From Tae Bo to Turbo Jam: The Best in Kickboxing DVDs ...

For many years, video workouts were made up of moves you’d only find in dance classes. But toward the late 1990’s, a new trend emerged. Martial arts-style kicks and punches were woven into cardio workouts making home exercising even more fun and challenging than before.

Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo videos were the first to bring kickboxing to the mainstream. Since their release, dozens of other workouts have followed ranging from gentle, easy-to-learn kickboxing moves to hardcore drills not for the faint of heart.

Easing into kickboxing

Want to get a feel for kickboxing workouts or slowly ease back into the moves? There are two DVDs that will help you. Quick Fix: Cardio Kick and 10 Minute Solution: KickBox Bootcamp both include four, 10-minute workouts. Leslie Sansone offers an easy workout on her Walk and Kick DVD.

Nothing beats the original Tae Bo workouts. The “Basic” workout from the original series is ideal for beginners. Also, if you still have a VCR and can find copies of the “Tae Bo Live!” series either in a bargain bin or on eBay, the basic workouts from this series are also exceptional workouts. (They have not been released on DVD yet.)

New to workout scene is a popular series called Turbo Jam. The creators of Turbo Jam included an instructional workout (called “Learn”) as well as slower-paced workout (“Burn”) to help beginners get used to the moves.

Other excellent introductions to kickboxing include “Jillian Michaels' Biggest Winner Cardio Kickbox” and “Caribbean Workout: Kickboxing”.

Want a challenge?

Once you’re learned how to do a roundhouse kick to perfection and your punches are strong and powerful, it’s time to step it up.

There are over a dozen Tae Bo workouts designed for the intermediate user. There’s “Cardio Circuit”, “Rounds” and “The Power Within”.

Turbo Jam also has more challenging workouts including “Cardio Party 1, 2 & 3”, “Fat Blaster” and “Lower Body Jam”.

                              Turbo Jam Maximum Results

There are also many lesser-known gems. One of the best kickboxing workouts ever produced is Kathy Smith’s Kickboxing Workout. It’s a thorough and smart kickboxing experience. Also be sure to check out the Powerstrike series as well as Guillermo Gomez’s Kickbox Underground and Sharon Mann’s Shape Up With Sharon: Kickboxing.

DVDs an advanced kickboxer could appreciate

Yes, Billy Blanks also caters to those who have worked their way up to being an advanced kickboxer. His “Bootcamp” series is far beyond his original series as is his “Extreme” DVD.

But if you’re looking for an intense workout, look to the instructors who are known for their hardcore workouts.

Janis Saffell (who specializes in kickboxing) has her Hardcore Kickbox Circuit, Kickbox Express and Kick It workouts which are well-done and will push you beyond your limit.

Kimberly Spreen's Box-N-Flow, Cathe Friedrich's Kick, Punch and Crunch and Kelli Robert’s KickButt Combat are worthy of your collection and are workouts any kickboxer would want to work their way up to.

Final suggestion:

Often times kickboxing workouts are criticized for not sticking to traditional kickboxing moves. Katalin Rodriguez-Ogren, a personal trainer known as “GI Jabb”, has a solid background in martial arts training. Her experience and mindfulness of proper form shines through in the traditional-inspired workouts she offers for all fitness levels.

With a never-ending list of interests and a great deal of experience and knowledge, Wendy Wallace is an intuitive counselor offering sessions which combine psychic reading, life coaching and counseling all to help heal your mind, body, and spirit. What changes might you make in life if you could know what the future holds?


Article Source: EzineArticles.com -- Wendy Wallace

Yoga and Your Mind.

Yoga is one of the most exciting forms exercise. The reason for its popularity is that it includes both mind and body exercises. These exercises allow a deep form of mediation that has actually existed for several thousand years. Yoga came from India, and involves practicing breathing and postures that induce meditation. It is a form of discipline that unites the body and the mind. This is what makes it different then a typical aerobics class.

Yoga's many health benefits include greater flexibility, increased strength and endurance, a lessening in stress, greater coordination, greater energy, and even a relief of PMS and menstrual cramps. Yoga is great for everyone and it is pretty possible to find a class to suit anyone's needs.

So if you are practicing yoga you might want to know what the best kind yoga to practice is. The following is a list of the most popular types of yoga. We will start with Lyengar. Lyenger is a good form of yoga for beginners. Lynegar uses pillows and chairs to help those who are as flexible as others. Hatha Yoga is another form of light yoga. Hatha focuses mostly on healing the mind with breathing and meditation held during poses. If you want a faster, more aerobic type of workout, then Astanga yoga might be for you. This type of yoga is also called power yoga. It stresses strength and power. For athletes this may be the way to go. If you are just starting out, this might not be your first choice. Sivananda yoga is a good mix of all of these. I would recommend this as an in between choice. This yoga consists of 12 different poses that are combined with relaxation and breathing, as well as meditation. Form is also highly emphasized in Sivananda yoga.

There are of course many other types of yoga then these. The ones mentioned are just a good place to start for those looking for a beginning.

 Yoga Booty Ballet Master Series

                                                

If you do decide to try out yoga, then you are going to also want to try out a good diet. The one you will probably hear about is the yoga diet. It is basically the clean diet with a different name. Well balanced meals, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low fats, and eaten in moderation.

If you want to give yoga a try, try one of the above. You will probably find something you are looking for. Enjoy, breathe, and stretch you stress away!


Article by Mike Bunta as contributed to ezines.com