Gwen Lawrence Fit Body Yoga DVD

I love the video! We owned it before the Camp fire of 11/08/2018 and I've just replaced it. Too late, I ordered both of her videos only to find they are the same. My brother in law asked what we were doing (in my 70's) so we're gifting him one of them. Though some said there was no flow to this, I find it flows very well for me, for my husband as well. It feels good to get the stretch these videos provide. I only wish she had more!

This is not for beginners. It's also not for people with wrist or hand problems. She spends most of her time in positions that rest on her wrist (plank, side plank, downward dog,etc). If you can't put much weight on your wrist when it's perpendicular to your arm, forget it.I like her general style. She's not soft and New-Agey, but she moves very quickly from one position to the next, without much holding. The workout is more athletic-feeling than traditional hatha yoga. You'll feel your muscles working much more than stretching. And she calls out the poses as your head is down, so if you do not know what they are, it will take some time watching before you can really do the workout.I actually found myself feeling stressed and annoyed during it, which is pretty much the opposite of what I want when I choose a yoga DVD over others. I'm sure that if I were an advanced practitioner I would not have felt this way, but for a beginner she goes too fast, does not give you enough time to enjoy the pose and somehow makes yoga feel like a sports drill.

I sought out this dvd after trying the core workout on Hulu Plus. The Core workout on this dvd is definitely the hardest section. The arms and legs portions are more doable for some one at the intermediate yoga level, which is me, but I enjoy the challenge of the core portion. Some of the arm and leg stretches are unique and challenging also, and it feels like I'm starting to open up more, which feels refreshing. I have upper back and neck issues and I think the arm workout is really helping with that because she focuses a lot on the shoulders. There is not a lot of cardio yoga. This is mostly strength training and stretching - and stretching areas that traditional yoga doesn't always touch on. Great for athletes and runners. Also, there is not really any restorative/meditative yoga in this video, so seek that out separately for your traditional yoga routine for de-stressing.

The instruction, photography and presentation on this dvd are much better than most I've seen. The moves are all doable for most people. No extreme pretzel moves or big backbends.The instructor is very fit, calm, and without ego. There are three sections of 20 minutes which flew by for me when I did them back to back. I was tired but it felt good.I'm cautious about a couple moves though. In one, she squats on the balls of the feet and just holds that position. This does not seem to me to be good for the knees and the metatarsals. In the downloadable quick yoga segment, there is a part when you lie on your back and repeatedly bring your straight leg up to meet your straight arm. This, along with the leg lifts seem to me to put to much emphasis on the development of the hip flexors, or psoas, which pulls on the low back. I skip these moves. Maybe she knows something I don't. Otherwise, Gwen Lawrence is a great instructor and the high production values, well-balanced selection of moves, and calm, clear presentation make this a dvd that can be used many times without boredom, in my opinion.

I had high expectations for the DVD after all I read about Gwen Lawrence. I think she is very likable, has an impressive Yoga background and/or portfolio, and seems passionate about her Yoga practice. Also, she is easy to listen to while she guides you through these workouts. However, after doing the workouts on this DVD once, I never went back to it. I have been experimenting with yoga DVDs and instructors, and have tried Colleen Saidman, Tara Stiles and a few other samples I found on YouTube. I then tried a Jillian Michaels yoga workout, and came to realize that I gravitate towards the more "power" style yoga. That being said, I think that Gwen Lawrence would work for other folks, it was just not a fit for me.

I was not a big fan of this dvd and ended up giving it to a friend. I felt like she was a personal trainer (which she tells you about several times) who took a few yoga classes and then decided to make a dvd. There is no flow to her routines and a lot of the moves are more 'workout-y' instead of actual yoga, if that makes sense. Some of the moves were challenging but I know I wont be able to hear her same jokes about hand cream and 'when I train my athletes' several times a week, so I gave this a new home.

I just did this DVD yoga practice today and I couldn't wait to write a review about it! I'm an avid yogini and have purchased many yoga DVDs over the past couple years for my home practice. I have to say that after doing this DVD--this will definitely be one I do again and again! THe instructor (Gwen Lawrence) has an awesome body and her tone and her demeanor are calm yet upbeat and playful! Her moves were definitely challenging (not for a beginner) and creative yet I was able to hang in there for the 3 segments (20min.--upper body, lower body, core). I am totally exhausted now yet feel great! There is also a 10min. express toning section that I didn't check out yet. Maybe next time I practice I'll do all of it! So glad I purchased this! Namaste!

I gave this 3 stars only because I'm a beginner-intermediate to yoga. This is definately for the advanced. She constantly transitions smoothly and very quickly from one pose to the other. Never stopping to let you get into a correct pose or cach up; therefore, you can't do the poses correctly. I miss half of the workout just trying to catch up to her. For one of the segments of the video, you are in the plank positon for almost the whole 15 minutes. If you are advanced, then buy this DVD because you'll get a great workout!

Best yoga video I have! I go back to it all the time. Highly recommend it, especially for intermediate and up.

I'm really glad this DVD was half price when I bought it because its a waste of money. The instructor is annoying and arrogant, she talks way to much. She is also clueless about the science of exercise physiology. It is obvious when she talks that her methods are based on tradition and not was is current. She claims throughout the DVD that she makes she athlete clients do some some of the poses. If I could talk to those clients I would tell them not to waste their money and time!

Don't order both DVD's!! Yoga Fitness Gwen Lawrence is exactly the same DVD just with a different picture. I wonder how often people bought these 2 as a pair.I was very upset about it and since I purchased it from 2 different sellers a return seems unlikely.

Excellent and challenging yoga video!

This is geared towards our lifestyle. The 20 minute segments are great compared to 1hour. I would recommend this DVD.