YOGA. Lisa Farmer of Tranquil Space (2024 P St., NW; 202-223-9642; tranquilspace.com) recommends Shiva Rea's Yoga Shakti (shivarea.com). With four sequences on one DVD, aspiring yogis can choose among varying lengths and levels of difficulty.
Patty Ivey, founder of Down Dog Yoga (1046 Potomac St., NW; 202-965-9642; downdogyoga.com), likes the CD Putting Postures to Your Prayers by Baron Baptiste (baronbaptiste.com). "It's a tough yoga practice that allows you to find inner strength while working up a sweat," she says. "I enjoy audio as opposed to video, as it allows me a more directed concentration and focus." For those who prefer visuals, Ivey recommends Baptiste's The Trainer's Edge: Long and Lean Yoga on DVD and video.
PILATES. Mark Trudeau, an 18-year practitioner of aerobics and Pilates and master instructor at Quantum Fitness (2625 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-745-5712), recommends the Romana's Pilates DVDs and videos (romanaspilates.com). Romana Kryzanowska leads abdominal-strengthening exercises in the style of her former teacher and the practice's creator, Joseph Pilates.
AEROBICS. Elisabeth Schreiber's classes at the Sports Club/LA (1170 22nd St., NW; 202-974-6600; thesportsclubla.com) incorporate moves from the Billy's BootCamp DVD and video series by Billy Blanks (billyblanks.com). Schreiber says the high-intensity choreography never fails to get students moving.
DANCE. Since the New York City Ballet Workout was released in 2001, Douglas Yeuell has incorporated its moves into his jazz-dance classes at Joy of Motion (three locations in DC, one in Bethesda; joyofmotion.com). He says the workout–available in video and DVD (nycballet.com/programs/work-out.html)–demonstrates "the link between dance and fitness," making dance more accessible to anyone who enjoys movement.
Washingtonian staffers contributing to this section were Cristina Abello, Susan Baer, Susan Davidson, Ken DeCell, Rebecca Dreilinger, Kim Isaac Eisler, Mary Clare Fleury, Kimberly Forrest, Brooke Lea Foster, Garrett M. Graff, Cynthia Hacinli, Thomas Head, Todd Kliman, Ann Limpert, Chad Lorenz, Leslie Milk, Aparna Nancherla, William O'Sullivan, Cindy Rich, and Chris Wilson. Also contributing were Cathy Alter, Ann Cochran, and Matthew Graham.
