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Post by Karla on Jul 31, 2023 17:55:47 GMT
Post gentle or beginner yoga reviews here. Don't worry if your review is too short, or inadequate. This is meant to be fun! Some people give detailed breakdowns and others don't. Just letting people know if you like or dislike a workout helps :-)
You can use the search bar at the top of this thread to find specific instructors or workouts.
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Post by Karla on Aug 10, 2023 15:59:54 GMT
Yoga For Your Back
Rama BerchIâm reviewing this DVD after owning it for a year and dismissing it as âdated and too easyâ after the first 25 minute segment (even though it eased my spine then). A recent hip/groin strain has caused me to revisit simpler, therapeutic yoga practices and delve into Ramaâs early work with open heart and mind. This review is written in latter 2008, when a plethora of therapeutic yoga DVDs is on the market â viniyoga, yin yoga, rolling on balls, hip, eye, elbow, tonsil yoga, etc. Svaroopa Yoga for Your Back is copyrighted 1994, and makes no claims as far as medical studies or promises, but Ramaâs practice will take you by the hand and gently lead you through a calming and gentle release of the spine from tailbone to crown of the head. Youâll just have to forgive her mullet and silky, colorful tights and tunics, which initially distracted me (I could almost feel the fabrics bunching up on me, but Rama seems at home in her brilliant garb). I would recommend this for very beginners and anyone experiencing chronic but not acute back pain. The first segment is appropriate for a quick office yoga maintenance break, since it is done in a chair and clocks in at under 25 minutes (including a seated Savasana â if youâre lucky enough to have office space without a critic nearby). Props required for the full DVD are a light, supportive chair, some wall space, and a blanket or two. A carpeted or comfortable floor space is desirable; yoga mat and strap are optional. The production is quite nice - individual musicians contributed to the score of light and steady percussion, a keyboard/wind instrument arrangement, and Rama strumming her tamboura. She performs the poses in front of a tiered screen or near an austere wall space on carpet, cueing while demonstrating. Each exercise is punctuated with a wallpaper of Ganesha and the pose name written in English and Sanskrit, but sadly, this disc is not chaptered. SESSION ONE â all in chair: * Slow motion dive, seated and elbows braced on knees, letting supported spine slowly traction forward * Thread the needle (Janu Sirsasana), above exercise performed with one ankle across opposite knee and slowly melting forward * Brief chest expansion, a heart opening while grasping back of chair and breathing deeply into ribcage * Slow dive repeated, legs a little wider * The classic Svaroopa lunge but performed on the chair, rotating to sit sideways and gently lunging the free leg backward while using chair back to support spine upward with arms * Gentle spinal twist, again turned sideways on the chair, assisting your twist with arms on back of chair * Seated meditation/Savasana (tamboura soundtrack, petrel flying over ocean surf video track) SESSION TWO: * Carries on session one or starts your floor work with legs up the wall, Hrdya Chitta Samvit (Mind Sits in the Heart) â I wish this were longer or there was an option to pause with tamboura soundtrack * Janu Sirsasana (alternate ankle bent over thigh) while in legs up wall * Roll out onto side and gently push up into Ragdoll, seated up against wall on a folded blanket (optional). Slowly roll forward as vertebrae allow, Rama guides and reminds not to over extend sore backs. Slowly roll up vertebrae by vertebrae against wall. * Gentle forward lunge with back knee on floor * âthe Blade,â a gentle breathing shoulder opener * Mild version of Garudasana or eagle arms to stretch upper spine and open back of heart. Rama demonstrates her fun side and this pose utilizes the yoga strap or an old tie if needed. * Rotated stomach, a moderate spinal twist * Knees into chest, then Savasana with a blanket roll under knees. Instructor Comments: Rama Berch, founder of Svaroopa Yoga, instructs with a soft and tender voice, and her devotion to the practice of Yoga as union of body and mind is evident. She guides the home user into gentle spine releasing poses with occasional quotes from Patanjaliâs Yoga Sutras, which may or may not be appealing. Svaroopa Yoga should be approached as a release of the central nervous system, not just bodywork. Her attire and the background of this video may seem dated (c. 1994). For more information visit www.masteryoga.org. Pat58 11/05/2008
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Post by Karla on Aug 10, 2023 16:03:56 GMT
Yoga Beauty Body
Ana Brett, Ravi Singh
I just wanted to add that of all the Ravianas I have tried (which is most of them) Yoga Beauty Body remains my favorite, and it is the one I would recommend to those people who are new to kundalini and/or Ravi and Ana. Although Ravi and Ana have stated this one is good for men too (and I'm sure it is!), Yoga Beauty Body has a definite female vibe that allows me to get in touch with my inner goddess. :-D There is chaptering but this particular routine is not easily shortened, as most of the other Ravianas can be. That's okay with me, though, as it is one I prefer to do in its entirety. Whenever I finish it, my body is telling me this is just what it needed! Yoga Beauty Body is both energizing and relaxing, and sneaks in some serious toning (a bit like Classical Stretch in that regard).
