Rating: - Unique exercise DVD with a variety of practices influenced by Pilates, yoga, and other Eastern traditions
This is a new video by Jennifer Kries, a ballet-trained fitness instructor who is well-known for her The Method Pilates videos. Here, Jennifer expands her teaching and adds a new element, the concept of Yin (cool, relaxing) and Yang (hot, energy). Thus the concept of this DVD is to provide exercise segments which are designed mainly to relax, energize, or both. There are a total of 7 different individual workouts, each of which are designated as Yin or Yang; 3 of these segments involve use of "Pilates Toys," including a magic circle, dumbbells, and a stability ball. The DVD offers a variety of workout options, including 7 "custom" premixed routines which combine two or more of the individual segments.

Here is the main menu for the DVD:
*Welcome to Hot Body Cool Mind
*Complete Waking Energy Life Force Workout
*Waking Energy Workout Segments
*7 Custom Waking Energy Workout Combinations
*The Yin Yoga and Meridian Theory Interview
*Credits
*About Jennifer

I didn't try any of the premixed workout combinations, as most were a bit too lengthy for me (3 of the 7 were under 50 minutes, the remainder were 52 minutes and more, up to 87 minutes). However, I did mix and match until I had used each one of the 7 individual workouts. When you select the option for the individual segments from the main DVD menu above, the breakdown is as follows below (note: the times are all as given on the DVD insert, and the 5 segments labeled "on the go" are less than 25 minutes each):

*Waking Energy Introduction
*Waking Energy "Before You Begin"
*Waking Energy Sitting (21 min.) -on the go
*Waking Energy Standing (24 min.)
*The 5 Tibetans Introduction
*The 5 Tibetans (11 min.) -on the go
*Pilates Magic Circle (14 min.) -on the go
*Pilates Sculpting Series (10 min.) -on the go
*PhysioBall (10 min.) -on the go
*Yin Yoga Introduction
*Yin Yoga and Meditation, Full Yin (28 min.)
*Yin Yoga and Meditation, Shorter Practice (21 min.)

Okay, now I will provide my impressions of each of the above:

Waking Energy Sitting (actual time 28.5 minutes). Jennifer states that this is the "full list" of waking energy exercises (as opposed to the shorter series on the Level 1 DVD). The moves here are based largely on Chi-Gong and focus on awakening chi, or life-force; the exercises involve activities such as rubbing the hands together to generate energy and actually slapping and punching the body to loosen trapped chi (Jennifer provides detailed instruction on these moves both during the workout itself and in the accompanying booklet to insure that they are pleasant). Self-massage movements are also included, from loosening the muscles of the entire face by massaging the eyes, cheeks, jaw, and ears to massaging the feet. Overall, I think this segment would work great for a warm-up, although it is a bit lengthy to use regularly for that purpose.

Waking Energy Standing. This segment is also based on Chi-Gong as well as Makko-Ho (active meridian stretch). Performed standing and including various spinal rolls, I found it to be more energizing and stretching than the seated version (although both Waking Energy segments are supposed to serve dual Yin or Yang roles depending on when they are performed). Although not labeled this way on the menu, it is actually shorter than the seated segment.

The 5 Tibetans. These 5 exercises are known as the "Rites of Rejuvenation;" they are practiced by Tibetan Monks and are supposed to stimulate the chakra system to provide age-defying benefits. Some of the moves are recognizable from yoga, such as camel pose and down dog, but all are performed in a series of flowing repetitions (the goal is 21 for each exercise) with breath. Assuming that you've already worked with her previous DVDs, Jennifer does 14 reps of each move here (she starts with only 7 reps on the Level 1 DVD). Despite my prior experience with both yoga and the 5 Tibetans themselves, I found it a bit difficult to keep up with Jennifer's fast pace, although she does instruct you to relax with two full breaths between each exercise set. She also shows some modifications for each movement prior to starting the exercise, but I thought this disrupted the flow of the workout, especially when she could have included this information in the 5 Tibetans introductory segment. This workout ends with the goddess breath.

