Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown DVD Review

by Natalie Belford

Retail Price: $14.98

Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown is like an other Jillian Michaels workout video – high in cardio but with a dash of yoga mixed in. Everyone who has been exercising with Jillian’s exercise videos knows how intense her work outs can be. Once you put her DVD on, you’ll know that you’re definitely in for a sweat.

In Yoga Meltdown, Jillian does her usual “rep it out”, high powered moves with a yoga twist. I really enjoy the creativity in Yoga Meltdown as it is not quite often the case where I can feel an actual burn in my regular yoga sessions. At the end of the session, I can feel my heart rate pumping up several notches and the feeling like I got a good workout worth from the video.

Each work out is timed at 30 minutes, which I appreciate because sometimes I just don’t have the time for workouts that stretches out to 45 or an hour. And seriously, anything beyond 30 minutes would be too taxing. I also like that there’s a level system to Yoga Meltdown where I feel that I am adequately challenged to work up to the next level. The moves are well planned and I like the flow and transition from one position to another.

Another thing that is a bonus is that Jillian’s movements are not joint straining. The moves aren’t too complicated like the ones you would encounter in Ashtanga yoga, where the body weight is supported by single joints such as the shoulders or knees. Your knees and wrists should be in good shape though because there will be a lot of getting up and down with your knees. In fact, to keep up with this workout at all, you have to be in pretty good shape all around.

However, I wouldn’t recommend this video for total yoga beginners as Yoga Meltdown some moves aren’t really practical for introducing true yoga moves. With real yoga, you’ll get more thorough instructions on breathing techniques and posture aliment which is crucial for a correct pose.

Without this, injuries can possibly occur. So Yoga Meltdown is only great for people who already have some yoga background. If not, I would suggest starting with Jillian’s other workout videos or even familiarizing yourself with the names of the yoga poses before hand with yoga classes. This will lessen the hassle of having to glance up at the screen to check if you’re on track.

If you are looking for a traditional yoga video, you may want to look elsewhere as Yoga Meltdown does not follow the rules and traditions of yoga methodology in terms of breath work and movement synchronization. Yoga Meltdown does deliver what it is suppose to deliver- a real cardio work out, causing you to burn fat and add some muscle tone to your body. This work out is by no means simple but it sure was fun and refreshing to have some intensity while going the yoga route.

Yoga Meltdown is by no means our regular yoga video in pace nor stringent philosophy but it makes a regular work out less dull and more fruitful. I definitely see results in my buttocks and improvement in upper body tone and strength. If you are looking for something to help you burn and lose fat, I would say this is a great video to add to your work out routine.

Click here to get the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD from Amazon.com!