FITNESS ZONE
Beachbody’s PiYO – The Dysfunctional Parrot Review
Finally, yours truly…the infamous anti-coach…will review Chalene Johnson’s PiYO by Beachbody.
PiYO ( pronounced pie-yo ) is an acronym for Pilates and Yoga. It is a 60 day system with 8+1 bonus workouts aimed towards intermediate level women. Wait, did I just say women? Looks like you got me. PiYO is absolutely designed primarily for women. I’ll elaborate later.
What you get:
DVD’s in a package that has a sweaty Chalene looking at you like you’re made of chocolate covered pheromones. Also in the box are the food guide, schedule and…why is she looking at me like that?
PiYo Align: The Fundamentals
Time : 43 minutes
This is primarily posture instruction as you’ll spend the first five minutes simply standing. It is unlikely you will visit this workout twice due to it not actually being a workout. Keep in mind that if you’re at all familiar with P90X, Insanity, T25 or the like, you can skip this entirely.
PiYo Drench
Time: 48 minutes
This is yoga with teeth. Unlike standard yoga with isometric postures, you’ll be switching things fast making it a double whammy of cardio action. Planks, up/down dogs, vinyasas…all in rapid succession. I have to give credit where its due, this is a killer yoga routine.
PiYo Buns
Time: 28 minutes
The men in PiYO are sporting some amazing wax jobs which look smoother than the spoiler of a Lamborghini. That’s not something unique to PiYO either. Just about every workout video has a policy where if you decide not to wear a shirt, they shear you like a sheep. I guess what I’m saying is, you won’t find me in a workout video any time soon.
Buns is as expected: squats, lunges and some floor work. A quick yet solid way to attack the hind quarters.
There is a downside though…the music. I loathe it. It’s disposable modern love-pop with lyrics and it takes all the pump out of a workout. Women may like it I suppose but most men will turn it off. I had to just about break out AC/DC to overcompensate.
PiYo Core
Time: 30 minutes
An abs/core attack that goes after the obliques harder than most abdominal workouts I’ve seen. I was amazed at how tight I am so I felt satisfied with what I was getting here. This one’s a winner in my book.
PiYo Strength Intervals
Time: 21 minutes
A cardio circuit trainer, and as such the name is a little misleading. The closet you get to strength is doing a little plyo and some push ups.
I felt disappointed with this workout as it was crazy easy. If you’ve ever done PAP or Asylum, this will be more of a warmup in comparison. Therefore I class it as a beginner/intermediate level workout. Again I have to mention the music. The tempo is just wrong. Programs like T25 are masterfully in sync with a backbeat, but here not at all.
PiYo Sculpt
Time: 26 minutes
I’m starting to wonder why there is a weight rack and push up stands on the set because it seems we’re never going to use them. Sculpt instead uses push ups, lunges, chair dips, and some yoga warrior postures to get the job done.
PiYo Define: Lower Body
Time: 20 minutes
I find the warmup has more in common with awkward Hip Hop Abs moves and dare I say, is somewhat useless. Grab a skip rope for 90 seconds and you’ll be way ahead of the game.
Lower Body is very low impact yoga, vinyasas and leg lifts. Again, no weights so don’t expect Body Beast results. If you’re accustomed to other lower body workouts, this will bore you terribly.
PiYo Define: Upper Body
Time: 19 minutes
Planks, push-ups and crunches. Moves are often slow to get the most out of them but to be honest, I don’t feel like body weight is being used to its full potential here. The short timespan doesn’t leave you feeling satisfied either.
PiYo Sweat
Time: 37 minutes
Like Drench, only now you focus more on balance postures and less speed between moves. It’s a sweet yoga option, just disable the music soundtrack and supply your own.
Hardcore on the Floor
Time: 33 minutes
Get your mind out of the gutter kids. This is leg lifts, crunches, planks and twists. This one is a highly effective gut buster and a winner for the intermediate to advanced audience. If you have any other program, you’ll want to throw this one in your core days often.
