Proper form means you reap all the benefits of your workout and avoid injuries at the same time. Watch this intro video before doing any of the back resistance classes so that you can grow stronger while staying safe. When you know the benefits of resistance training, you will want to incorporate it into your regular fitness regime. According to the National Library of Medicine, Resistance training may promote bone development, with studies showing 1% to 3% increase in bone mineral density. Resistance training may be effective for reducing low back pain and easing discomfort associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia and has been shown to reverse specific aging factors in skeletal muscle. Working specifically on the back, the exercises in this series may improve your posture, tone your body, and help protect from back pain and injury. You will need a barbell, body bar, or hand weights.

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Jhoe will definitely increase your heart rate as you move through various exercises. You will increase your stamina and burn calories during this intense but fun workout. Some movements can be both high or low impact depending on how you feel that day. Grab a towel, and let’s get sweaty!

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Get ready to fire up your shoulders and core in this challenging 45-minute workout that targets your shoulder stabilizers. As with all Level 2 classes, this workout is Intended to be difficult—but you can modify the poses to fit your skill level.You will begin Shoulder Stabilizer standing in good posture pose, taking deep inhales and calm, smooth, even exhales as you call to mind what you are most grateful for today. Warm up your shoulders, sides, and entire body with angel arms, side bends, standing forward fold, and pike pose. Transition to hands and knees to loosen up your spine before beginning a series of exercises to open up chest and stretch and strengthen your back and legs. Turn up the heat as you flow through Lunge 2, angle pose, airplane, revolved angle pose, pike, and elevated chest lift on toes, engaging all your muscles and challenging your balance. Work your core, shoulder stabilizers, and back with a variety of planks, push ups, twists, chest lifts, and back bends. You'll be ready for a break by the time you come to wide leg forward fold for the long hold and wind down with feel-good stretches. The Scriptures and meditations will help you reflect on our basic human need to give and invite you to reflect on a way to give of yourself to someone in need.

Increase your upper body strength and boost your confidence with this 30-minute arms and shoulders workout. You will begin Advent: Armed with Faith calming your mind with deep breathing and feel-good stretches that will lengthen and loosen the muscles in your body. Once you transition into the main part of the workout, you can expect to work your shoulders, triceps, biceps, back, and entire core with overhead presses, pull-downs, planks, push-ups, and more. The Scriptures and meditations throughout this energizing class invite you to reflect on ways that you can bring the people in your life closer to God—especially during Advent.

Your lower body is your foundation and the base for critical daily movements like walking, climbing stairs, and balancing. Everyone needs a stable foundation, regardless of age or fitness level. This class will improve all aspects of daily living – increase flexibility, balance, range of motion, and mobility, calm the nervous system, and nourish the soul. The meditation will have you contemplating “Seeing with the Eyes of Faith.”

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Step into the new year with purpose as you join Jill for this upbeat level 2 class, enlivened by forward-moving instrumental music. You will begin by deep-breathing in a seated position, which will help you relax and refocus as you prepare to strengthen your mind, body, and spirit. After warming up, Jill will lead you through a whole-body strengthening series that includes high-lunge, deep-lunge, arabesque, pike, lunge II, reverse lunge II, and angle pose. Jill adds variety to some of these well-known poses that will add an extra challenge to your obliques, abdominals, and balance. As you enter hip release for your long-hold, you will listen to a meditation on setting goals in the new year, making sure to include physical, intellectual, and spiritual goals. The bodily prayer verse will remind you that the Lord alone knows what is best for you--so be sure to plan with Him!

Come ready to work hard, and prepare to sweat! You will challenge your whole body while focusing on balance and core strength using a balance dome (bosu ball). If you don’t have a balance dome, no worries, you can use the floor and still get a good workout. Light to medium weights are used but not required. The meditations will have you focusing on the Beatitudes and how they are the owner’s manual to life.

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Watch “Back Resistance Introduction” before doing one of the back resistance classes for the first time. As you become comfortable with the advanced class, try adding a little more weight or repetitions. You will need a barbell, body bar, or hand weights.

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This is the 5th class in the series that is designed to help postpartum women realign the spine, strengthen the back, abs, and pelvic muscles, and help with relaxation, stress management, and spiritual and emotional well-being. This series of classes are progressive, so start with #1 and only move through the series when you feel you have mastered this class without losing form. The meditation will have you contemplating providing security in a broken world. If you have not already, check out the Foundational Postnatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein.

