Guest Author - Martha McKinnon

I had the opportunity to try a new yoga DVD this week - Yoga Chi for Energy. I’m always excited to discover yoga DVDs that are accessible to older and/or plus size beginners. Yoga Chi for Energy by Suzanne Andrews is just such a DVD.

Yoga Chi for Energy combines basic yoga poses with flowing tai chi movements to create a gentle invigorating workout appropriate for beginning exercisers of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Think of it as ‘Yoga Light.’ Suzanne Andrews is an occupational therapist and functional fitness expert who lost 60 pounds since beginning to practice yoga. Her practical approach to functional fitness coupled with her sincere desire to help others discover the powerful physical, mental, and emotional benefits of yoga creates a routine to vitalize your body, mind, and spirit.

Set beside a lake in Florida, this one-hour program is divided into:

Part 1: A 7-minute warm-up and breathing exercises to get your blood flowing.

Part 2: A 21 minute rejuvenating workout of standing poses designed to strengthen and tone while improving balance. This is a total body series incorporating movements for both the upper and lower body.

Part 3: A 13-minute routine of floor exercises to stretch and strengthen your core.

Part 4: The final segment is an 11 minute relaxing guided meditation set before a fireplace with soothing background music.

Bonuses include a non-narrated 11-minute energizing workout, a 4-minute introduction to the power of laughing yoga, and inspiring testimonials that illustrate the effectiveness of the Yoga Chi for Energy approach to mind, body, spirit fitness.

The pace of this DVD is slow and controlled with lots of expert instruction to keep you safe and motivated. Modifications for some of the more challenging poses, such as downward facing dog, are demonstrated. It’s a fun, accessible workout appropriate for all ages and abilities that will leave you feeling refreshed, not depleted.

Yoga Chi for Energy proves that everyone - not just dancers and athletes- can benefit from practicing yoga.

To purchase the Yoga Chi for Energy DVD

Yoga Chi For Energy