Today’s Bride: Tell us about your new yoga video and why you’re excited about it. What makes it different from other yoga videos?
Trish Stratus: My new yoga DVD features a workout that I designed that integrates strength training movements into a yoga flow. As a busy person, I’m forever trying to multi-task, so I was trying to figure out how to balance maintaining my yoga practice and include my weight training sessions and I sort of stumbled into this system. I started by dividing the workout into 5 sections each with a focus on a different muscle group, typically seen in a traditional gym workout. Then I put together a unique 10 minute sequence for each section and paired each yoga pose in the flow with a strength training move. So what you have is a versatile workout that keeps the muscles guessing and with the yoga and resistance training – you get the best of both worlds! The 5 sequences allow you to focus on different parts of your body if you just want to target trouble spots or do them all in a row and get a complete 50 minute workout. Either way, you’ll definitely be feeling the burn!
TB: Why is your style of yoga a great workout for guys and girls?
TS: By adding the strength training element to the yoga, you really can get a full body workout because not only are you making your body more flexible, but you are toning and strengthening. It is great to finally answer the question I always get at my yoga studio, which is ‘is yoga even a workout’. Yes – it is!
For guys, they can relate to this yoga workout because they recognize and can appreciate the results that can be obtained from the calisthenics included in the DVD, like pushups, squats, lunges, etc. What I see a lot of guys doing is using this system as a complement to their regular gym workouts or using a yoga session for an active rest day.
TB: Why is it especially good as your wedding approaches?
TS: The stress relief that comes with your yoga practice is especially useful as your wedding day approaches. With so much going into the planning, it’s nice to have a reason to disconnect for 60-90 minutes and not think about flowers or guest lists and give yourself permission to focus on you – not 100 of your closest friends! Not to mention the lean body and toned arms that comes with a regular practice – you’ll love this when you want to look your best in your wedding dress – and out of it!
TB: What results can you expect to see?
TS: One of the main results you will get from this workout is a leaner body and more toning than you would see with a regular yoga practice. When I switched from yoga alone to this workout, the main areas I saw a change in was my arms – basically I’m saying you can start selling tickets to the gunshow at your wedding! And, I found the true meaning of ‘yoga booty’ only once I began to introduce squats and lunges into my practice. Not a bad side effect I must say!
TB: Any eating tips you suggest pairing with working out before your wedding?
TS: I would suggest sticking to a whole food diet and avoiding all processed food at least 30 days leading up to the big day. It’s pretty simple – the rule you follow is making sure everything you eat is ‘from the earth’, in other words closest to its natural state. Stick with lean proteins, such as chicken, turkey, fish and round it out with lots of fresh fruit, veggies and greens. You also want to stay away from the “bad whites”, which is bread, pasta, sugar. And, HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE – drinks tons of water, it helps flush everything out and will do wonders for your skin!
TB: Anything else you want to add about yoga, getting in shape for a wedding or the dvd in general?
TS: 100% Stratusfaction is guaranteed!
