Yoga facilitates weight loss in multiple ways. Sure, you get the physical benefits -- increased strength and flexibility -- but there's more to it, and that's a large part of what Element: Yoga for Weight Loss seeks to benefit.

Instructor Ashley Turner is not only a well-known and respected yoga instructor, but she also has a Master's in Counseling Psychology. She combines physical instruction and mental application to give students the greatest benefit from their yoga practice.

Like the other Element videos, Yoga for Weight Loss is filmed in a beautiful outdoor setting, and instructions are given in a voice over. But of all the yoga DVDs out there, is this the right one for you?

You know the cardio dance class at your gym that you love going to, but never feel like you can really get into it because there are people watching? You know what I mean -- you don't shake your booty as much as you could, or you feel foolish when you don't get the steps down after the first try.

10 Minute Solution: Hip Hop Dance Mix is a way to get that sort of workout in the comfort (and privacy) of your own home. The moves are fun, and not cheesy, and in the 50-minute workout, you learn loads of different moves and routines.

Kristin Jacobs, the video's instructor, is fit and fun to follow -- you can tell she's having a good time, but even she gets a little out of breath at times. And hey, if the instructor is getting a workout, you'd better believe that the five segments (Hip Hop Basics, Fat Burning Funk, Edgy Grooves, Body Re-Mix and Cardio Street Heat) will work you out, too!

I'm going to go out on a limb and bet that you know how to walk. Chances are, you even know how to walk on a treadmill. So why on earth would you need a fitness DVD devoted to walking?

Well, as the temperatures dip toward freezing, plenty of folks take their outdoor workouts indoors, and that includes those long, nightly walks that helped you stay so slim. But let's face it -- spending an hour walking on your home treadmill (or the one at the gym) isn't exactly the most exciting way to spend your time.

Fit By Tracey Walking Strong is designed to break up the monotony, bump up your heart rate and help you achieve a full-body workout, all on the treadmill. But, if you don't have a treadmill at home (like me), there's someone showing you how to do the workout on the floor, too.

Since we're giving it away this week as part of our Triple Fit Giveaway, I thought it would be a good idea to check out Pulse Yoga I with Argie Tang. This is the basic Pulse Yoga video, offering an overview of the concept (and a pretty decent workout along the way).

The 60-minute video incorporates Pilates, weight training and yoga to build strength, stamina and power. Other DVDs in the series are Pulse Yoga II Balance & Tone, Pulse Yoga III Stamina & Strength and the 30-minute Pulse Yoga Express. The subsequent DVDs are all on the same skill level. This way, "You can choose to mix and match your routines, depending on which workouts you like best," Tang says.

Tang has a wealth of experience in yoga, having studied under some of the great masters. In 1978, she opened the first Yoga College of India for Bikram Choudury and has taught more than 15,000 yoga classes. She's joined in the video by Prisca Boris, who shows modifications for some of the more challenging poses and worked with Tang to launch the "Y4A" Fitness System.

Photo: amazon.com

Pilates is something that's always been on the easier end of the exercise spectrum for me. I might not be super fast or wildly flexible, but core strength? That, I have.

Add to that my mentality that I can do anything for 10 minutes, and you'll understand why I expected to breeze through the 10 Minute Solution Quick Sculpt Pilates.

I was wrong.

Each of the five sections (Total Body Toner, Buns & Thigh Sculptor, Strength & Flexibility Pilates, Core Conditioning and Standing Pilates Sculpt) offered different challenges. I did them in order, and by the time I got to the end, I was taking more breaks than I care to admit. (There might have also been a few "Are you nuts?" glances at the screen, too.)

The pumpRockr isn't your average skateboard. It's a pivot-driven skateboard that requires you to use muscles in your legs and core you might not have known you had, so it's not only fun (and completely cool looking -- just watch the video above), but it's a workout! You pump it like a surfboard, carve like a snowboard, and can still ride at the parks or around town.

I first tried out this board at Orlando's Surf Expo (with very little success -- carpet makes it tough). Then, I tried again at home and showed significant improvement. Keep in mind, I'd never in my life set foot on a skateboard or surfboard, so this was completely foreign to me, and definitely a challenge. There were definitely some falls, so kids -- wear your pads!