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This is the 2nd class in the series that is designed to help postpartum women realign the spine, strengthen the back, abs, and pelvic muscles, and help with relaxation, stress management, and spiritual and emotional well-being. This series of classes are progressive, so start with #1 and only move on to #2 when you feel you have mastered this class without losing form. The meditation will have you contemplating receiving help during this time. If you have not already, check out the Foundational Postnatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein.

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In this 5 minute video, Jhoe will take you through the 8 layers used in Cardio Kickboxing #1. Learn the layers before trying it in the fast-paced workout. Looking for a low impact option? As a BONUS, Jhoe takes you through a low impact option you can learn before doing the class.

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This is the 3rd class in the series that is designed to help postpartum women realign the spine, strengthen the back, abs, and pelvic muscles, and help with relaxation, stress management, and spiritual and emotional well-being. This series of classes are progressive, so start with #1 and only move through the series when you feel you have mastered each class without losing form. The meditation will have you contemplating marriage. If you have not already, check out the Foundational Postnatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein.

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This is the 4th class in the series that is designed to help postpartum women realign the spine, strengthen the back, abs, and pelvic muscles, and help with relaxation, stress management, and spiritual and emotional well-being. This series of classes are progressive, so start with #1 and only through the series when you feel you have mastered this class without losing form. The meditation will have you contemplating to whom do your children belong. If you have not already, check out the Foundational Postnatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein.

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Looking to take your Pietra Fitness practice up a notch? Raise the Bar incorporates exercises and postures that are sure to challenge your balance, flexibility, and overall strength. From V-sits and half-linked backbends to unique twists and poses, this 49-minute class will ignite every muscle in your body. The Scriptures and meditations remind you what it means to be a child of God and invite you to reflect on ways you can have more trust in your Heavenly Father.

If you are looking for a fantastic upper body workout, you will love Upper Body Sculpt. Just as in all Pietra Fitness classes, you will begin this 35-minute routine working on your breath—focusing on the present moment and calming your nervous system. Tara will then guide you through a series of stretches to loosen up your neck, chest, shoulders, sides, and the entire backside of your body before entering into the main focus of the workout. Get ready to strengthen your triceps, biceps, shoulders, chest, core and back with planks, pushups, chest lifts, and more. You will also work your glutes and quads as you do arm work while in lunge 2, and release tension in your inner thighs and hips during the long hold. The Scriptures remind you of the presence of the Holy Spirit within your soul, and Tara teaches you a powerful way to reflect on the words in the meditations.

Besides a mat, you will need an open wall for this class. Annie will lead you through exercises that will prepare you to work on a handstand against the wall. You do not need to do the handstand to benefit from the class, but it is nice to work on it. The meditation will have you focusing on inviting Jesus to protect your home.

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If you don’t have time for a long workout, but you want to warm-up, elevate your heart rate and sweat, and then wind down with a beautiful stretch and pray at the same time, then this class is for you! You can do it all in less than 30 minutes! If this is your first time trying it, see the short Instructional Video prior to beginning. Don’t forget your water and towel! The meditation focuses on Friendship with Jesus.

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Building strength in the lower body is essential during pregnancy for overall stability, to help prevent imbalances, and to ensure you feel supported with your changing body.  This class is suitable for all trimesters, but please listen to your own body and make modifications when needed. Leave out anything that doesn’t feel right to you. The meditation will have you thinking about God knitting the child in your womb. Check out The Foundational prenatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein that will teach you how to find and work the pelvic floor, bracing the core for pregnancy, and other great info for pregnant women. 2 blocks and a couple of pillows are needed for this class. If you don’t have blocks grab a bunch of extra pillows and blankets so that your head is above your heart at the beginning of class.

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Working on upper body strength during pregnancy will help you to have good posture as well as with all the lifting and carrying you will be doing after the baby is born! You’re welcome!  This class is suitable for all trimesters, but it is important to always listen to your own body. Josette gives modifications but if anything does not feel good or right to you, don’t do it. Feel free to take a break whenever you need to and come back when you are ready. If this is your first time doing a prenatal video, make sure you check out the Foundational prenatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein to learn how to find and work the pelvic floor, bracing the core for pregnancy, and other great info for pregnant women. Grab a chair, a couple of pillows, water, a block, and any other props you would like for support, and let’s get started. Make sure you have received clearance from your healthcare provider to exercise before doing this class.

