Kimberly Fowler has built a business on her no-nonsense approach to yoga specifically designed for athletes, who may not be interested in the spiritual side of the practice. She is the Yoga Nike spokesperson and her YAS studio -- which teaches a hybrid of yoga and spinning -- is a bustling hub in Venice.

So when I recently got a copy of her DVD Yoga for Athletes, which boasts "No Chanting. No Granola. No Sanskrit", I was skeptical. Didn't think it was my thing. But then I popped the sucker into my MAC and discovered a well-sequenced, well-considered and challenging class that focused on areas crucial to athletic performance -- the hips, the hamstrings, the core and the upper body. It was an efficient, tightly crafted hour and a great way to mix up my already eclectic practice.

Then another Fowler DVD arrived and this one was called Overcoming Obstacles: The Secret to Success. Again with a skeptical eye (oh no, not another wanna-be guru), I popped in the disc and learned that Fowler is someone who has overcome a myriad of obstacles -- poverty, alcoholic parents (and a dad who died homeless), a miraculous recovery from a harrowing climbing accident and brain cancer.

Even though Fowler claims she's more interested in the physical than the spiritual aspects of yoga, I think the focus, determination and self-awareness she touts are very yogic indeed. And like she says, "I'm not your guru...you are. "

Here's a clip from the DVD for your consideration. Curious to know your thoughts.