Pilates Magic Circle. This was a nice short workout using the Pilates circle or ring. It begins working the upper and the lower body from a standing position, using some unique variations on the exercises that I haven't seen in other ring workouts. There is also some work for the abs from a seated position as well as additional moves performed on one side only.

Pilates Sculpting Series. Here Jennifer leads her two background exercisers through the standard standing arms series developed by Joseph Pilates. She moves briskly from exercise to exercise, sometimes pausing before a new movement to give a form demonstration. Jennifer notes that 5-10 repetitions are the usual recommendation, and she does 8 of each exercise here (although the reps were slightly off on a few occasions).

PhysioBall. This third short "Pilates Toys" segment was more challenging than I had expected! Jennifer begins seated on the stability ball for abs crunches, moves to feet resting on the ball for hamstring work, and finishes with some tough plank work on the ball (she briefly demonstrates even more advanced variations).

Yin Yoga and Meditation, Full Yin. Jennifer describes Yin Yoga as "needle-less acupuncture" in the sense that it targets the meridian areas of the body to provide complete relaxation (she explains this further in the interview link off the main menu). Jennifer alternately refers to the postures as "makko-hos" and explains which meridian pairs are addressed by each. Although she recommends holding the poses for up to 15 minutes or at least 8-10 breaths, they are NOT held that long here; rather, she frequently reminds the viewer that she and her helpers are offering an overview of how you would practice on your own. The postures are performed entirely on the floor and include butterfly (cobbler's pose), a choice of seal (similar to cobra) or saddle (similar to 1-leg reclined hero), seated forward bend, dragon (wide-legged seated forward bend), a choice of shoelace (bull seat or the legs from cow-face pose) or eye of the needle (thread the needle) or ankle to knee (double pigeon), pigeon, wide-legged child's pose (Jennifer actually recommends performing regular child's pose between every posture, but this is not shown), dragonfly (wide-legged forward bend), quarter dog, reclined twist (revolved stomach pose), dead bug, cross-legged seated forward bend with crossed arms, and relaxation/final meditation.

Yin Yoga and Meditation, Shorter Practice. This abbreviated Yin Yoga practice (21 minutes) is not listed on the DVD insert. It contains the same footage as the Full Yin practice above, but a few of the postures are left out, and others don't seem to be held quite as long (the end of the practice in particular felt a bit more rushed). Poses here include butterfly, choice of seal or saddle, seated forward bend, choice of shoelace or eye of the needle or ankle to knee, pigeon, dragonfly, reclined twist, and relaxation/final meditation.

In summary, this is generally a very well-done DVD with a variety of practice options. I think that ideally, it would appeal to someone with prior experience in both Pilates and yoga who is interested in incorporating additional Eastern principles and philosophies into their workouts. I can see myself using the waking energy segments whenever I want to feel gently refreshed, the Pilates segments as add-ons to my other workouts, and the Yin Yoga practices when I want to get the benefits of relaxing yoga postures with extended holds. My overall rating is about 4 1/2 of 5 stars.

One final note: Hot Body Cool Mind "Waking Energy" was released at the same time as another Hot Body Cool Mind DVD by Jennifer Kries, Level 1 (or "Embark on the Journey"). Apparently, two other DVDs in this series, Level 2, "Harness the Power," and Level 3, "The Life Force Power Workout" are yet to be released. Also, during her instruction for this Waking Energy video, Jennifer sometimes refers to it as Level 4 and assumes your prior experience with the other DVDs in this series.

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Rating: - Deepening the work
This DVD is an extension of the work on Kries' other new release, Hot Body Cool Mind Level 1. While that DVD had shorter segments of everything from Dance to Yoga to Pilates to Qigong, this DVD has longer segments of Waking Energy (Qigong), the Five Tibetans and Yin Yoga and shorter segments of Pilates Sculpting, using weights, a circle and a physio ball.

The Seated and Standing Waking Energy segments will be familiar if you have used the Level 1 DVD. Here, however, she adds on more movements and more repetitions. It is even more heating than Level 1. Because there is more, the segments are somewhat longer, with about 21 minutes spent on the seated sequence and 24 minutes on the standing sequence. I found the sequences to be very calming and invigorating.

