One of my New Year’s resolutions is to find an exercise program I can stick with in Winter. Luckily, I met Kristin McGee online, where she is @thebendigirl on Twitter, and she was kind enough to send me four of her outstanding dvds to check out. I’ve been doing yoga for years and more recently got into Pilates, so these are perfect to warm up the New England chill and get me moving!
Since she sent me the dvds, I’ve been working out with them and it’s not hard at all to stick with the routines since I enjoy them. I do feel more limber and especially feel stronger in my core. They give me a great workout and I love Kristin’s friendly and encouraging manner.
Kristin has been a Yoga and Pilates instructor since 1996, and has provided special Yoga classes for athletes who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Park City, Utah. Kristin also choreographed and starred in MTV’s first Yoga video as well as MTV’s Power Yoga and MTV’s Pilates videos. Her warm and fresh approach has made her a favorite for celebrity clients and she has been featured as a fitness expert on the CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, NBC’s Today Show, CNN Headline News and Fox News. She is currently a Contributing Editor for Health Magazine and also Fila’s Yoga Ambassador.
So, let’s get to the DVD’s. First of all is BENDIGIRL YOGA. Kristin developed this method to help everyone feel stronger and more alive and it’s based on the belief that exercise can be fun and enjoyable when integrated into our lives.
From the website: Bendigirl is a unique fusion approach to exercise, as well as a philosophy that embraces change, growth and positivity. Using several methods including yoga, pilates, and strength training, it offers greater benefits and a more efficient workout. It also acknowledges that your needs are different depending on your fitness level, phase in life, or even the day.
The Bendigirl Yoga dvd is yoga for kids done by kids with Kristin and is great if you want to get your children involved. It’s also a workout that anyone can do. Boys, girls, adults…
Frome the website: Bendigirl Yoga is designed not only to get girls in shape, but also to build their confidence and create positive habits that will last a lifetime. With a modern, pop soundtrack featuring all original music, Bendigirl Yoga brings energy and fun to an exercise form that kids (and their mothers) might otherwise consider too boring to take up. McGee’s ability to instruct without condescending helps make this a workout that young women can embrace as their own.
My take: This is a fun and not too difficult yoga dvd that is very upbeat. It has routines that are easy to learn and there are fun partner poses. Get your kids involved or do it yourself!
The second dvd is POWER YOGA. This is more advanced and for those who perhaps already have been practicing yoga and want to take it to another level. I feel Kristin gives you an accessible workout that will strengthen and challenge you while uniting mind, breath and body. This one will hopefully help me get in bikini shape by next season ;). Kristin’s flexibility, positivity and uplifiting encouragement is inspiring. The dvd has a really nice floor routine as well.
Next up is one of my favorites – YOGATONE presented by Kristin McGee and FILA. I find the direction, photography, and production values somewhat more interesting in this one and really like the background music by Tom Rossi. Kristin uses 5 lb weights in this workout, but what you decide to use is really up to you and the level you are at. The combination of yoga postures and strength training seems to work really well for me. It keeps me intrigued: calming my mind, working my core, challenging my balance, providing cardio and helping my body to become stronger and leaner. Yoga classes wouldn’t work out for me right now and I love that I can do these at home and even increase the challenge over time.
And, my favorite of all is WEIGHT LOSS PILATES. I think it’s because Pilates is my latest passion. It’s funny how so many of the Pilates moves seem completely natural to me and some I’ve even done before I ever knew they were Pilates exercises.
I love this video for the great routines which provide amazing core work, cardio and strengthening. I’m not doing it for the weight loss, but if that is a side benefit, that’s fine too! Kristin has some wonderful warm-ups and cool-downs as well to ease you in and out of the workouts. There are exercises you can do on the go and I often find myself doing some of them when waiting for something to cook on the stove, or waiting in line at the grocery store. I can feel my abs and my core getting stronger and it feels really good. Also, as a bonus with this DVD, you will get a booklet from Cooking Light with tips and recipes for a healthy lifestyle.
So, my New Year is off to a great start because when I work out and do exercise I enjoy, I find I feel much better in mind, body and spirit. As I do the Pilates, Yoga and tone, somehow it’s easier to rebound from life’s little curve balls and stay flexible. And Kristin is the epitome of flexible. I’m so glad to have met her.
Kristin is also very generous and has offered a reader of Strange Daze Indeed the same set of videos I received. You will get a set of 4 dvds:
1) Bendigirl Yoga
2) Power Yoga
3) Yoga Tone and
4) Weight Loss Pilates
so that you also can stay fit no matter what the season! The videos are also all available at Kristin’s online shop and at Amazon.com.
Just use the friendly Rafflecopter to enter.
Some helpful links to connect with Kristin:
Her website
Her blog
Kristin’s Facebook
Kristin’s Twitter
Cut out soda and watch what I put in my body.