CONCLUSION
I can’t fault the effectiveness of PiYo as a beginner/intermediate workout package It has a lot of excellent things to offer in terms of flexibility and core strength. And make no mistake, you will work hard. But again I must get back to the target demographic.
As a forty year old male, I am clearly not the intended audience for PiYO. This is a great program for women but I have to say that men will not get what they want as the strength options are severely underpowered. The cheerleader training style of Chalene will also not click with the average man ( and many women! ) who deep down inside wants less “happy smiles” and a bit more Drill Sergeant Hartman.
So that means for you women out there, you’d probably like a lot of things about PiYO if you’re looking for a basic program that will keep you fit, make you move and absolutely work your butt off.
As always, Beachbody makes a gorgeous set, but the music falls flat in a huge way. Much of it sounds like whiny girl songs about love. When I’m trying to bring my A-game, some stranger singing about their failed and meaningless love life is not going to charge my batteries. In the future, I would hire the team from Shaun T, the master of rhythm. An effective track can make the difference between “I’ll finish this set or die!” and “meh…good enough.”
But being fair and keeping in mind who this is made for, I’m going to give PiYo a 3.8 Feathers out of 5. It’s an above average program designed for a particular audience who will gain much from it. It wins big on core and cardio, but hardcore masters of physical destruction will want to grab a program with more teeth.
Aaron
July 8, 2020 at
I like Chalene and I like PiYo, but if you’re used to P90X this would definitely be a step back*. Even so, I think PiYo’s useful for a recovery cycle**, or for blending with other workouts like LIIFT4 or Body Beast that don’t have a yoga-like component.
* Or at least a step in a different direction; it’s certainly possible to get jacked on bodyweight exercises. But this would be square one on that path.
** I’m a few years behind you, and I’m gradually coming to terms with the fact that I can’t go hard all the time. This winter I’ll probably dial it back and do a mix of P90 and PiYo.
myvestige
February 21, 2020 at
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Kerstin Gadsden
July 25, 2017 at
Just a general comment as I keep finding myself back on your page whenever I am looking at reviews for my next potential work out program. I love your reviews. I always come away from this page smiling.
Franklin Fleming
June 29, 2017 at
Hi!
My Wife wants to lose some baby weight! And She wants a bigger Butt! (I think she is fine).
Would you recommend I start on something like these workouts http://bestbootyworkouts.com/anllela-sagra-workout/ or Piyo?
A complete workout for $29.99 sounds good but not sure :/
Kind regards Frank :)
Holly
October 18, 2016 at
This is an amazing program. My husband, who is 6’3, 230 lbs of muscle LOVES PIYO. He does it 3 days a week, when he isn’t being a beast in the gym, and says this program has greatly improved his strength and most importantly, flexibility. He doesn’t suffer from injuries anymore, he’s loose, he’s chiseled and he loves it.
I am seeing muscles in myself that I didn’t know existed. I completely disagree with this pretentious, and in my opinion, completely false review. Don’t let this guy scare you away, men. It’s just as much for you as it is for a woman.
I’m not a coach and I’m in no way affiliated with Beachbody.
These results are amazing.
Dysfunctional Parrot
October 18, 2016 at
I think it’s ok to have a different opinion without using silly insults. Clearly my views are not universal, nor would I expect them to be.
The reviews here are my experiences only, so it would be to the benefit of your own personal growth if you accepted that those who disagree with your findings are not necessarily “false” or “pretentious”. Good day.
Jan Fraser
September 28, 2016 at
Greetings. I do enjoy your reviews and as a result own P90X and P90X3. I have been advised to supplement my main activity with Pilates and am looking for any recommendations/ideas. Something I can do a couple of times a week, not a full blown Pilates only program.
Elizabeth A Lee
June 25, 2016 at
Hi. I am a fitness newbie who can barely make it through 21-day fix, who wants to start a body weight program where I can work out every day. I have problem with patella tracking, lateral motion and quadricept weakness.
Dysfunctional Parrot
June 27, 2016 at
Give P90 a try. It’s for beginners and incorporates weight training.
