Sunday, May 10, 2009
Life, Health + Fitness

There’s no place like home

Can’t make it to the gym? Pop one of these new workouts in your DVD player

Courtesy of Yoga Dose

Colleen Oakley

There are days when I have the best intentions of getting to the gym. I’ll throw on my shorts, lace up my sneakers, and tell myself that I’ll go right after I check my e-mail. Oh, and then after I just change my status on Facebook. And then … well, wouldn’t you know it—now it’s raining. I better wait until it passes.

Let’s face it—sometimes you just don’t want to go anywhere to work out. It takes effort, motivation and determination to get to the gym nearly every day. That’s why I keep an arsenal of great workout DVDs on my bookshelf, so I can break a sweat without ever getting in my car and driving anywhere. Take that, rain.

Here are three brand new workouts in stores this month that are worth putting in your arsenal.

Me & My Chair: The No Excuses Workout, by Dolvett Quince

What you’ll need: A chair (preferably a cheap, metal folding one)
The workout: Two quick 30-minute classes (one for beginners and one for advanced) take you through full-body sculpting, while keeping your heart rate up the entire time. Great if you’ve got a time crunch and need a fast total body workout. You’ll be shocked how much you can do with just a chair—and how effective it is. My glutes were sore for two days afterwards. Oh, and Dolvett’s somewhat of a local celebrity in Atlanta, so be sure to tell him thanks for the workout when you see him out and about.
How much? $24.99
For more info: www.bodysculptorinc.com

Yoga Dose, by Lara Falberg & Nicole Jurovics

What you’ll need: A yoga mat and a yoga block
The workout: Lara leads the 60-minute beginner’s workout, giving clever, easy-to-understand instructions (“When you exhale, make a sound like the ocean or Darth Vader”), while Nicole heads up the more advanced 68-minute class. Both have similar techniques—they’re calming, encouraging teachers—perhaps because they’ve been friends for 14 years. As a bonus, the two Atlantans also incorporated local musicians like Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland, Y.O.U, and Ede Wright into the soundtrack.
How much? $21.95
For more info: www.yogadose.net

Extremely Ripped, by Jari Love

What you’ll need: Free weights (preferably a range of choices anywhere from 3 to 8 pounds.)
The workout: As good as, if not better than, any body-sculpting class I’ve taken, Jari leads two intense 30-minute calorie-burning workouts. Taking few breaks, your heart rate stays elevated as you seamlessly move from exercise to exercise. I have one tiny pet peeve—she leaves her long hair down the entire time, and all I can do is picture how uncomfortable it is to sweat with your hair down. But I got past it and got a really great workout, in the comfort of my living room. Plus, there’s an 8-minute ab bonus workout, which is great for days when you just want to add a little extra to your cardio routine.
How much? $14.99
For more info: www.jarilove.com SP
Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer in Atlanta and the former editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine. Got a fitness challenge for her? E-mail her at colleen@sundaypaper.com.