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Looking for a leg workout that tones your lower body, makes you sweat (or glisten), and leaves your whole body feeling strong and energized? This 58-minute class is for you! With quick transitions and compound exercises that engage multiple muscles at the same time (think squats with bicep curls, reverse swan dives, mountain climbers, and side lunges), Live! from Home: Glistening will get your heart rate up and work muscles you didn't even know you had. But that's not all. Just like every Pietra Fitness class, this Level 1 workout incorporates feel-good stretches to increase your flexibility and range of motion, release tension, and provide relief for the muscles that you just worked. The Scriptures and meditations will remind you that calling out to God in times of need is a true sign of trust in Him.

Besides a mat, you will need an open wall for this class. After warming up, you will go through a flow and then hold up the wall in High Lunge, use the wall in Extended Leg Reach, and then work on a Handstand Prep. The Long Hold feels amazing in Inner Thigh Stretch on the Wall. The meditation will have you pondering Jesus as the Gate.

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This is a gentle class either seated in a chair or standing, using the chair for balance, and is suitable for all trimesters. Even though this class is gentle, it is still important to always listen to your own body. Nila gives modifications but if anything does not feel good or right to you, leave it out. Feel free to take a break whenever you need to and return when you are ready. If this is your first time doing a prenatal video, make sure you check out the Foundational prenatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein that has great info needed for these classes. The meditation will have you contemplating being co-creators with God. So, grab a chair and have water handy and let’s get started!

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Building on Resistance Chest and Shoulders Gentle, this intermediate level workout will challenge your chest and shoulder muscles helping you to move better and stand taller. Use light weights and increase the weights a bit once it becomes comfortable. Next step – Advanced!

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A total body strength class will help you to get lean, toned, and fit. It targets all of the major muscle groups of the entire body. Betsy takes you through a series of creative exercises designed to increase stability and strength using only your body weight. The meditation will have you thinking about Mary: Mother of God and our Mother.

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Have you always wanted to learn how to do an Arm Balance? If so, this is the class for you. Join Jill as she prepares your body to practice Arm Balance in this 32 min Level 2 Class. Have fun as you challenge yourself, even if you wobble! The meditation will help you to contemplate the meaning of lighting candles.

Besides a mat, you will need an open wall for this class. Annie uses the warm up and workout to prepare you for headstands against the wall. You do not need to do the headstands to gain benefit. In fact, you may want to do this class many times before even attempting a headstand. The meditation will have you contemplating healthy boundaries in your life.

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If you are looking for a fun full body strength class using your own body weight, this is the class for you. After the warmup, Lori takes you through a series of lunges working on spinal stability, Squats, core work and more before taking you into the winddown. The meditation will have you contemplating Mary: Virgin Most Powerful.

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This intermediate full body prenatal class is suitable for all trimesters, though some 3rd trimester moms may need to modify. Josette offers modifications but you are encouraged to make other adjustments if needed. It is important to always listen to your own body so if something does not feel right, come out of the pose, or take a break. The meditation will have you contemplating the beautiful gift you are carrying. Check out the Foundational prenatal videos to learn how to find and work the pelvic floor, bracing the core for pregnancy, and other pertinent info for expectant mamas. Go ahead and grab a chair, a couple of pillows, water, a block, and any other props you would like for support.

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Building on the Resistance Chest and Shoulders Gentle and Intermediate, this more advanced class gives the option to increase the weight, use kettlebells, and a few extra exercises. You will leave the class feeling fluid and strong – ready to take on the day! You can make it easier by decreasing the weights or harder by upping the weights and repeating the video.

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Core stability during pregnancy helps support the pelvic organs as the baby grows, lessens back pain, and can help ease delivery. Nila will give modifications but if anything does not feel good or right to you, let it go. If this is your first time doing a prenatal video, make sure you check out the Foundational prenatal videos to learn how to find and work the pelvic floor, bracing the core for pregnancy, and other great info for pregnant women. You will need a chair, a couple of pillows, water, and any other props you would like for support. The Scripture, prayers, and meditations will have you thinking about praying for your child. Please check with your healthcare provider to be cleared for exercise before starting any kind of workout regime.

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Stretching keeps the muscles flexible and healthy. This is so needed in order to maintain a range of motion in the joints. If you only strengthen the muscles, they will shorten and become tight, which if not stretched out, can put you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage. Jhoe takes you through a class that stretches the entire body while relaxing and refreshing the nervous system. She does throw in a curve ball with doing the splits, but she gives you a different option if you do not want to do splits. The meditation will have you contemplating Mary and the Annunciation.

