YOGA + WEIGHTS combines moves from Fowler’s signature YOGA for ATHLETES® class with 3-pound handheld weights so students get more than strong, they “Get RIPPED!”

“Yoga elongates your body, and paired with weights, the result is long, lean muscles,” says Fowler, founder and CEO of YAS Fitness Centers. “YOGA + WEIGHTS takes the strength training of yoga to the next level.”
The 30-minute YOGA + WEIGHTS takes students through a series of weight-bearing poses — including Chair and Warrior poses paired with a shoulder press and Side-Angle Pose matched with a lateral row — all with Fowler’s signature Sanskrit-free, easy-to-follow instructions.

Many doctors recommend weight training as the best way to prevent bone loss. “As women near 40, we start to lose muscle mass, which can cause bone loss,” says Fowler. “YOGA + WEIGHTS let’s you build muscle mass without bulking up, and the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn.”

A former elite triathlete, Fowler is known for designing yoga classes with athletes in mind. “Many of my students were taking yoga classes and then rushing off to the gym to lift weights,” Fowler says, “so I created an all-inclusive class.”

YOGA + WEIGHTS (YAS Productions), $14.95, available at www.go2yas.com.

Kimberly Fowler started a fitness revolution in 2001 when she founded YAS Fitness Center in Venice, Calif., the first studio dedicated to Yoga And Spinning®. Known for her no-frills approach to yoga, Fowler was called a rebel for combining heart-pumping cardio with NO OM yoga. Once a yoga oddity, YAS has gained a massive following of over 50,000 members with four locations in Southern California and sparked the new trend in hybrid fitness, spawning thousands of yoga studios inspired by Fowler’s concept. Deemed “the new face of yoga” by CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Fowler is the yoga expert for the LA Marathon, author of the Amazon best-selling book The No Om Zone and and, a brain cancer survivor herself, has raised $1 million for charities such as ThinkCure!. Follow Kimberly @kimberlyYAS and www.facebook.com/KimberlyFowlerYAS

This year, how about not settling for being “average” and not packing on the extra pounds? Save those New Years resolutions for your other goals like “conquering the universe” or “finding the love of your life.” Here are some tips on how to do it:

Drink More Water. Before you have that 120-calorie glass of wine, drink a 0-calorie glass of water. When you drink water before you eat or drink, you will eat less because you will feel full. The water will also help flush your kidneys and liver after drinking.

Stick to your Workout Routine. This is probably the most important thing to do. Because if you are eating and drinking more, then you are consuming more calories than normal. So, logically, you should workout more. If you don’t, then you will gain weight. Simple as that.

Do Yoga for Stress Relief. We sometimes eat more when things get stressful: The pressures of the holidays–from gift buying to hanging with the family–can definitely bring on the stress. Or you might just have issues with the holidays. A lot of us do, and we often head straight for the comfort food, which is readily available during this time of year. Yoga is great for helping you de-stress. And it also helps with your digestion: Yoga helps you process all that food you eat.

Get a Workout Buddy. I don’t know about you, but I’m more accountable when others are involved. If I say “I’ll meet you at YAS to workout” I will be there, no matter what. See if that works for you.

Do the Math before the Meal (or Cup of Cheer). I’m not telling you not to indulge during the holidays. There is nothing I love more than a piece of pumpkin pie with a cup of eggnog. But I do realize that’s over 1000 extra calories I’m consuming and that equals an extra spin class and yoga class. Doing the math–knowing it will take two extra classes not to gain weight–can help you make better choices.