A 45-minute strength-building Yoga routine — 25 minutes of standing postures and 20 minutes of floor postures (with a bit of Pilates thrown in for good measure). Fitness pro Karen Voight instructs.

Advanced beginning to intermediate Yoga enthusiasts. You need to be familiar with the poses and have a certain amount of strength. You will need a mat and perhaps a block, if you are not too flexible.

When people want a vigorous Yoga routine that builds strength, they usually opt for some form of Power Yoga. Karen Voight's workout goes in the opposite direction. She goes slowly and you'll find no Sun Salutations here. Instead, she gives you lower-body strengthening standing poses and lots of time in Downward Facing Dog/ Plank (so be forewarned — this may not be the right workout for you if your wrists are bothersome). Then she takes you to the mat for floor poses that focus on the core muscles, mainly the abs and back. This is a routine for Yoga enthusiasts who are more athletically inclined and not that interested in the spiritual aspects of Yoga, or who can't stand the New Age-y tone of some of the other DVDs out there. Voight's instruction is always straightforward and easy to understand, and you can do the full routine, or you can do the standing and floor work on different days. It's a nice break from other types of resistance training, and you won't feel like you've wimped out.

 

 

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