Instructor Comments:
Ravi Singh is only heard in voiceover on his DVDs, but his personality really shines through. Beware, as he does love alliteration and word play ("Love your liver and you'll be a longer liver" is a classic example). But he also has the knack of encouraging you to go "just a little bit longer" right when you're thinking of bailing out on a particular move. Ana Brett demonstrates the exercises solo and is so serene and graceful to watch. She also provides voiceover commentary, which makes a nice counterpoint to Ravi.
JustSandra
08/13/2009
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Post by Karla on Aug 10, 2023 16:05:10 GMT
Yoga To Go Back To Health Volume 2
Nancy WileThis yoga DVD offers three 20-minute sections: Neck and Upper Back, Lower Back, and Back Strength and Flexibility. There is also a bonus Five Points of Posture review (5 minutes). The first two chapters focus on gentle, yoga-inspired stretches. The stretches are meant to relieve stiffness and tension, and to increase flexibility. The third chapter is designed to build back and core strength. It has more vigorous poses (for example: moving between down dog/up dog, dancerâs pose, 3-legged down dog to plank, bow) but still includes lots of stretching plus pauses in childâs pose and a shavasana. The Neck and Strength chapters have both standing and floor poses; the Low Back section is done entirely on the floor. Besides a yoga mat, you will want to have a yoga bolster or folded blanket for a couple of restorative poses at the end of the Neck and Low Back chapters (it is worth the extra trouble!). The Neck chapter also uses a rolled towel. Nancy Wile leads all three sections solo, instructing in voiceover. She mirror-cues, and I find her easy to follow. She uses the common English names for the yoga poses. Very lovely outdoor canyon setting. The background music is soft, pretty and forgettable. I recently severely purged my collection of yoga DVDs, keeping only a half-dozen or so. This one made the cut. I especially love the Low Back section for when my back feels tight or sore. Instructor Comments: A pleasant, unpretentious instructor. The website is www.yogaTG.com. JustSandra 08/13/2009
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Post by Karla on Aug 14, 2023 21:12:58 GMT
Yoga Zone: Gentle Yoga
Charles Matkin
This DVD has the following chapters and subheadings:
Session 1: 21:33 min
Led by Charles Matkin, accompanied by Lisa Bennett
⢠Kneeling Sun Salute
⢠Four-legged Table
⢠Cobbler's Pose
Session #2: 21:33-42:50
Led By Charles Matkin, accompanied by Jeanne Kerner
⢠Seated Neck Release
⢠Sun Breaths (Standing)
⢠Flowing Bridge
Detailed moves - from my notes:
Session 1:
⢠Seated cobbler
⢠Down dog
⢠Lunge
⢠Side lunge - done on one knee, and other leg is bent at a 90° angle off to the side. You will feel a great stretch in the inner thigh of the bent leg!
⢠Bridge
⢠Seated 1-legged staff stretch - straight leg is flat on floor, other leg is bent and also flat on floor; you lean forward toward straight leg, feeling stretch in straight leg hamstring.
