Yoga Hop Review

Celeb mags have propelled the popularity of Yoga Hop workout, with published reports that superfit A-lister Reese Witherspoon is a devotee of the 90-minute yoga routines set to hip-hop, rock and pop music. Created in 2006 by Matthew Reyes in Santa Monica, CA, Yoga Hop is a traditional yoga class - except that the music is rocking and dance-worthy. Reyes says "certain songs can evoke a sense of optimism and excitement in the listener," so songs are matched to the yoga pose. They'll be high-energy and adrenaline-pumping when suitable, and calming and soothing when necsessary. For the first 60 minutes you move through poses, holding the pose for a few breaths each to increase your heart rate. The final 30 minutes of the class focuses on stretching for longer periods to increase flexibility. The real kicker (and toner): you to do push-ups between poses. Yoga Hop classes are for now primarily only found in the L.A. area, but there is an in-home option. Def Jam records founder (and serious yoga devotee) Russell Simmons has a video series called Yoga Live which is set to 72 original tracks of original hip hop music, and led by Yogi Jeffrey Cohen.

Yoga Hop is a wonderful, low-impact exercise for all ages and all levels of fitness. Kicked up yoga, with increased intensity and good tunes, is a win-win.