Workout Review: Yoga Booty Ballet
This program has kind of a ridiculous name—Yoga Booty Ballet—but I have to admit it conveys accurately what the program is about! It's a combination of yoga, strength moves, and dance, with a special focus on ballet and sculpting the backside. It gets points for truth in advertising!
This is one of the "classic" (read: older) programs in Beachbody on Demand. It was shot in the days before HD, and even the sound quality isn't great—production values have just changed. But I did find it entertaining, and I always love to get my body moving in new and different ways—and it's a bonus that this program actually incorporates sufficient stretching into all of the sessions, because it incorporates yoga.
This program is of moderate intensity and would be a good starting point for someone new to exercise or just starting to get in shape.
Program length: Four weeks
Workout length: Although the program has a four-week calendar, I think it could actually keep you occupied (in the sense that you won't be bored since your muscles are trying new and different exercises that your mind also needs to master) for two or three months, since there are a total of 16 full-length sessions, ranging in length from 30 to 60 minutes.
What equipment is needed? You'll want to have a yoga mat, free weights, and the round loop type of resistance band. A small ball is needed (Beachbody sells one but I just used a mini soccer ball). I also wore wrist and ankle weights for some of the sessions (optional if you want to up the intensity).
How is it structured? Most of the workouts have a strength or dance segment; a ballet/barre-style sculpting segment; and a yoga segment. A handful of the sessions are 100% yoga, and there is one "baby on the way" prenatal workout.
What kinds of moves are involved? The barre segments of the workouts use leg lift–style moves that will be familiar to anyone who has taken a barre class. The yoga segments are rather diverse, but in general it is gentle yoga rather than a vigorous vinyasa flow. The strength segments vary quite a bit but are a good mix of familiar strength moves to work the major muscle groups. The dance segments are what really sets this program apart! Over the course of the month you get a chance to try several styles of dance: hip-hop, cabaret, go-go, Latin, and Bollywood! I've only done each session once so far, and I imagine the routines get easier once they become familiar through repetition. There isn't a lot of explanation, nor do they slow down the moves or break them down for teaching purposes, so some of the dance combinations are hard to follow, but I did enjoy trying so many different styles of movement in one program!
Low-impact? Yes, this program is essentially all low-impact, with minimal hopping and no jumping per se.
Interested in trying this program? Learn more in my video review or email me at info@livingvibrantly.net to find out when my next challenge group starts! I can also guide you to my recommended sources for the equipment mentioned here, or get you set up with a different workout program if this one isn't up your alley. I'm only an email away... Let's chat!