I want to workout at least 3 times a week and limit my soda intake!
kaitlingallinger@gmail.com
to stop drinking soda!
vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
My resolution was to give up pop and walk 3 times a week
s2s2 at comcast dot net
I am attempting to walk at least 1 mile a day and to drink at least 8 glasses of water.
to eat better and be more active!
To get more exercise.
slb3334@gmail.com
To lose 15 pounds. mcgillrmcgill(at)charter(dot)net
eat better
nickieisis3atgmaildotcom
My healthy resolution is to cook dinner 4 nights a week from scratch at home and use fresh veggies!
Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
My goal is “30 by 30.” I will lose 30 pounds before I turn 30 in May! But, overall I will lead a healthy, active lifestyle 🙂
Abdominal exercises can help you also gain strong stomach muscles and back muscles. This can reduce the likelihood of back pains and provide protection against injury by efficient response to stress.
My goal is to qualify for the 2013 NYC Marathon.
drink more water instead of everything else and walk more!
I would like to get more toned and defined this year.
To give up soda.
Deana Kneen
I joined Weight Watchers, so I am hoping to lose weight
I am trying to add more water in my day and definitely move more. Park further away and take stairs whenever possible.
I have a kristen mcgee video I love and use regularly!! I would love to score all 4 of these!
ladyboarder9669(at)yahoo(dot)com
I hope to eat healthier. 🙂
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
My resolution is to eat more fiber.
Drinking more water!
cherriesjessilee@gmail.com
Cut down on sugary beverages !!
ktgonyea at gmail.com
working out at least 3 times a week.. i’m failing miserably so far maybe the bendi girl would motivate me 😛
Get back in shape and strengthen my core after a herniated disk surgery!
I’m aiming to tone up after having a baby last year and eat more fruits and vegetables everyday.
Drinking more water, and eating more veggies
Kids have been making me stay on track. “Did you work out today Mom.” These would be something new to try!
I’m trying to maintain a weight of 129 lbs.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
these sound great. i really want to lose some weight, but really just get in shape and tone up my legs and arms.
lauren51990 at aol dot com
I really need to lose weight & quit smoking!
To continue to be good with diet & exercise… the hardest part of healthy living!!! 😀
I am trying to lose weight.
choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to lose some weight as well.. it isn’t getting any easier the older I get.
I want to get my cholesterol and thyroid under control in 2012. ~ Angie BAiley
My resolution is to exercise More, this would be a perfect way to also get my daughters to help motivate me and something we could do together.
jkys8675309 at yahoo dot com
drink more water!
Exercise more.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
Exercise at least 5 days a week and stick to it. Plus vary my workouts in which the DVDs would help a lot. I always wanted to try yoga. Thanks for the chance! =)
Quit smoking
Exercise at least 8 hours per month.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Eat more fruits and vegetables!
Peachesncream887(at)hotmail(dot)com
I am looking forward to getting healthier and eating less meat
Drinking more water to keep away the munchies!
Lose 15lbs eat better, run faster, longer. Gain more stamina.
To slow down and relax.
I am shooting to lose 1 pound per week. So far I have lost 6 pounds 🙂
i would love to lose the rest of the baby weight and keep it off. (10 lbs)
amypugmire@live.com
I am hoping to stop smoking.
FB: Toni Marie Caravello
reannenny at aol.com
Twitter: Tonic67
I would like to lose weight this year – I’ve started by taking the stairs instead of the elevators at work (and I do lots of stairs at work because I work making rounds in the hospital for 16 hours every weekend)!
want to get rid of the spare tire! – godan[at]comcast(d0t)net
Walking for 45 minutes 3-4 times a week!
I’m hoping to be more consistent with exercising this year.
805chick7 at gmail dot com
I want to firm up and strengthen my muscles. Plus I need to eat vegetables more often.
I want to eat more balanced healthy meals.
Desiree Dunbar
desireedunbar@hotmail.com
my goal is to lose weight
stracey2010@live.com
I have cut out sugars,snacks ect..now only eat sugar free..and have lost over 30pds already..so im shooting to lose about 30 more pds
cpsnsamples@aol.com
I want to enter a Triathlon by this Fall
I would love to eat better and tone up.
BBrittBrat1398@yahoo.com
I am trying to lose 45 pounds.
I want to lose 15 pounds!
Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com
We’re working on eating more local in season produce and looking for a local meat source- probably a 4-H student!
just to get healthy
vmkids3 at msn dot com
I don’t make resolutions.
i have been walking on the treadmill an hour a day
No more boxed foods!!
rierie11booger (@) yahoo.com
Get moving and eat better.
I want to get control ofmy diabetes
I plan to ride my exercise bike instead of just looking at it this year!
My resolution is to lose twenty pounds.
I would love to lose 15 lbs.
fb: rab pom
gfc: cassandra marquez
cmarquez482(at)ymail(dot)com
My resolution is to begin a walking program so I can get in better shape.
wallindeb@yahoo.com
no 2012 resolution but my 2011 one was to run my first marathon which i did in November
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