PULSE BASIC TRAINING.

Yoga Fusion has added two new titles to its stable of video workouts, targeting yoga newbies with ``Beginners' Basics'' and those wanting washboard stomachs with ``Basic Steps to Great Abs'' (Artisan; $14.98). As the name implies, Yoga Fusion focuses primarily on yoga, but keeps workouts lively by incorporating elements of Pilates, dance and strength training.

In ``Beginners' Basics,'' instructor Kim Haegele discusses breathing techniques and introduces common yoga postures such as the tree and the triangle. Each pose is held for only a short time, about 10 seconds. Fusion elements in the 45-minute workout include ballet leg lifts and modified push-ups. ``Beginners' Basics'' offers a graceful and solid routine in a video market flooded with yoga hybrid workouts.

In ``Basic Steps to Great Abs,'' the fantastically flat, muscular abdomens of instructors Teigh McDonough and Ross Rayburn may well be the video's best marketing tool. What's nice about this 35-minute workout is the team approach. Viewers can either follow McDonough, who demonstrates the less strenuous, modified versions, or Rayburn, who tackles the more advanced postures. You'll be ready for shavasana, the final resting pose, by the time this ab-kicking workout is over.

- Mariko Thompson

BACK TO BASICS: You might not be doing back flips when you finish, but flipping through the book on backs by Dr. Jennifer Sutcliffe may give you plenty to cheer about. ``The Total Back Book'' (Harper Collins; $21.95) explains the complexities of this versatile yet vulnerable part of the body. The exercises, accompanied by photo illustrations, borrow from yoga and Pilates and are designed to get your back in tip-top shape. For the desk-bound worker bee, Sutcliffe also provides sitting and standing exercises that can be done quickly and easily in the office.

- M.T.

DEALER'S CHOICE: Now you can mix and match your stretching routine with ``The Stretch Deck'' (Chronicle Books; $14.95), 50 illustrated cards that target the muscle groups of the body. Follow author Olivia Miller's recommended sequences for office workers, travelers, golfers and runners. Or entrust your stretching sequence to the luck of the draw.

- M.T.

SUN SAFE: Though sunscreen is always a must in SoCal, it's even more important for people taking certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs. More than 100 drugs - including the herbal remedy St. John's Wort, pain reliever Motrin, and acne medication Accutane - cause sun sensitivity, requiring extra caution when going outside. To avoid severe sunburn and eye damage, pharmacists recommend wearing sun screen, a hat that shields the face and polarized sunglasses. ``You have to limit your activity,'' said Allen Dewaal, a pharmacist with Capitol Drugs in Sherman Oaks. ``Stay out of the sun as much as you can.'' Not sure if your medication causes sun sensitivity? Check with your doctor or pharmacist.

- M.T.

FOOTNOTES: Walking your way to fitness doesn't require any special equipment or clothes but you'll need some prep work, says Encino fitness expert Gail Holloway. She'll teach you how to align your body, breathe correctly and stretch muscles properly - and then take you on a fitness walk through the wilds of Soka University at 9:30 a.m. Friday. It's free, but you have to call [phone] and make reservations. Soka University is at 26800 W. Mulholland Highway, Calabasas.

So you've walked the dogs and now they're barking?

Tweezerman, the company known for highly engineered tweezers, has augmented its product line with a callus shaver and rasp like the pros use, as well as a special file for ingrown toe nails and a variety of buffers and ceramic stones to get your feet looking good again, available at Nordstrom and Sally Beauty Supply stores.

Once you've removed all those calluses, refresh feet with the foot kit from Philosophy, available at Sephora stores. It's a three-step foot program that includes a tube of Soul Owner cream that not only exfoliates but provides aromatherapy with the scent of eucalyptus and lavender oils.

- Barbara De Witt

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(1 -- 2) no caption (YOGA FUSION video workout)

(3) no caption (Book: ``The Total Back Book'')

(4) no caption (Book: ``The Stretch Deck'')

(5) no caption (Philosophy foot kit)