Elizabeth A Lee
June 27, 2016 at
I am not medically cleared to jump until my quads are strong enough. Will the workout still be tough enough if I cant do jmping jacks or burpees or traditional moves?
Dysfunctional Parrot
June 27, 2016 at
P90 really takes it slow and easy. There are always modifiers so that no jumping has to happen. Of course, be sure to get final clearance from a qualified physiotherapist who can better assess your own situation.
Bella White
May 14, 2016 at
Hey there mr DP. If PIYO isn’t for me, if i need something to work faster, could you please recommend a program for me from here please http://topworkoutprograms.com/
I would love your input cause you look like you know what you are talking about and I don’t want to waste another cent online until I find the right workout.
Thanks for your help :)
Gone Girl
April 12, 2016 at
I am glad I am not the only one who finds Chalene annoying. Also, she doesn’t cue you very well. I have PiYo, and when I was in a facedown position, Chalene is just nattering away. I didn’t know what move she was doing or how fast I needed to be doing it without wrenching my neck up. Maybe I am just nitpicking.
I love your reviews!
mal
April 4, 2016 at
Hi! I have a question concerning Piyo. I’ve never been doing things like yoga or pilates and when I checked Piyo reviews, I read that the exercises can be dangerous for people like me. Reviewers said that in Piyo yoga poses are sometimes shown uncorrectly and that they’re done so fast that’s easy for a yoga beginner to get an injury. I have hipermobile joints so I need to be extra-careful when it comes to this things. So could you please give me your honest opinion on that? I don’t want to hurt myself.
Dysfunctional Parrot
April 6, 2016 at
To be honest, there really isn’t a lot of actual Yoga in PiYO besides a couple workouts. But what there is is fairly intense so it would be advisable to seek the council of a physiotherapist before diving in.
mal
April 7, 2016 at
In general, I was encouraged by my physioterapist to train because my joints need solid muscles. I’m doing Cize at the moment and I love every single minute of it. It’s just that Piyo scares me a little because of all that stretching.
But after reading your other reviews I decided to go for P90 instead of Piyo. It looks like fun. So thank you very much ;)
(P90x3 looks even better. But I’m sure that I’m not fit enough to do it. Maybe in the future. What? A girl can dream… ;) )
Best regards and thank you very much once again.
Boymom
March 20, 2016 at
I did PiYo 6 weeks postpartum after my 4th baby (and a c-section no less.) I agree whole heartedly with this review. The music was bad, the program was boring and Chalene annoyed me, BUT it was an excellent way to jump back into working out and I did lose 12 inches and completely changed the shape of my sad postpartum tummy. So maybe they should market this as a postpartum shape up. ? I’m now 12 months postpartum and have completed many programs since, some beachbody, some not. I’m currently toying with the idea of a Rushfit/Insanity Max 30/PiYo hybrid, but I think I’m going to try 22 Minute Hard Corps first.
Amy
February 29, 2016 at
I really agree with you on this one (except for core: that routine didn’t do it for me). I don’t like the PiYo discs as a program. The first time I did it, I gained weight because of the lack of cardio. I do like a couple individual workouts though: Sweat, Drench, and Hardcore on the Floor. But I can’t stand the music and Chalene; she talks too much and is really irritating. I’ve kept this around to add these in to my other routines (Insanity or T25, 21day, P90X3 etc), but truth be told, I just don’t do it. When I’m done with it, I don’t feel great, I feel slightly irritated. So I tend to grab other discs that don’t grate on me (X3 pilates or yoga, 21day fix pilates or yoga, or even just a good ashtanga yoga disc).
Anyway, with your experience with so many different programs, is there another one out there that I can get some active yoga and bodyweight strength from? What would you recommend? And not Jillian, please. I can’t handle her either… Thanks!