⢠Downward dog
⢠Sphinx pose
⢠Cobbler, seated, and lean forward
⢠savasana
Session 2:
⢠Neck stretch, ear toward shoulder, repeat other side
⢠Cat cow on all fours
⢠Abs by lifting legs, then you do a reverse crunch move; I recall around this time in the workout, you do this unusual stretch for the hips: laying on back, knees bent and pointing to the ceiling, you do a mobility stretch for the hips where you rotate your hips (hips are still on the floor) to the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions on the clock. At first, I thought he meant to point your knees to those clock positions, which is a great ab move and you stretch your hips too, but when I watched it again, Jeanne Kerner's hips are moving and the knee movements are incidental, in this case you will feel it in your hips and in your abs. Whether you drive the move from your knees or hips, either one feels good!
⢠Low lunges on both sides
⢠Cat cow
⢠Standing mountain pose
⢠Standing camel
⢠Standing forward bend
⢠Seated Cobbler
⢠Single leg stretch
⢠Supine cobbler to open hips
⢠Ends in a seated cross-legged pose
This DVD was from the Yoga Zone show and has a few "breaks" where instead of a commercial, Alan Finger reminds you about the benefits of yoga. These last for maybe 20 seconds, and it goes right back to Charles. Charles assumes you've been doing the last move for the duration of a commercial break which is usually longer than 20 seconds.
It's filmed in Jamaica, outdoors at the Grand Lidos San Souci resort similar to many of the other Yoga Zone workouts.
I like this workout for its simplicity and length - not too long, not too short.
Instructor Comments:
Charles is good and Lisa (session 1) and Jeanne (session 2) are good cast members and are able to do the moves adequately.
bzar
07/07/2020
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Post by Karla on Aug 19, 2023 21:16:17 GMT
AM PM Yoga for Beginners
Barbara Benagh
This DVD by renowned yoga instructor Barbara Benagh is similar in format to her previous DVD, Yoga for Stress Relief. However, whereas the latter offers practices for different conditions (back pain, headaches, digestive issues, etc.), in the AM/PM DVD, Barbara offers practices designed for morning or evening. These practices, which are slow-moving and quite gentle overall, range in length from 15 to 45 minutes, making it easy to fit yoga into even your busiest days. Barbara frequently uses props: in addition to a yoga mat, I would recommend that you have at least one blanket on hand (preferably 2-3), with pillows and an eye bag being optional.
A breakdown of the DVD is listed below. The headings are the items found on the main menu, and the bullets indicate submenu items (the times for each practice are given as they appear on-screen). I've included brief notes describing each of the practices.
Discussion of Meditation by HH The Dalai Lama
AM Routines
*Get Up and Go (15m)--a simple flow of upper back openers, including down dog and cobra
*Sun Salutation Centering (15m)--a single slow lunge salutation combined with seated forward bends
*Breath Work (30m)--an all-lying/seated practice that twists, supported poses, and seated meditation
*Gentle Wake Up (35m)--consists almost entirely of reclined postures plus two seated twists; would be a nice evening practice as well
*Extended Morning (45m)--one of the most active practices; begins on the floor but then moves on to standing postures including side stretch, tree, triangle, side angle, and warrior 1, but then returns to the floor for relaxing poses
*Wake Up the Spine (35m)
PM Routines
*Short Rest (10m)--this brief practice offers a reclined twist, pursed lip breathing, and legs-up-the-wall pose
*Breath Work (20m)--starts with two poses to stretch the shoulders then moves on to seated meditation and savasana
*Unwinding Muscle Tension (30m)--this practice features mainly twisting postures in reclined, seated, and a standing position
*Good Nights Sleep (25m)--another simple practice with crocodile pose, pursed lip breathing, seated meditation, and reclined postures
*Energizing Evening (40m)--this more active evening opens with the sun salutation series from above, features simple locust and cobra backbends, includes seated postures (half lord of the fishes and open half lotus), and ends with reclined postures and legs-up-the-wall
Credits
As in her previous videos, Barbara is practicing alone against the backdrop of a beautiful beach at Half Moon Bay Resort in Antigua. This DVD does feature some of the same posture sequences as in Barbara's prior Yoga for Stress Relief, but the footage appears to be new. Overall, this is an excellent yoga DVD well-suited to a wide range of practitioners, from those fairly new to yoga to more experienced yoginis like myself--definitely recommended.
