Crunch: Total Yoga (2001)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Produced and directed by Andrea Ambandos
Fitness Consultant: Linda Shelton
Instructor: Susan Ivanhoe

Features:

• Two different workout routines
  
• Instructor cueing audio option
  

Rating: NR, suitable for all audiences

Anamorphic: N/A

My Advice: Buy it if you want a change in your exercise regime or are fond of yoga

Yoga is said to have many purposes: improving balance, endurance, circulation, posture, flexibility, and muscle tone, while also reducing stress and mental fatigue. Yoga is not about turning yourself into a pretzel or any other false images some people have of the art. Now, with Crunch: Total Yoga, yoga is also made into an effective cardio exercise that will strengthen your heart and help you to lose weight, all without scaring newcomers to the form.

Crunch: Total Yoga contains two different workouts for different purposes. There is Fat Burning Workout for toning the entire body, increasing energy levels, helping reach and maintain an ideal body weight, and generally increasing physical stamina. The Joy of Yoga Workout is geared more towards relaxation and is much more traditional in general. It also contains a guided meditation section.

The general level of instruction in Crunch: Total Yoga is quite good. Instructor Ivanhoe is careful to let viewers know how to alter things to suite their own fitness level, as well as providing warnings were applicable. She is motivated and clear about how yoga, a slower form of exercise than, say, aerobics, can still be used as a weight-loss method, along with many other benefits, such as stress-reduction, increased flexibility, etc. Her cues are always clear and energized, but not rushed or frantic. You won’t feel swamped or lost.

The audio and video quality are both solid on this disc. While an exercise video doesn’t exactly tax the stereo quality or provide tricky sound effects, it’s still important to hear and see the instructor as clearly as possible, as there is a very real danger that doing a move wrong, especially repeatedly, could cause physical harm.

The only real feature on this disc is the Instructor Cueing Audio Option, which allows you to work out using your own music, but still has the benefit of Ivanhoe’s vocal cueing. This is a nice touch for any viewers who like to use a specific kind of music to encourage them to exercise—whatever makes us get up and move is a good thing.

The key to effective weight loss is basically getting your heart rate up for an extended period of time; this allows for cardio improvement, increased muscle mass, and fat burning. Crunch: Total Yoga delivers on this need, creating a fun, effective workout that won’t waste your time, bore you silly, or make you injure yourself to get anywhere. Check it out if you need a change in your current exercise regime, or if you have a physical limitation or injury that makes traditional cardio workouts painful or impossible. There are so many reasons to do yoga, and I can’t think of a single reason not to do it. Check with your health care practitioner, and get started today!