I feel happiest when <a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/2012/01/do-what-you-want-everyday-tip-11.html">I go to yoga class</a> with all the lovely yoga people, but in the real world I don't get to go everyday.

(Why, oh why, don't yoga studios have childcare?)

So I turn to DVDs -- and I must say, there are definite advantages to them. The main one is, of course, that I literally have no excuse for missing a workout. (That doesn't mean that I don't miss workouts -- but it's really hard to rationalize being lazy when all I have to do is pop a DVD into a computer or player.) I have two favorite DVDs that I turn to when I work out at home, and I thought I'd share them with you.

(FYI -- Because I know people are suspicious of bloggers -- I purchased both these DVDs with my own money.)

(I don't understand what that has to do with anything. If I didn't like the DVDs, I wouldn't tell you about them. But since some people care...)

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OAWY7S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=mothisblisort-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B005OAWY7S">BALLET BEAUTIFUL CLASSIC WORKOUT</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mothisblisort-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B005OAWY7S" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />
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This DVD is deceptively beautiful to look at. <a href="http://www.balletbeautiful.com/mary-helen-bowers">Mary Helen Bowers </a>is the founder of Ballet Beautiful and the ballerina that got Natalie Portman in shape for Black Swan. In other words, she's hella intimidating on paper, but quite sweet on her DVD (and on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/balletbeautiful">Twitter</a>, I might add!).

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I say that the workout is deceptive because while the moves are easy and you don't need any dance experience (at all) to do them, they will work you ragged and you won't be able to walk the next day. Ahem.

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I told <a href="http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2012/02/thing-of-week-ballet-beautiful.html">Girl's Gone Child </a>about BB, and she's a fan as well. There's just something about working out and enjoying a bit of gracefulness at the same time that makes this such a pleasurable and effective workout. I think you'll like it!

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008J2I3/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=mothisblisort-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00008J2I3">THE LOTTE BERK METHOD, 4 DISK SET</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mothisblisort-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00008J2I3" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />

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This old-school DVD set is bare bones, but it's my favorite all-around workout. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotte_Berk">Lotte Berk</a> was an eccentric character, but her method inspired a thousand Bar/Barre/Core Fusion methods (I'm not bashing them -- I actually go to a ballet barre studio when I can) but this is the original.

My favorite of the set is Muscle Eats Fat, but all four of the DVDs are great. I like that you have an entire week of workouts in this set.

Once again, the exercises emphasize small movements and thus seem too easy, but when I do them consistently I see a change in my body. Longer, leaner muscles and better posture -- what more can you ask for?

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There is no annoying music to distract you. And the lady in Muscle Eats Fat is super inspiring -- it's nice to work out to a woman who is older and me and can kick my ass quite easily.

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So if you can stand a little datedness, you will love this workout.

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