Instructor Comments:
Barbara speaks with a warm southern accent. She is very slow-moving, which might get on some people's nervous, but her manner is perfect for these gentle practices.
Beth C (aka toaster)
11/09/2007
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Post by Karla on Aug 31, 2023 14:00:10 GMT
Kripalu Yoga - Gentle
Carolyn Lundeen
Iâm reviewing this workout after previewing it once and doing it twice since getting it several months ago.
General workout breakdown: As other reviewers have mentioned, this workout is divided into two sections, one of about 32 minutes and one of about 28 minutes, which you can choose to do separately or together.
The first routine includes the following poses: seated pose, mountain seat breath (raising and lowering arms with breath while seated), lateral side stretch, seated cat and dog tilts, moving knees side to side, spinal rotation, cat pose, lunge series (low lunge, kneeling straight leg stretch, low lunge, high lunge, plank), childâs pose, table, extended table (with one arm and opposite leg extended), cat and dog tilt in table, downward facing dog, high lunge, standing forward fold rolling up into mountain pose, supported back bend, half sun salutations, warrior two, mountain pose with eagle arms, forward fold, high lunge, plank, half locust, cobra, boat (actually more of a locust pose), childâs pose, staff pose, seated forward bend, rolling down into supine, spinal twist with bent knees into side lying pose, rest (i.e. corpse) pose. You then choose to come up to a seated position or remain in rest pose for the second routine.
The second routine begins in rest (corpse) pose and contains the following exercises: drawing one knee to the chest while supine, supine spinal twist with knee bent, both knees into chest, table, downward facing dog, squat, roll up, breath of joy (stand in mountain with arms at side, then breathe vigorously in time with arm movements to side, then up, and then release body down), chair pose, little dancer, half moon (standing side bend), star gazer (mini backbend with one straight leg out in front and the other behind), standing yoga mudra (forward fold with hands clasped behind), forward fold, controlled roll down from sitting to supine, bridge, knees to chest, rest, and seated cross-legged position.
Level: Iâd recommend this to beginners (although they may not find it gentle at first!) through intermediates. Iâm not sure how this would work for true beginners unless they had already dabbled in yoga and/or had some strength and flexibility (i.e. an intermediate exerciser who hadnât tried yoga but who normally did some flexibility work). More experienced yogi(ni)s will find this a great lighter day workout. I consider myself a low intermediate in yoga; I have almost three years of experience but still need to improve my strength and flexibility. I found this an appropriate level for a day when I didnât want to do power yoga.
Class: One woman and one man accompany Carolyn. Both are clearly normal middle-aged folks. All three wear form-fitting lavender outfits which flatter none of them. Sometimes one will show a variation, but there arenât really any modifications. Carolyn instructs via voiceover.
Music / Set / Other Production Notes: The atmospheric music is barely noticeable and doesnât detract from the mood at all. The set is a dark room with purpley and blue spotlights on the three exercisers. The picture and sound are fine, but certainly nothing special.
Equipment: Youâll need a sticky mat (or equivalent). Everyone performs the exercises barefoot.
Comments: You donât need much space for this routine: just enough to stretch out on your mat and move your limbs around without hitting anything.
DVD Notes: I have the new edition, which only has the Gentle routine (not the additional Dynamic and Partner sequences). The DVD comes with a poster of the exercises for both the Gentle and the Dynamic routines. The chapters are: Precautions and Introduction, First Sequence Breathing and Warm-ups, Posture Series, Second Sequence Warm-ups and Breathing, Posture Series, Meditation in Motion (the freestyle section), and Relaxation and Mediation. At the end is a blurb on the Kripalu Yoga Center.
Conclusion: This is a good yoga video, especially for a somewhat experienced yogi(ni) looking for a lighter or shorter routine. It should appeal to people sick of seeing fitness models or yoga instructors certified in a course last weekend. Carolyn teaches real yoga to real people. There are some New Agey elements, namely the inspirational-type quotable phrases already mentioned. Those and the manâs purple spandex pants might keep away some people who would really benefit from this video, but you wonât need to look at the TV much once you have the routine down and may figure out how to tune out anything not involving cueing or form pointers.
