to increase stamina, develop strength, and promote a more powerful aerobic system for the body's cardiovascular and muscle systems. Enhanced with a 6 minute "Anytime Relaxation Stretch Routine", Shape: Long, Lean And Strong is very strongly recommended, especially for beginning yogis students searching for comprehensive step-by-step on-screen guidance with respect to practicing yoga and keeping fit.