P90X workouts

I am nearing the end of the third week of the P90X lean program. That basically replaces the plyometrics DVD with the cardio workout (which combines elements of the Kenpo, Plyo and Core workouts), and takes away 1 of the upper body resistance workouts. The "classic" program, which I will do next round, has two upper body workouts and one leg workout per week, and keeps the full plyometrics workout in.

The main reason I am doing the lean program at this point is that I am living on a third floor apt so I cannot really do the full hour of plyo (which basically involves jumping around for the entire hour) and I did not want to start messing with the program the first time through. Also, I cannot put up a pull up bar because I cannot put any holes in the woodwork on my doors, so I am doing pull downs with resistance bands.

I am using the lean program to really maintain my current level of fitness until I can do the full classic program. I am buying a townhouse next month, and will then be able to do the regular program as round 2. That said, I am definitely making progress in terms of balance and flexibility which were my weak points before starting. While I am not making all of the strength gains that I am hoping to make once I start doing pull ups and adding the additional upper body workout, I am feeling it.

The first phase of the lean workout rotates Core, Cardio, Shoulders & Arms, Yoga, Legs and Back, Kenpo and Stretch as the optional seventh day. I really enjoy all the workouts. Core is definitely hard to start out with as the day 1 routine. In the classic program the first exposure to it is in the 4th week, where one has presumably become used to the style of the workouts, which may make it a little easier the first time out. On the other hand, I think I am making more progress with it than I would in the classic program because I do it once a week, plus get about 10 minutes worth of it in the Cardio workout.

I also love Yoga. I think it is the workout that people tend to dislike the most because of how long it is. It is an hour and a half long and is definitely hard as an introduction to Yoga. I had the benefit of taking classes at a studio a few years ago, so I was familiar with many of the moves before jumping into the workout. I have seen "reviews" around the Internet where people (mainly men) mock the inclusion of Yoga in the program because it is "not a real workout" or "for women". Anyone who has ever done Yoga, either the P90X version or elsewhere, knows the idiocy of those statements. When you are holding yourself in some of those stances/poses for 30 seconds to a minute I guarantee you will be shaking as much as in any weight training workout.