That said, for some reason Iâm having trouble getting into this video. Iâm not yet confident enough in my yoga practice to enjoy the freestyle segment. I normally donât even notice outfits, but apparently I canât get past the lavender spandex. (I need to work on my acceptance if Iâm going to call myself a yogini!) Seriously, though, itâs more if Iâm in the mood for a gentle yoga practice or a less intense yoga routine I tend to reach for Body Wisdom Mediaâs Yoga (Complete) for Every Body (which was my first real yoga video and thus has a comforting familiarity), Yoga for Inflexible People, Rainbeau Marsâ Pure Tranquility, Karen Voightâs Yoga Focus (now Yoga Power) stretch, or Kathleen Andersonâs Yoga in the Garden of Serenity. So maybe the reason this DVD hasnât found its way into my player much is that I already have a wide selection of gentle yoga videos, so Iâll probably pass it along to someone whoâd put it to good use.
Instructor Comments:
Carolyn deliberately paces her words; with her deep (for a woman) voice, the voiceover narration thus is a great one for this type of yoga practice. She cues well enough and mirror cues. As mentioned, she normally sticks to cueing but occasionally sticks in a New Agey-sounding nugget (like the âlook forward into your lifeâ bit), but there are only a few such statements and theyâre short.
KathAL79
10/29/2005
This is a wonderful, calming and absolutely gentle yoga practice. It has been well-described by previous reviewers.
There are two sections that flow nicely. Either section is nice to do. You get to lie on the floor a lot, which Iâm finding out is my favorite kind of yoga - LOL! It is almost like having a massage. The set and costumes are in relaxing blues and purples. The lighting is dim (like you wish it was in âCandlelight Yogaâ). The music adds to the atmosphere. Kripalu Gentle is another great one to add to your before bed yoga video choices.
There is a bit of a woo-woo factor. But not enough to lessen the enjoyment of the yoga.
(I think one of the background exercisers is the same one from Karen Voight's "Yoga Stretchâ in Sleek Physique).
I got the DVD, which also has the Dynamic and Partner yoga routines. I havenât tried them yet. The DVD is well-chaptered.
Instructor Comments:
Sudha has a very soothing voice.
Alta
03/06/2004
Although there are many yoga videos that claim to be "relaxing," most move too quickly to allow you to truly relax into the poses. I'm happy to say that Kripalu Yoga: Gentle is different, as it delivers exactly the gentle, relaxing yoga practice that it promises. The video consists of two half hour practices (the first is slightly longer) designed to be done either together or separately. Although many familiar poses are included, they are frequently motified to be more gentle--eg, Eagle pose done with the arms only.
The first program ends in relaxation pose, and the second practice picks up from this point. Towards the end of the second practice, there is a several minute long "free" period during which the instructor and her two assistants perform whichever poses they want and instruct the viewer to do the same. I actually found this to be somewhat distruptive to the flow of the workout; I preferred the instructor's guidance to being left to my own devices. The only other problem I had with this workout is that occasionally, the instructor uses incorrect names for poses (such as referring to lying on stomach with arms and legs raised as "Boat pose"). Overall, however, I found this to be a unique vidoe, and I thoroughly enjoyed this soothing, relaxing yoga practice.
Instructor Comments:
The main female instructor provides a soothing, instructive voice-over to the slow yet steadily flowing practice.
