Yoga 4 Strength with Melissa McLeod....

Gaylene · 03-23-12, 01:54 PM

in new listings at Total Fitness. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with Melissa or tried the DVD? I just ordered- I'm not sure how I'll like the 40 minute practice with band, but the 20 minute relaxation practice and the 25 minute energizing practice (both shot outdoors in Victoria, British Columbia) looked great. I'm always looking for short routines to do post-run!

yogapam · 03-23-12, 02:50 PM

I had it, bought it through a local groupon site as I live in the same area as Melissa. I liked Melissa, she is very pleasant and the scenery is lovely. I wanted to like the dvd, but for me yoga and strength training don't mix. There just wasn't enough of each. Yoga is my first love and am a bit of a yoga purist - like my yoga to be just yoga. I am not overly fond of weight/strength work and usually do it in a circuit workout as I love cardio too. I also prefer weights or body weight over resistance bands. So maybe I am not the best one to review this workout for those reasons. I recently traded it to another vfer. Maybe she will let you know her opinion on it.

Pam61 · 03-23-12, 03:58 PM

I was just eyeing this one as well. The clips of the outdoor locations look great, almost like something Gaiam would do. I liked it until I saw the indoor set and the band work. I have to agree with Pam (even though I don't have this one) I'd rather have an all yoga workout. I can get stretch band work from my other DVDs (PowerFit, Cathe, etc.) So, I'll look for something else, and pass on this one.

Pam

rosepetals · 03-24-12, 11:37 AM

You can see a clip of one of her full length workouts is posted here. http://vimeo.com/37443329

It's a 55 min. restorative yoga workout.

yogapam · 03-24-12, 11:43 AM

Thanks for sharing the link rosepetals! Now that looks like lovely pure yoga, and I love a nice restorative practice now and then!

jilian15 · 03-24-12, 01:28 PM

I received this from yogapam, and I love it. I haven't done the 40 minute strength routine, but I've done the two 20 minute routines a few times. I've been using them as add ons after a workout. I love the outdoor scenery! The relaxation one is my favorite. Very gentle and stretchy!

yogapam · 03-24-12, 01:28 PM

Glad you like it Jillian!

rosepetals · 04-24-12, 03:53 PM

I just did the Strength portion of the workout. Its very nice. My strength well needs lots of work. I found this workout to be a perfect tool to increase it.

I am didn't take notes through the workout as to how many moves she has, but this is a sample of her moves. Her strength workout runs about 40-45 min. It comes with a strong resistance band. I had to use a weaker one that I had as hers was too strong for me. She does various moves with the resistance band in tree pose which challenges your balance as you do the resistance work. Then she does a sun salutation in-between the band work. There are not so many sun salutations that you are exhausted, just pleasantly worked out. There are enough of them that I feel my strength will improve with continued use. Melissa holds lunges as you do additional work with the band and other moves. Some of her crunches she uses a block in-between you knees to activate the ab muscles along with the thighs as you squeeze it. It this part was filmed indoors.

It feels like a full body workout as it included bicep moves, triceps, the legs with lunges, and crunches.

LAC · 05-12-12, 12:14 PM

I bought this from Mary's site last week and tried the Energizing section this morning. I think it clocked in around 25 minutes. I liked Melissa's no pressure presentation, the outdoor set, the gentle music and the sound of the waves lapping. Once or twice I misunderstood her cues and noticed when glancing up at the screen that I was lagging behind in a pose when she had moved on. As I become more familiar with it, this shouldn't be a problem. I enjoyed the slower pace and some of the longer balancing holds. Previewed a little of the 40 minute strength section with the stretch band and may try it out tomorrow. Haven't checked out the 20 minute relaxation section yet. So far, my impression is that this DVD will be a good fit for me. Thank you for discussing it here on VF, otherwise I might never have noticed it!

rosepetals · 05-12-12, 01:30 PM

I did the relaxation segment on the beach. It was very nice.

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03-23-12, 01:54 PM
Gaylene Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Florida	Yoga 4 Strength with Melissa McLeod.... in new listings at Total Fitness. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with Melissa or tried the DVD? I just ordered- I'm not sure how I'll like the 40 minute practice with band, but the 20 minute relaxation practice and the 25 minute energizing practice (both shot outdoors in Victoria, British Columbia) looked great. I'm always looking for short routines to do post-run!

