If I were to take yoga classes, I’d want the instructor to be someone like Ashley Turner. The yoga expert and leader of the new DVD Element: Yoga for Weight Loss (Anchor Bay, $14.98) isn’t just a fitness trainer but a mind-body expert with a degree in psychology. She tells you at the beginning of the workout that she believes that yoga itself isn’t the only key to weight loss, but that cardio, diet and mindset are all part of it. Turner encourages you throughout the routine to think about your body’s movement and your weight-loss goals.

The vinyasa flow-yoga workout is a good one, though the poses and overall routine are not much different from other weight-loss yoga DVDs we’ve tried. This one is suitable for beginners, but if you’re a yoga novice, you’ll probably find yourself as I did concentrating far too much on when to breathe rather than the yoga flow.The 50-minute workout is filmed in a lush garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean, making for a peaceful setting for a calming routine.