Beth C (aka toaster)
12/15/2003
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Post by Karla on Sept 2, 2023 19:31:20 GMT
Backyard Series: Beginning Yoga Erich Schiffmann Year Released: 2002 With the exception of the beautiful Yoga Mind & Body (with Ali McGraw), this is my first Erich Schiffmann video. During the introduction at the beginning of the practice, Erich explains that the entire video was created by him--not only the instructing, but also the filming, editing, etc. Therefore, he notes that since there is no camera person, the camera angles might sometimes be a little off, but I did not find this to be a problem at all. Although you won't find the amazing production values of YM&B here, I still thought this DVD was very nicely produced, definitely more than adequate. The DVD is very well-chaptered into 10 segments which could easily be mixed and matched to create your own customized practice. Although the DVD has been broken down by others, I've included a brief overview below along with my own comments (all times are approximate). 1. Introduction, 7.5 minutes. From a seated position, Erich leads you through forward bends, side bends, and twists. 2. Mountain series, 7 minutes. Similar to the first segment except in a standing position; ends with a forward bend and squat. 3. Cat/Dog series, 3.5 minutes. 4. Half Salutes, 9.5 minutes. Erich performs half sun salutes and then flows into a series of standing postures, including triangle and wide-legged forward bend with a twist. 5. Reclining lotus preps, 13.5. From both a reclined and a seated position, Erich leads you through a series of wonderful hip openers such as thread the needle and rock the baby; my favorite segment! 6. Shoulder stretches, 14.5 minutes. Another great segment; Erich presents a great series of shoulder openers while seated in hero's pose (these include, but are more comprehensive than, the shoulder exercises which appear in his book). 7. Locust series, 4 minutes. A shorter series of gentle backbends. 8. Half Dog, 3.5 minutes. Shoulder stretch (also performed in YM&B). 9. Bridge, 6.5 minutes. Includes several bridge variations plus a reclining twist. 10. Savasana, 5 minutes. The credits start rolling about 1.5 minutes into this segment, but the music continues, so you can easily continue your relaxation until the chimes sound. (Total time: approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes) Like virtually everyone who has tried Erich, I really enjoyed this DVD, and I know I will get a lot of use out of it. Also, I can't wait to try other videos in the Backyard series! Instructor Comments: Erich instructs via voiceover, and as always, his instruction is top-notch. I find his voice uniquely soothing, although some of his comments did get a bit repetitive (I didn't mind, but others might). Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed the appearance of Fig, Erich's cat--I was totally amused by Erich's ability to completely ignore Fig's presence.  Beth C (aka toaster) 01/16/2006 I will get into trouble right away by saying that I wouldnât consider this a good video for true yoga beginners. It is wonderful in many ways. But, not for baby beginners. I am sort of a beginner. I have done yoga on and off for years. Only recently has it becomes more important to me as a part of fitness and of life. I did parts of the workout a few times. The other day I did the whole thing, which, at 77 minutes, is way longer than Iâm used to doing yoga. There is no dread factor at all. No endless sun salutations, no painfully extended and repeated downward dogs. Mostly gentle stretches, asanas and preps for harder asanas. Several of the poses were way hard for me. The lying leg out to the side one was tough. I will use my yoga strap next time. The cobra part was very hard. I felt there wasnât enough instruction to avoid injuring the back. The ab work could have used more explanation. Letâs face it, I needed more instruction in some parts! And I am not a baby beginner to yoga. I needed more props too. I know there is no law that says that beginners have to use props. I find them very helpful. There is a great shoulder stretch section that is so enjoyable. And not just because his cat comes over to greet him and have a little bath for the camera! Instructor Comments: When Erich first appeared on the screen, my first thought was, âThis guy is stoned.â Then I thought, âHeâs not the buff superdude like Eion or Rodney.â In less than a minute, I was absolutely smitten with this instructor. He has a deceptively soft appearance and manner. Yet, his moving through the poses is strong and effortless. He has some endearing mannerisms that make him ever so human. The hair fixing. The ring adjusting. When he removes leaves from his mat or adjusts his clothing, itâs almost hypnotic. The best part is his attitude which says: Enjoy this! He is the only yoga instructor Iâve ever felt Iâd like to meet. Iâd give him a big hug! Alta 02/25/2004 |
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Post by Karla on Sept 2, 2023 19:35:09 GMT
Easy Yoga
Leann Carey
Year Released: 2003
Yesterday I did Easy Yoga by Leeann Carey for the first time. This gentle hatha yoga practice is about 60 minutes long. It begins with a nice 15 minute breathing meditation, lying on the floor with the legs resting on a chair.
