Trudie Styler Warrior Yoga DVD

Our friends at Gaiam gave us a screener of this yoga DVD to test out.  Since I've been practicing yoga for almost ten years, I was very excited to try it out.   I generally go to class twice a week and practice once a week at home, so I thought it would be great to add a different yoga routine to my repertoire.

After going through the DVD workouts several times, here are my thoughts:

Pros:

• The sequencing is very unique, elegant and interesting.  Many yoga DVDs feature dull and repetitious sequences which get boring very quickly.
• The yoga poses included in the routines are a nice balance of standing and seated work.
• The background music features songs from Sting's classical album Songs from the Labyrinth, and includes languorous versions of "Fields of Gold" and "Message in a Bottle."
• The DVD offers two workouts:  a full-length 50 minute version and an express 25 minute long one.
• Two meditation sequences are also available.
• A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the DVD support UNICEF Ecuador Water Project.

Cons:

• I'm used to 90 minute long yoga classes, so 50 minutes is well under what I consider to be "full-length."
• More attention could have been paid to the verbal cues.  I frequently got mixed up as to which side I was on and constantly looking up to view the DVD for reference interfered with the flow of my practice.

Although titled Trudie Styler Warrior Yoga, the yoga routine is choreographed and instructed by celebrity fitness guru James D'Silva.  Styler merely serves to help D'Silva demonstrate poses through both workouts--although she does provide voiceover for one of the meditation exercises. 

Bonus material on the DVD includes a tour of Il Palagio--home of Sting and Trudie Styler and where the DVD was filmed, Growing Energy, a lifestyle piece featuring Trudie Styler and Sting discussing how they use the Il Palagio land to create an environmentally friendly home and interviews with Styler, Sting and celebrity fitness trainer James D'Silva.

Trudie Styler Warrior Yoga makes for a nice respite from the holiday madness--or perhaps a gift for the yogi on your shopping list.  Get it for less when you buy it using one of our Gaiam coupons.

Any other yogis out there?  What are your favorite yoga CDs and DVDs?