The Five Tibetans uses the same exercises as Level 1 but goes up to 14 repetitions. She also adds one exercise, Goddess or Goddess Squat (a deep second position plie). This clocks in at 11 minutes.

The Pilates Magic Circle (14 minutes), Sculpting Series (10 minutes) and PhysioBall series (10 minutes) incorporate the use of popular Pilates toys. (Please note: I couldn't find my Magic Circle, so I substituted a child's playball instead. It worked with all of the exercises she showed, so don't feel like you have to run out and buy a circle to justify the DVD.) These segments do not include anything spectacularly advanced or daunting; she shows a stability ball pike, but only as an advanced option for knee tucks/shells on the ball. The Sculpting Series will be familiar to those with her other DVDs. Having said that, it does provide an effective muscle sculpting workout- my arms especially felt this the next day.

The Yin Yoga and Meditation segment, which comes in at about 32 minutes, is more of an instructional demonstration than a follow along workout. She includes more postures than in Level 1 and explains that while she and her dancers will hold for about five to ten breaths, we're encouraged to do these on our own for five to ten mintues. I'm missing all of the postures, but among those included were Butterfly, Saddle, Side Stretch, Forward Bend, Child's Pose, Thread the Needle/Shoe Lace, Pigeon, Quarter Dog, Wide Legged Child's Pose and Savasana. She discusses the particular meridians associated with each posture and describes the practice as needle-less accupuncture. She ends with a brief meditation. Since a few of the postures are performed to both sides- and we're encouraged to insert a Child's Pose between the other postures- the full set would have been at least an hour and a half long. As it was, I found this session peaceful and stretchy, but I intend to use it instead as a guide to my own practice rather than as a follow along.

In addition to being a great tool to use to workout, the DVD is also beautiful. The film quality is some of the best I've ever seen for an exercise DVD, comparable only to the Total Yoga: The Flow Series. Production quality isn't a big deal for me- if I can see it and hear it, I'm good to go- but for those pickier it may be helpful to know.

I don't see myself using the Five Tibetan and Yin Yoga segments as done too much (and I don't think that was the intention), but I do plan to alternate the Waking Energy segments with Level 1 (great for when I'm short on time). The Pilates Toys segments are also a nice change of pace, so I see myself using those several times per month.

Another great instructional tool from Jennifer Kries.

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Rating: - Great!
Jennifer is a good instructor and she's very soothing. She explained in details of each movement and type of workouts. This DVD has variety of workouts and you'll need a mat, a chair, a set of dumbbells, a physio ball, Pilates magic circle, and a towel. You can do some workouts without those props. I like this DVD because this is more like an all-in-one reference workout DVD than regular workout DVDs. I can choose a workout that fits my available time. She has 2-3 other people so you can see modification. My favorite is Pilates Magic Circle workout, about 15 min long. Just fit my schedule in the morning. If I have more time, I repeat more reps. Yoga stretch/meditation is very good after a long day of works. I haven't tried physio ball workout though. I have small space to workout at home and there are no shoes required for these workouts. All are easy to follow and music is good too.

These are the workouts:
Waking energy with chair: 28min, standing 24m, 5 Tibetans with mat: 10m, Pilates magic circle: 15m, Pilates Sculpting with weights: 9m, Ball: 10m, Yoga meditation full: 30m, short: 20m.

I'm sort of lazy to exercise (short of time and space) but have to workout and am trying. I really need motivation and this one fits my needs. Oh, I also like the cover, Jennifer and her man but he's not in the workouts :( . Just another guy, not that hot like the man from the cover.

PS. Another good all-in-one workout DVD is "Pilates Complete Sculpt & Tone." It also has Pilates Magic Workout too. It's a good idea to have that Pilates circle, just squeeze between legs for inner legs or pressing/pulling with hands for arms while watching movies or TV, especially during commercials. Don't worry; you can do those on the couch.