Amy
Dysfunctional Parrot
February 29, 2016 at
The best all-around program I have done to date is probably P90X2. As for what is best for yoga/body weight style workouts, that’s a tough question as nobody has really done that in a way I like either. I have a hard time tolerating Chalene’s workouts and yes…Jillian often rambles on like she’s trying to be heard over a chainsaw. The only way I have pulled such a workout off is by making a hybrid. Max 30 for body weight and maybe a variety of yoga disks seems to work best. DDP yoga is excellent, but the trainer is definitely off the wall ( ex-wrestler ). I usually pop in whatever yoga disk is made by Tony Horton whether it be any of the P90X series, his One on Ones, or even a few freebies on his YouTube page.
Jenna
January 26, 2016 at
Hi DP,
Thank You so much for your great review, it’s great to see people have been getting some results!
My Husband and I are trying to get healthy and have also been thinking about buying the piyo workouts, BUT, after doing my homework a little and checking out other reviews, I’m 50/50 on what to do.
I’ve been reading this one at http://www.piyoreviews.com and she has a lot of great points.
Is PiYo really worth it? Or is it better to just stick to a traditional workout like YOGA?
Kind Regards
Jenna
Dysfunctional Parrot
January 26, 2016 at
To be honest, I found PiYO to be fairly light on actual yoga.
Since this is a program you AND your husband are considering, just be sure Chalene is your thing. Most guys might find the workout too “girly”. I’m sure you can get a sample of the program by finding clips on YouTube and then draw your own conclusions. If you’re thinking of a good couples program, T25, Hammer and Chisel, or P90X3 are good options that have a broader appeal.
Janeil
January 10, 2016 at
Hi, I love your reviews but think you’re a bit harsh with PIYO. When I first did the program I wasn’t overly taken but as I got into it,putting the right intensity and really concentrating on what I should be doing, I have come to love it. I do it every day at 5am and it gets me ready for the day. The more I do it, the more challenging I find it because you can always bring more. You just have to do it right and give it a chance. I do BOdy Beast and currently Hammer and Chisel of an evening and I think the PIYO helps me keep balance. The music is bad, I’ll give you that one, but don’t dismiss the workouts.
n
December 20, 2015 at
I really love your reviews! This is my first comment but you are awesome! I’m a 28 yr old woman and so I think I’d like PiYO and CIZE but you really can’t find legit reviews.. I feel as if they are all beach body ppl. Thanks for your reviews!
KH
November 5, 2015 at
I have done the first 4 workouts which I borrowed from my neighbor who is a Piyo coach. I don’t care for it. I prefer Jillian Michaels or P90x. It was a bit boring to me.
Sarah Pipak
October 30, 2015 at
Thanks for posting this! I’ve enjoyed your reviews before, particularly for Tapout XT. I refer to them often to remind me which workout is which (I completed the program awhile ago but still do workouts here and there).
Anyway, after reading this I have decided PiYO is probably not for me. When considering buying it, I made sure to come to your site to get your opinion first. Glad I did!
Ysabellle
June 6, 2015 at
Ive done one week and found it boring. And the instructor talks way too much blablabla ! in some moves the right and left side did not get the same amount of reps or excercise! And I m female. Like in other comments: I like a more motivating yelling instructor and up tempo hard music!
amga
July 21, 2015 at
I agree with you. I did it only for 2 days and I cant do it anymore. Extremely boring and instructor talks too much. Seriously annoying for me.
greg
March 19, 2015 at
how do i disable the music?
Dysfunctional Parrot
March 19, 2015 at
Should be an option in the main menu on the DVD.
Steve MacKenzie
July 18, 2015 at
How do I enable the Parrot?
Sara
March 8, 2015 at
Hi DP,
I just found your blog while searching for honest reviews of piyo. Great read! I’m a high mileage runner ( marathons, mostly) and am looking for a supplement to work on my core before work. I usually just wander around the gym and get bored, so I thought this might be a decent option since I wouldn’t rely on it for cardio or even for my main workout of the day. Any thoughts on whether or not piyo would meet this need?
Thanks in advance!
Sara
Dysfunctional Parrot
March 8, 2015 at
If you’re an intense athlete, PiYo is probably not going to suit your needs.
