As the mother of a young daughter, my goal is to set a good example when it comes to physical fitness and body image.  I have been trying to take better care of myself so that I can impart those skills to her.  She's only 18 months old, but I would love it if there were a way that we could be active together in a more structured way, instead of only through spontaneous play.  This is why I was very excited to hear about the Tot Yoga DVD, which is specifically geared toward children 10 months to 3 years old.

TOT YOGA is a video made by and for parents with toddlers from ages 10 months to 3 years old. TOT YOGA is the first video to focus on toddlers and their parents. The video encourages safe and nurturing physical activity to improve the parent-toddler relationship by increasing exercise and reducing stress. The video features three distinct sections.

1. Toddlers Teach Yoga - parents learn to mimic children's movements to do simple stretching and strengthening poses

2. Parents Teach Yoga - parents learn how to engage a child between the ages of 10 months and 3 years in focused and relaxing playtime exercise

3. Parent Yoga - parents follow a simple routine of strengthening and stretching poses intended to reduce stress and increase strength and flexibility

The first two sections teach parents how to utilize playtime as a wind down for their child to encourage peaceful napping, while incorporating safe movements for the parent to warm-up for a more complete workout after their child lays down. The third section is a complete routine for parents to complete without the distractions of their child in the room, it is intended to be completed while your child sleeps.

I was all ready for some serious yoga fun with Riley when I popped in this DVD.  Riley had just awoke from her nap and was in the mood to play.  When she saw that I was putting in a movie, she started saying "Bobo" (Elmo) over and over again, thinking that she would soon be watching an episode of Sesame Street.

The music started, which was interesting and lively, and Riley was intently watching the screen.  Next, there were several shots of toddlers and Riley was still watching.  Then, the instructor began showing the parents different yoga moves while the children in the video ran about and didn't pay much attention whatsoever, and my daughter quickly followed suit.

There were three parts to this video.  The first part was when you were expected to do yoga while your children just ran around and did whatever they wanted to.  The second part was more structured, where you were trying to actually get your child to participate, and the third part was geared directly at the parents during a time when your children were supposed to be napping.

Riley seemed semi-interested in what was going on during the first part of the video.  At one point, she even sat down with me and spread her legs like I had done a few moves before.  She didn't find the second part of the video interesting at all and even though I tried and tried to get her involved, she just wasn't going to follow along.

Frankly, I didn't find the video very interesting either.  I was too distracted by the way the whole video was filmed.  It is very evident from the beginning, that this video is filmed in someone's house, and the house is not adequately designed to really show what was going on.

Some of the time, the instructor is cut off and you can't see her when she's performing the various yoga moves.  Also, the camera work looks like someone is there holding a camcorder and filming this.  I kept getting the feeling that I was watching someone's play date where a group of neighbors and their kids had dropped by for some impromptu yoga and somebody else decided to film it.

I guess this video just wasn't my cup of tea.  I've practiced yoga before, but never in such a "homey" setting.  I didn't find the moves particularly relaxing and refreshing either.  Maybe this was designed on purpose so that you could have instant access to your child, should you need it.

My daughter is 18 months old and this video is recommended for toddlers 10 months to 3 years of age.  Riley is the perfect age for this video, yet she didn't care for it.  Personally, I think an older child might have participated more.  I would recommend it for children 3 years to 5 years old.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the Tot Yoga DVD.  Even though it claims to be geared toward toddlers ages 10 months to 3 years, my 18-month old daughter wasn't interested in the least.  No matter how hard I tried, she didn't want to participate in the second portion of the video.  I didn't like the home setting used in the video and I thought the camera work was poor, which made it hard for me to concentrate on what was going on.

A lot of the times, you can't really see the moves being performed, because there is a child in the way or the instructor is cut off.  I didn't care for the selection of yoga moves chosen either.  Normally, I feel so refreshed after a good yoga session, but I didn't have that experience with this video.  Every person is different and every child responds differently too, so maybe you will have better luck with this DVD than I did.