I haven’t done a fitness log in a really long time, but today I tried two new videos from Youtube, and I thought I’d share my thoughts. I was looking for a Jillian Michaels’ workout on the BeFit channel, but when I couldn’t find it, I settled for another result.

This 40-minute yoga and Pilates inspired workout was supposed to be a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) routine, and the upvotes convinced me to try it. I didn’t love it, but I was surprised by how much I noticed about the quality of instruction since having completed my Power Pilates training.

On the one hand, I was happy the voiceover was not ongoing, but on the other, there were no precision cues, and I think these are what make every Pilates workout really challenging. You can sloppily get through every move putting in maybe 40% of the effort that would be required by good form, but there were few cues to encourage that type of proper movement.

It wasn’t all bad!

I really liked the monkey squats in particular; they noticeably flexed and stretched my hamstrings, something “regular” squats don’t accomplish. They are basically just squats but done while hinging from the waist and holding the ankles with your hands through the entire exercise. They’re sort of a lazy version of a real squat, too, because it feels a little like you’re resting, even though you’re actually squatting!

I also loved that there were 30-second breaks every three minutes or so. I am accustomed to HIIT workouts that involve intervals of strength-focused movements interchanged with cardio moves, but this video was a little different. After each sequence of three or four exercise intervals, there would be a 30-second rest period. At first, the breaks felt disruptive, but I think the end result was that I had more energy to push myself during the active intervals.

Overall, I think “HIIT” is an inapplicable title for the workout (it was intense, but nothing compared to other HIIT-type routines) and probably more so there just for SEO purposes. Still, if you’re familiar with good Pilates form and you want an effective but not super intense sweat session, this will definitely do!

After I finished with that video, I considered meditating but settled on yoga since my mind was too active. I have been feeling a tightness in the center of my chest, just below my ribcage where my diaphragm (or stomach) should be. I have even been prescribed more than one probiotic to no effect (and one of them is also prescribed to horses, so if anything were to work…right?). So I was just looking to stretch out and hopefully find some relief.

I Youtubed yoga for the solar plexus, and I’m so glad I did because Kassandra’s yin yoga session was beautiful. Not only did I stretch out exactly the area where I’ve been feeling tight, and that felt really good, but I loved the beautiful affirmations that accompanied each yoga asana.

If you haven’t tried yin yoga before, Kassandra’s channel might be a good place to try it at home! I love that she offers great modifications so that if your body is not quite ready for the full asana, you can still safely participate. Of course, always listen to your body!

Have you tried any noteworthy new workouts lately? Let me know, and please subscribe to my blog in the sidebar if you liked this post :).