This is good as a side workout, so if you have something else that you do then it would be fine. If you want it to be your main, I’d opt for Max 30 or P90X2/3.
Sara
March 9, 2015 at
Great, thanks. I’m just looking for a good core workout that’s more than planks and crunches. Not sure if I’m sold on this one or not! Got any others to recommend? Shortish, something I could do in the morning disturbing downstairs neighbors (jumps aren’t a good alarm clock!)…Appreciate your insight!
Lee Mortimer
April 3, 2015 at
Hi Sara, you could do Insanity Max30, but, on the power jumps (or any jumps for that matter) you can do the modifier, there is a handy person next to Shaun T which does a low impact modifier of the exercise, so you won’t be waking the neighbors
Also, you can set to have the modifier showing all the time, have a look at DP review of MAX30, I’m doing it and I love it!!!
Stephanie
February 20, 2015 at
Hi DP, I’ve been reading through your reviews and have found them entertaining and informative. Chalean is not my favorite instructor, way too happy. My preference is for somebody like Jillian Michaels yelling at me through my tv. I bought piyo thinking it would be a good hybrid of yoga and pilates. My first 2 days I ended up doing upper and lower body together and previewed the other workouts.
I agree with you that the music is terrible. My other issue is that they try to pass it off as a yoga/pilates hybrid. It’s not yoga or pilates. There are some yoga poses and a few Pilates exercises. I’m not completely hating it. I’ve been slowly getting back into my workout routine and piyo will help but I don’t think it will be a major part after a month or two.
Will this replace my Shiva Rea and Janet Stone yoga dvds? Not by a long shot. I’m a bellydancer so piyo may be good to add onto the days I’m practicing and drilling technique.
If your looking to try more Jillian Michaels workouts try Burn Fat Boost Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones. One is cardio strength and the other is weight lifting. I’ve heard good things too about Bob Harper’s Inside Out workouts.
Bianca
February 9, 2015 at
Hello DP, I found this to be rather entertaining, as all of your reviews are :). I have just ordered this and am wondering what you’d recommend as a supplement for those days where the workouts are rather short – lower body focus and upper body focus. I have T25, Insanity and a gazillion Jillian Michaels DVDs, but am always ready to try something new as well. By the way, how come you’ve never reviewed any Jillian workout? Thanks!
Dysfunctional Parrot
February 9, 2015 at
For lower body and upper body focus, T25 would work. Something different might be P90X+ that has dedicated upper/lower workouts.
As for Jillian, there are two things. One, I worry she’ll be like Chalene Johnson who kind of grates on my nerves.
Secondly, option paralysis! She seems to have so many DVD’s I don’t know where to start! Any suggestions?
Bianca
February 10, 2015 at
Hi,
Having now tried Chalene last night, Jillian is not like her AT ALL :). Jillian is like Shaun T, but female and 5 feet tall. No cheerleader style here mister, none at all. I know she has tons of DVDs, but as a guy I’d try the full programs, like the 30 Day Shred, Body Revolution, or (and I’m very interested in this one, cause it’s the one I haven’t tried yet) the most recent BODYSHRED.
I’ve done the Lower body last night, skipped the align stuff entirely, must say after the 20 minute program I decided to call it a day. Maybe it’s because I haven’t done any serious workout in a few months, but she kicked my butt. Today it’s upper body and am thinking of trying the HIIT extra DVD, if I find it in me to continue. I thought it would be easy peasy lemon squeezy to be honest, but damn…
P.S. Did you know that when you Google “disfunctional pa” you are ahead of dysfunctional parenting :))? I think congratulations are in order :))
Dysfunctional Parrot
February 10, 2015 at
Looks like Jillian’s One Week Shred will be the first to feel my wrath! Aiming to get a review for that done within a week.
I’m ahead of dysfunctional parenting? Time to celebrate by having some cheap wine with my four year old! Uh, wait…
Bianca
February 10, 2015 at
Oh dear, you’re in for a treat I say, will you be doing the recommended 2 workouts/day?
