What Is DDP Yoga?

DDP Yoga came to popular attention when former paratrooper Arthur Boorman posted an inspirational yoga transformation video. It went viral in 2012 and resurfaces for another round of internet fame every few years. The five-minute clip is available on YouTube and the DDP Yoga site. Boorman was severely overweight and unable to walk without assistance. He turned his health around using only the DDP Yoga system.

What Is DDP Yoga?

DDP stands for Diamond Dallas Page, a former pro-wrestler turned fitness guru. Page's interest in yoga began when he injured his back in the ring and went looking for ways to rehabilitate himself. He was amazed at how quickly he began to see improved flexibility and strength when he practiced yoga.

He began to combine yoga with therapeutic exercises for his back and, as his condition improved, added in slow-motion workout moves like crunches and push-ups. When he wore a heart rate monitor during yoga, he noticed that he could make his heart rate go up significantly when he strongly engaged his muscles. This was the origin of the technique that sets DDP Yoga apart.

How Does DDP Yoga Work?

What makes DDP Yoga different from traditional yoga is the use of a technique Page calls dynamic resistance. Resistance training refers to exercise, such as weight-lifting, where you use a heavy object, like a barbell, to create resistance for your body to work against.

DDP Yoga uses dynamic resistance where you perform the same actions you would when lifting weights, but without the barbells. Instead, you use your own body and muscle tension to add resistance.

Adding dynamic resistance allows your heart rate to climb higher than it would normally when doing yoga. DDP Yoga requires that you use a heart-rate monitor to track your own heart rate and keep it in the fat-burning zone for optimum results.

Nutritional Aspects of DDP Yoga

Another key factor of the DDP Yoga program is nutrition. Page prescribes a three-step healthy eating plan based on whole foods and reasonable portions.

Those with more weight to shed are encouraged to go dairy-free and gluten-free and eat organic foods as much as possible. Recipes, sample meal plans, and a food journal provide support in changing your diet. The DDP program guide also provides a workout plan and plenty of online support via a very active web community that offers advice and encouragement.

Yoga for Regular Guys

Page's program was originally called Yoga for Regular Guys (YRG), which is a pretty apt description of his target audience, so it comes as no surprise that this program is not really designed with yogis in mind. It's for men who, like Page, thought that they would never try yoga since it is perceived as lacking a certain macho mystique, but might be inspired to pull on a pair of yoga shorts.

Page, who is the first to say that this is not "traditional yoga," goes out of his way to insert man-cred. He renames poses (warrior I become road warrior, urdhva hastasana becomes touchdown, child's pose becomes safety zone, etc.) and adds his dynamic resistance curls and punches.

Page hopes that his injection of humor and overt masculinity will help get "regular guys" to seek out yoga's benefits and maybe even make their way into a more traditional class. And DDP Yoga’s emphasis on safety may be helpful for men since research suggests they are more prone to yoga-related injuries.

Reasons to Try DDP Yoga

There are many reasons to try DDP Yoga. It appeals to those who might feel intimidated by or out of place in a more traditional yoga class, and it has some advantages over more high-impact exercise. DDP Yoga is:

• Low impact, so it is easier on the joints
• Adaptable based on your fitness level
  
• A good way to build strength and flexibility

But Is It Yoga?

As with other yoga hybrids, the question arises at what point does this become so separate from yoga that it's pointless to call it that. But it's not necessary to get caught up in what is or isn't yoga.

The more you learn about the history of modern asana practice, the sillier it seems for any particular method to claim authenticity over another. It's clear that DDP's addition to the yoga continuum is helping a lot of real people.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are DDP Yoga workouts?

DDP Yoga DVDs range from 10 to 40 minutes. There are programs for beginners, intermediate, and advanced practitioners that last for 13 weeks.

How much does DDP Yoga cost?

The DVD set costs $79.99 and contains a total of 11 different workouts.

What is the DDP Yoga diet?

The DDP Yoga diet encourages participants to go dairy-free and gluten-free and eat organic foods while controlling portion sizes. A three-phase diet plan starts off eliminating processed food, fast food, and junk food. In phase two, you are encouraged to eliminate dairy and gluten or any foods for which you have intolerances. Phase three stresses all organic foods.

 How much is the DDP Yoga app?

The DDP Yoga app offers three price points. A monthly membership costs $29.99, a three-month membership is $39.99, and a yearly membership is $107.88. Each membership starts with a 7-day free trial.

A Word From Verywell

DDP Yoga can be a useful addition to a workout regime that offers benefits for toning and flexibility. If the traditional types of yoga intimidate or don't appeal to you, DDP Yoga can help you get the benefits without some of the other aspects of yoga. DDP is fun and easy-going but still focuses on attaining a solid workout with safety in mind.