03-23-12, 02:50 PM
yogapam VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West coast of Canada, eh. ;)	I had it, bought it through a local groupon site as I live in the same area as Melissa. I liked Melissa, she is very pleasant and the scenery is lovely. I wanted to like the dvd, but for me yoga and strength training don't mix. There just wasn't enough of each. Yoga is my first love and am a bit of a yoga purist - like my yoga to be just yoga. I am not overly fond of weight/strength work and usually do it in a circuit workout as I love cardio too. I also prefer weights or body weight over resistance bands. So maybe I am not the best one to review this workout for those reasons. I recently traded it to another vfer. Maybe she will let you know her opinion on it. __________________ **~Pam~** Certified Level 4 Essentrics Instructor - March 2021 Hatha YTT - 2011 Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down..... "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." Jim Rohn "It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” - Tony Robbins Check out my Instagram account, @fitness.ficti0n.inspirati0n

03-23-12, 03:58 PM
Pam61 VF Supporter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The Ocean State!	I was just eyeing this one as well. The clips of the outdoor locations look great, almost like something Gaiam would do. I liked it until I saw the indoor set and the band work. I have to agree with Pam (even though I don't have this one) I'd rather have an all yoga workout. I can get stretch band work from my other DVDs (PowerFit, Cathe, etc.) So, I'll look for something else, and pass on this one. Pam __________________ Pam April Focus: Linda Stejskal Wooldridge (Barlates) Dean Pohlman (Man Flow Yoga) April 8th Everyday Yoga Four Week Challenge Jessica Smith Cardio Walks/Pilates Fusion Lee Holden Qi Gong 30 Day Challenge

03-24-12, 11:37 AM
rosepetals Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: UNITED STATES	You can see a clip of one of her full length workouts is posted here. http://vimeo.com/37443329 It's a 55 min. restorative yoga workout.

03-24-12, 11:43 AM
yogapam VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West coast of Canada, eh. ;)	Thanks for sharing the link rosepetals! Now that looks like lovely pure yoga, and I love a nice restorative practice now and then! __________________ **~Pam~** Certified Level 4 Essentrics Instructor - March 2021 Hatha YTT - 2011 Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down..... "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." Jim Rohn "It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” - Tony Robbins Check out my Instagram account, @fitness.ficti0n.inspirati0n

03-24-12, 01:28 PM
jilian15 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pennsylvania	I received this from yogapam, and I love it. I haven't done the 40 minute strength routine, but I've done the two 20 minute routines a few times. I've been using them as add ons after a workout. I love the outdoor scenery! The relaxation one is my favorite. Very gentle and stretchy!

03-24-12, 01:28 PM
yogapam VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West coast of Canada, eh. ;)	Glad you like it Jillian! __________________ **~Pam~** Certified Level 4 Essentrics Instructor - March 2021 Hatha YTT - 2011 Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down..... "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." Jim Rohn "It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” - Tony Robbins Check out my Instagram account, @fitness.ficti0n.inspirati0n

04-24-12, 03:53 PM
rosepetals Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: UNITED STATES	I just did the Strength portion of the workout. Its very nice. My strength well needs lots of work. I found this workout to be a perfect tool to increase it. I am didn't take notes through the workout as to how many moves she has, but this is a sample of her moves. Her strength workout runs about 40-45 min. It comes with a strong resistance band. I had to use a weaker one that I had as hers was too strong for me. She does various moves with the resistance band in tree pose which challenges your balance as you do the resistance work. Then she does a sun salutation in-between the band work. There are not so many sun salutations that you are exhausted, just pleasantly worked out. There are enough of them that I feel my strength will improve with continued use. Melissa holds lunges as you do additional work with the band and other moves. Some of her crunches she uses a block in-between you knees to activate the ab muscles along with the thighs as you squeeze it. It this part was filmed indoors. It feels like a full body workout as it included bicep moves, triceps, the legs with lunges, and crunches.

05-12-12, 12:14 PM
LAC Join Date: Apr 2006	I bought this from Mary's site last week and tried the Energizing section this morning. I think it clocked in around 25 minutes. I liked Melissa's no pressure presentation, the outdoor set, the gentle music and the sound of the waves lapping. Once or twice I misunderstood her cues and noticed when glancing up at the screen that I was lagging behind in a pose when she had moved on. As I become more familiar with it, this shouldn't be a problem. I enjoyed the slower pace and some of the longer balancing holds. Previewed a little of the 40 minute strength section with the stretch band and may try it out tomorrow. Haven't checked out the 20 minute relaxation section yet. So far, my impression is that this DVD will be a good fit for me. Thank you for discussing it here on VF, otherwise I might never have noticed it!

05-12-12, 01:30 PM
rosepetals Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: UNITED STATES	I did the relaxation segment on the beach. It was very nice.