Dysfunctional Parrot
February 10, 2015 at
If that’s what Jillian wants, that’s what she’s going to get!
Tamsin
February 12, 2015 at
Chalene is very annoying. I would suggest Jillian’s Ripped in 30
ja
January 16, 2015 at
Thanks for the great reviews. I am planning to increase my flexibility and core as I had done T25, rip60 and insanity series except max30. I cant decide to choose over PiYo or DPP Yoga. Which will you recommend from your experiences?
Dysfunctional Parrot
January 16, 2015 at
That’s a tough call, but I’ll give it my best shot!
DDP Yoga and PiYo suffer from a similar problem…their trainers. You either will like them or hate them. Diamond Dallas is fun, but I can’t see anyone wanting to press play and deal with him for more than 30 days in a row ( ex-wrestler after all ). Chalene is much the same way as her style and terrible music selection will also have a short shelf life. Plus despite the name, PiYO has very little actual yoga.
Might I make a third suggestion? Consider Tai Cheng. The trainer is not “gimmicky” and he’s an easy guy to listen to for extended periods of time. You’ll need to combine it with a program with more teeth like T25 or Max 30, but I imagine it would be a unique way to mix things up!
HOWEVER…given a choice between PiYO and DDP, I’d opt for DDP. It’s a subjective choice though.
Ja
January 17, 2015 at
Thanks for your suggestion and reply! I am having muscle soreness, back pain and lack of flexibility after most workout, in a long run, it will do more harm than good. I did consider tai cheng before, but I thought it taught only tai chi, but going through others and your reviews. I guess it do improve coordination and flexibility too. I guess i will buy both Tai cheng and DDP and make a hybrid of it. Thanks for your help =D
Doug
January 10, 2015 at
I very much appreciate your reviews and believe them to be quite accurate.
I am 55 and lost 50 pounds 3 years ago and kept 40 off by exercising at least 5 days a week with BeachBody DVDs only.
Have you ever reviewed Chalene Extreme – more weight focused with some excellent cardio and weight combos or RevAbs by Brett Hoebbel? I like them both and have done full circuits of P90x, P90x2 P90x+, Insanity + add ons?
zubalove
December 30, 2014 at
Thanks for the review. I’m in week 4 and I’m not hating on it. I think it has a place in my workout library, just not a prominent one. Her bubbly cheerleader shtick is fun to mock and, for whatever reason, the music doesn’t seem loud enough to actually notice on my surround sound.
The thing I like best about PiYo, is that it fits in very nicely with race training (5k-15k). The attention to core strength and flexibility are the positives.
Yeah, this is geared towards the beginner. But the sessions are short enough where you can utilize the workouts in a variety of hybrid programs.
I mean, this isn’t Yoga Booty Ballet. It isn’t that bad.
STFU
December 22, 2014 at
Hated this program; only Beachbody program I have ever returned. So boring. I noticed some muscle definition in my arms, but that’s about it.
Mystery
December 5, 2014 at
OK… So this won’t do for my goals.
Since you have experienced most of these programs…For a guy looking for the most effective and least time consuming workout to build some muscle and become more healthy and flexible, what would you recommend above all ?
Also, I go running two times a week and I would hate to give that up, so I guess I’ll have to avoid a program with too much cardio in it, because I’m the ectomorph type, really.
Dysfunctional Parrot
December 5, 2014 at
For overall muscle and general fitness, my personal favorite is P90X2. For a comprehensive package that has it all you’d be hard pressed to find a better alternative. You can also incorporate running into it twice a week no problem by swapping out cardio days.
kjones
December 3, 2014 at
I agree with you on your review…..I also DETEST the music tracks on Chalene programs….I’d much rather listen to some good classic rock!! Thanks for the review!