Now, if you have any experience with a skateboard, or if you're a fan of the Ripstik, you're going to love the pumpRockr. Kevin Smith, one of the men behind the pumpRockr, is able to ride his pumpRockr for long distances without putting a foot down (although he admits the hills are tough). And skaters who enjoy doing tricks will dig trying them out with this three-wheeled contraption.

Photo: truepoweryoga.com

If a workout has a lot of celebrity endorsements, sometimes, I'm a bit skeptical (still interested, of course, but skeptical). However, when celebrities and professional athletes alike tout the same program, you'd better believe I get my game face on before I begin!

Mark Blanchard's True Power Yoga ($59.95) includes four workouts on three discs -- True Flow Workout (90 minutes), which is geared toward athletes (in fact, NFL receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh participates); True Strength Workout (90 minutes), a flowing class filled with inversions and arm balances; True Core Workout (45 minutes), which, unsurprisingly, works your back and abdominal muscles; and Hip Opener Workout (50 minutes), a class that is actually led by Mark's wife and aims to relieve stress, both physical and emotional.

In addition to Houshmandzadeh (who says, "It's like lifting weights and stretching at the same time,"), NBA star Steve Smith, and actors Drew Barrymore and Mario Lopez are fans.

Photo: powerhousehitthedeck.com

Maybe you're traveling a lot lately, or perhaps you're just really busy with work (or kids, or, you know, life). And maybe it seems like you can't possibly find time for fitness -- heck, finding more than two consecutive minutes seems practically impossible.

Powerhouse Hit the Deck ($19.99) is a fun, unique way to fit a workout into your day, even if you only have a couple of minutes to spare. The idea is simple -- there are 30 workout cards, divided into three sections; No Sweat, I'm Glistening and Sweating Buckets. A timer and five warm up/cool down cards are also included.

You then select however many cards you want to do from whatever category you like, set the timer (it's recommended you start with intervals of 30 seconds), and do as many repetitions of the exercise listed on your card as possible before the timer sounds. Then, you move on to the next one.

Photo: Pumgo

While I love all kinds of sports, I've never really gotten into things with wheels. Sure, I cycle a bit (but my skills are sorely lacking), and after an unfortunate downhill trip wearing rollerblades, those have stayed in the back of the closet. Never in my life had I been on a skateboard or scooter or anything, until I attended Surf Expo a couple of weeks ago.

I kept seeing these girls riding around on this funky-looking scooter -- they were standing, but sort of pedaling. I followed them back to their booth and found that the scooter is a Pumgo scooter. It's a pedal-powered fitness scooter, and it's awesome.

I tried it out (yes, right there, in front of a huge group of people), and it was surprisingly easy to use. You need a bit of balance, but I feel confident saying that most people would have no problem hopping on and using it right then and there.

Photo: amazon.com

I've had "Squeeze Stronger" on my shelf for a month or so now, and I kept choosing other DVDs to review first, I suppose because I wasn't totally sure from the title what the video entailed. Or maybe because I was intimidated by the ridiculously awesome abs. But I'm glad I tried it now.

The workout, led by celebrity trainer Tracy Effinger, is tough. You use weights for your upper body, and for all moves, the focus is on lighter weight and lots of reps. By the end of a set, though, trust me -- no weight feels light.

The DVD is 80 minutes long and split into Upper Body & Waist Squeeze (39 minutes) and Lower Body & Abs Squeeze (43 minutes). I did the whole thing at once, but would recommend doing them on consecutive days because, well, did I mention it's tough?

While the actual moves take up very little space, you do need a bit of equipment: One or two sets of dumbbells (1 to 8 pounds or more), small rubber ball or firm pillow and a broomstick or SQUEEZE stick -- all of these items are listed on the cover. You also need a chair, and I would recommend a soft mat or thin pillow for some of the floor work.

