Why I LOVE PiYo

If you have been following me for the past few months you may have noticed I have a slight obsession, errr I mean love for PiYo.  This came out of no where for me as I am not a yoga person and never have been.  But here I am teaching it and craving it in my life.  

First I should explain what it is.  PiYo is best explained as a blend of pilates and yoga with some cardio thrown in.  It moves much faster than typical yoga or pilates.  It's yoga for people who can't stand still, which describes me perfectly!  It's been around for a while at fitness clubs but recently had a rebirth when a home version was released by the one and only Chalene Johnson.  They revamped the live version a bit as well and it's blowing up!  Here are the reasons I LOVE it!

1. Low impact.  There are so many people who need a low impact option due to bad joints but still want to get a good calorie burn.  PiYo is the answer for these people. One  of my participants reported burning 50 fewer calories in PiYo than she did in Insanity! Proof that you don't have to be jumping all over the place to get an amazing calorie burn.  

2. It's strength, stretch and cardio all rolled into one.  It's  well rounded class with a great blend of all the things you need in a workout.  

3. The stretch.  I'm a self proclaimed cardio junkie. I never take the time to stretch like I should.My tight hamstrings, hip flexors, quads and calves were a huge issue when I would run.  Once I started doing PiYo regularly running got easier and all of my calf pain went away.  This  was because I was finally getting the much needed stretch my body needed.  Every other workout I do is easier and I have have less muscle soreness the next day now due to my increased flexibility 

4.  Strength.  We all need to incorporate more strength into our workouts! I force myself to lift at least 2 times per week because I know as an aging woman it's good for me.  The weight bearing that I do in PiYo strengthens my bones and slows bone loss.  It also helps me maintain my muscle mass.  I like doing a workout that I really enjoy to help with my strength,

5. Defined muscles.  I'm gonna brag here...my legs, arms and back look pretty amazing.  All of my muscles are more defined and toned.  It's pretty awesome!

6. Fun music.  Don't expect to hear babbling brooks and chants in a PIYo live class.  They have used popular music that is brought to a tempo that fits for each section of the class. 

7. Leaves me feeling grounded.  Even though PiYo is faster paced than traditional yoga it still leaves you feeling grounded and relaxed when you finish it.  I have never had another workout leave me feeling the way PiYo does.  I am dripping sweat yet I feel so relaxed.    

So there you have it, all the reasons I am in LOVE with PiYo.  Join me for a live class or find one in your area.  If you can't make it to a live class contact me so we can chat about the home version.