Apierce
December 2, 2014 at
I may be wrong (and I am a big fan of your reviews btw), but it seems like you did the review after doing a DVD vs. completing the program. I’ve done about 6 beachbody (although I own 10) workouts Including Insanity and P90x, and I think it’s unfair to compare this program to either of those programs. PiYo is a different approach to fitness, so it’s not going to be as intense as these types of programs and we shouldn’t expect it to be. Flexibility exercises aren’t geared towards Insanity-style results so we realistically shouldn’t expect that. But we can expect building strength, muscle definition, and losing inches, all of which PiYo delivers after you follow entire the program. I admit I was a bit of a skeptic when I first started, but as I kept at it, especially during the second months began to see significant changes to my body and muscle in terms of strength and definition that I didn’t experience with the HIIT and Plyo-style workouts. Completely agree with upper and lower define workouts, though. These two should have been more challenging
Dysfunctional Parrot
December 2, 2014 at
If someone follows the full program, they will absolutely get results. Same with any program. PiYO is a decent beginner to intermediate workout series and I think the 3.8 out of 5 Feather rating reflects that.
But it has it’s problems too. The music is simply awful ( again, subjective ), and the workouts themselves are nothing really all that new. Yes, a lot of yoga-ish moves are in it, but that in itself is not unique. If yoga and flexibility is ones goal, I would go after DDP Yoga in a heartbeat or maybe even Tai Cheng for the adventurous.
It’s a tough game to review these things because as more come out, more must be compared to each other. If you have money to spare then PiYO would be a nice addition to a workout library. Someone with a limited budget would be better served going elsewhere.
Next up is Insanity Max:30. Quite curious about what that brings to the table as I’m a huge fan of T25.
James Donlon
December 1, 2014 at
Great review of PiYo. I agree with your overall assessment of the program and the workouts. Overall this is not challenging for someone already accustomed to working out with intensity, and particularly a guy. I did find a sprinkling of these workouts to be suitable in a recovery week–that’s as far as I will be able to take this.
One big exception I do take to your review, however, is to your suggestion to replace Yoga X with Drench (or any workout in this program, for that matter). I was primarily interested in this program for the prospect that this might take Yoga up a notch in terms of intensity. Not quite. This program discards some of the most enjoyable and beneficial aspects of yoga in return for a low intensity disappointment of a dance routine. After doing P90X, X2, X3, and various yoga videos, I find that a PROPER yoga routine is far more challenging and rewarding than these videos. And I consider the unfairly-maligned Yoga X to be the best among the BB yoga offerings. Yeah, it’s 90 minutes. In my experience, anytime I return to Yoga X after a fling with the shorter X2 or X3 versions or studio yoga, I am reminded why 90 minutes are required to do what is the most challenging lineup of asanas, stretches, bends, and balance postures to be found in these workout videos. For anyone attracted to PiYo for the prospects of intensifying your yoga practice, I urge you to dust off Yoga X and “forget the rest.”
Dysfunctional Parrot
December 1, 2014 at
You make a very valid point. The main issue I have with Yoga X is naturally the time, but that having been said it is a superior yoga workout by every possible standard. I wasn’t entirely clear and made it sound like Drench is better which it clearly is not. I have since clarified the sentence.
Still, Drench is good in its own way. But yes, it probably won’t give one the benefits of traditional yoga where long, isometric postures build core strength.
Carina Keller
November 30, 2014 at
Thank you for your honest and very insightful review. And you nailed it! I did this program for 7 weeks (Beach Body’s return policy is excellent BTW) and returned it. Her overly bubbly attitude and yes, the music were too much for me to take. As far as Beach Body programs go, P90X is still king.
kjones
December 3, 2014 at
Agree totally. Additionally, I spent the first 3 weeks of owning these DVD’s returning and exchanging them, as Beachbody evidently had a “manufacturing issue” with batches of the discs. They simply would not play. When I finally managed to get a complete set (some from my purchase and subsequent exchanges – 5 total which is ridiculous! and 2 discs loaned to me by my coach), I was so irritated about the program in general I ended up returning the whole thing. I did complete 3 weeks of the schedule and I, also, found the workouts to be too easy (I’m a P90X devotee!!).