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Check out this short instructional video before doing the Pietra Power: Cardio Upper Body class!

This intermediate class focuses on the legs and is suitable for all trimesters. Strength in the lower body is necessary to support your body during pregnancy, keeps your hips mobile, and helps keep aches and pains of hips and lower back at bay. Even though it’s an intermediate class, Nila offers modifications, but you can also modify anything that is not right for you, so give this class a try!  If you haven’t already, please check out The Foundational prenatal videos with Dr. Jillian Stecklein. They will teach you how to find and work the pelvic floor, bracing the core for pregnancy, and other great info. Have a chair handy, a couple of pillows and maybe a block. It’s always good to have water nearby to stay hydrated. Check with your doctor that you have clearance to exercise before beginning.

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Are you looking to work out your upper body without needing any extra equipment? Then Body Weight: Upper Body could be just what you are looking for. This class will build strength and muscular endurance in the upper body simply using the weight of your own body to challenge your muscles.

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Your core is your trunk: pelvic floor, back, abdominals, and diaphragm. The exercises in this routine will help your core muscles work harmoniously for better balance and stability. This is important for regular activities as well as for sports and other physical activities. The prayers and meditation will have you thinking about Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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Grab your weights (or not!) and join us for a short workout that focuses on strengthening arms and shoulders all while sitting in the chair. Make it your own by not using weights or using soup cans.

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Balanced workouts incorporate all major muscle groups, ensuring every part of the body gets attention. This can help to promote strength and flexibility for your whole body. Alison takes you through a 44-minute well-rounded routine that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready for your day. The meditation will have you thinking about Mary, the Mold of God.

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While this class offers some upper body strength, Amanda focuses on stretching and lengthening the muscles, mobility, and spinal rotation, extension, and flexion. Tension is released, flexibility will increase, and you will move more freely. The prayers and meditation will have you thinking about Mary and Motherhood.

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This short workout uses a stability ball to give you some fun and different ways to work the core. Jhoe offers some advanced exercises that requires strong stabilizers and knowledge of a stability ball. If you are new to an exercise ball, take it slow and realize there are risks for falling off the ball, particularly in some of the more advanced movements. Perform the exercises slowly and with control. Maintain proper body position.

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Improve your fitness, stamina, and overall health. If you are comfortable with an intense fitness class and are looking for a powerful Pietra Fitness class where you will improve your fitness, stamina, and overall health, then this is the class for you. Jhoe moves at a bit faster pace then will hold your body in a particular position which fires up your muscles and makes them work hard to keep you there, boosting your muscle strength and endurance. Props are used but not necessary. The meditation will have you contemplating Psalm 46.

A fast-paced advanced workout that hits every aspect of your physical fitness: strength, cardio, and flexibility. First, warm up and prepare for the workout by moving the spine in all directions and firing up the core. This workout includes two sets. Each set has a strength portion, a cardio portion which includes kicks, and a stretch portion. Bring a towel and water, you will need it as you head into the wind down. The meditation will have you contemplating the Birthday of Our Lady. Leave this class feeling strong, confident, and closer to Mary.

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Hip flexibility and mobility is so important because it allows for more fluid and efficient movements. It can help in everyday movement and can even help athletes improve their performance on the field. Join Robin in this short class as you boost your range of motion and feel great. The meditation will have you contemplating Mary, and being a Mother.

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As in Pietra Power Kick 1, this class is a fast-paced advanced workout that hits every aspect of your physical fitness: strength, cardio, and flexibility. After the warm-up, you will be taken through a series of Squat + Presses along with Squat + Roundhouse Kicks. In the second series, Jhoe will lead you through front and back kicks along with lateral ladder runs in place and squat jumps. Bring your water! You will need it!! Don’t worry, the wind down is soothing and relaxing so you will leave the class feeling strong yet calm. The meditation will have you contemplating Mary, our Mother in Faith.

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It’s amazing how much you can do in a chair! Work on spinal mobility while strengthening the core with this class that is jammed pack with twists and turns all  while sitting in a chair. You will leave class feeling energized. The meditation will have you thinking about  Clarifying the Essentials. If you are new to Pietra Fitness, you may want to start with one of the gentle chair classes.

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