Photo: Paramount Home Entertainment

Let me begin with a disclaimer -- I love "So You Think You Can Dance." I even called in to vote once in Season 2 (big deal for me -- I never do that). When I heard they were releasing "So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit" fitness DVDs, I was thrilled. I recognized the names of all the dancers involved, and the geeky fan in me couldn't wait to dance with some of my favorite contestants.

There are two DVDs in the series. There's Tone and Groove, featuring Twitch on hip-hop, jazz with Katee and Dmitry teaching the cha-cha. Then, you have Cardio Funk, starring Lauren in a hip-hop routine, contemporary with Travis and disco with Courtney. Each video features a lengthy warm-up and plenty of well-cued instruction for each dance. You have the option, once you've learned the dances, to skip the instruction and go straight into the dance -- a good thing, since Tone and Groove is 109 minutes and Cardio Funk is 116 minutes long.

The dancers are fit, for sure, and they're great at what they do. But does that mean you'll be able to dance like a pro at the end? And, more important, does it give you a good workout? I tried them out for you, and can give you all the answers.

Squeeze It In says, "Let life be your workout!" Photo: squeezeitin.com

Finding time to go to the gym can be tough. And, if you don't have a ton of space in your living room, you might think you're out of workout options. But that's just not true.

Squeeze It In is a fun website that shows you exercises that fit right into your life. For example, do you ever spend time on the floor, coloring at the coffee table with the kids? You could be working your booty, too! And if you're having to bend down to pick up socks (or toys, or dog food), you might as well get a killer backside while you're at it, right?

What's great about the exercises on this site is that most of them truly do work very easily into what you're already doing. While some kitchen-based exercises basically just take your workout to the kitchen, the majority of these moves are designed to be done while you're doing the things you'd be doing normally.

Photo: amazon.com

Usually, when I do a beginner workout video, I feel a little like a fraud -- I'm not much of a newbie when it comes to most forms of exercise. However, I've never done Tai Chi in my life, so I think I was a perfect candidate for "Element: Tai Chi for Beginners."

"Tai Chi for Beginners" takes place in the same perfectly lovely setting as the other Element videos, which immediately put me at ease (I'm a sucker for a gorgeous view). And the instructor, Samuel Barnes (founder of the Tai Chi Works studio in Beverly Hills), has a strong, soothing voice that, like in the other videos, comes through in a voice over so as not to distract from the movements.

The video is broken into three sections, giving you the options for a short or long session. The first is Qi Gong, which focuses on your breath and energy flow. The other two are both Tai Chi, one giving you step-by-step instructions and the other putting the moves together in a moving meditation.

CamelBak Annadel Hydration Pack Photo: CamelBak.com

If you're not a member at the gym or just really like the outdoors, chances are good that, now and again, you go for a run/walk/hike/bike ride that requires you to bring more water than just a little bottle. Or, you might just want to keep your hands free -- I know I have a really hard time reaching for a water bottle while on a bike without eating dirt.

There's a simple (and affordable) solution to all of these -- a hydration pack. CamelBak has been making a wide range of hydration packs over the years to suit a variety of needs. They have options for an expanding array of sports and sizes. The latest women's design is the Annadel, which I just tried out.

The Annadel ($45) is fairly compact, holding one to two hours of hydration (50 oz) and not a whole lot else. There's a pocket for keys, phone and a few other basics. My husband went with the Rogue ($55), which is also fairly streamlined but holds over two hours of hydration (70 oz) and a little more cargo than mine.

Source

No-slip Yoga Socks. Photo: gaiam.com

Let me know if this sounds familiar. You're in downward dog, in your living room, and you're really feeling it -- you feel centered, you're getting a great stretch, and then ... your sweaty feet start sliding around, and all of your concentration goes toward keeping your feet in place.

Ideally, a nonslip mat would solve the problem, but you don't want to be limited to that space, do you? Gaiam has another solution -- No Slip Yoga Socks. Sure, they look a bit like the slipper-socks you're given when you're in the hospital, but these socks have individual toes, so you'll experience the same toe-wiggling freedom as if you were barefoot. Added bonus -- less exposure to foot fungus, which is always a good thing.

They're available in two women's sizes, S/M or M/L, and you get two pairs of black socks for $19.98.