The session moves very slowly from pose to pose. Cat Pose, Child's Pose, Mountain Pose, Half Sun Salutation "A", Triangle Pose, prep for Downward Dog using a chair, Downward Dog, Bridge Pose using a strap, Reclining Twist, ending with Corpse Pose.
The set is a softly lit corner of a white room. A minimal set of a bare wooden floor and her yoga mat. There is little music. You will need a chair, blanket, mat and strap.
This is a beginner yoga tape that was actually MADE for beginners. (Unlike many other so-called "beginner" yoga workouts which are difficult and intimidating.) The pace is extremely slow and she gives many form pointers.
I got this DVD in a trade. The chaptering is minimal. It was produced by New World Video located in Britain.
Instructor Comments:
Ms. Carey is calm, serene and has a soothing voice. She is not super flexible. She gives numerous form pointers. She mentions the benefits of yoga, but the woo-woo factor is very low.
Alta
02/02/2004
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Post by Karla on Sept 8, 2023 13:31:40 GMT
Project: You - Yoga Flex
Kathy Smith
This is one of the several workouts included in the Project You package produced by Beachbody and led by Kathy Smith. The series is geared towards beginner-intermediate exercisers, in fact I think the complete title was âProject: You, Type 2â for specific use towards sedentary adults who developed Type 2 diabetes. In general I wasnât interested in the Project You workouts but lately I have desired some gentler workouts, and found the set at a bargain price lately. The whole set consists of 8 workouts (my secondhand set didnât include the Steady Strides walking audio CD although it may have been included originally). The 8 workouts are on 3 DVDs within one DVD plastic container (a great space saver and I wish more sets would do this!). Yoga Flex and Pilates Core are on the third DVD in the set.
Yoga Flex clocks in at exactly 20:00 minutes. Kathy leads (sometimes working out with you and sometimes walking around commenting on the othersâ forms) with about 4 background instructors, three women, and one male who gives modifications for beginners and/or those with tight hamstrings. I recognized Nancy (an older woman) from Kathyâs Matrix Sculpt workout and she demonstrated awesome flexibility in this workout-wow!! I was hoping for a very relaxing, slow moving yoga workout and thatâs what I got! All of my other yoga workouts are more strength focused, move quickly, and are very intense (Jillianâs Yoga Meltdown, Biggest Loser Yoga, and Denise Yoga Body Burn), and I really didnât have a relaxing, shorter workout to end the day with. This workout really filled a gap in my (large) collection.
Like all Beachbody workouts, there is a time counter at the bottom, and the production value is very high. The set in Project You is very open, light, and uncluttered, although the music is very generic and is not much better than in the Slim Series set (blech music) which is a minus. However, for the short yoga workout, the soft, slow moving music was just fine and not a disappointment (I think it will become more troublesome/annoying in the cardio and interval workouts). The workout is fairly well chaptered, not drilled down specifically by pose and pose variations like later Beachbody productions (CLX or BBL for instance) but more by a clump of exercises: warm up, standing sequence, and cool down I believe. The timer bar doesnât introduce specific poses like those later Beachbody productions but itâs not a big deal. The chaptering and timer bar is on par with Turbo Jam, which was issued the same year.
The workout starts with a warm up of about 5 minutes which included several cat/cow reps followed by downward dog, low lunge, spinal twist, and hamstring stretches on each side. Then you stand for a warrior sequence (warrior 2 on each side), triangle on each side, and pyramid pose on each side, sprinkled with many standing forward bends in a wide stance position. Just a lot of great stretching mostly focused on the hamstrings (great!) The workout ends on the floor again with cobblers pose to open the hips and an athletic (not yoga) hamstring stretch on each leg. The final pose is corpse but at less than one minute in this pose, it feels rushed and she urges you to sit back up again for the final goodbye. That doesnât sound like much going on for 20 minutes, but Kathy went very slowly and held each move at length which used over time should really increase oneâs flexibility.
The workout went by adequately quickly and I felt well stretched by the end. It was well suited as a quickie evening winding down workout, which is just what I was hoping for. I would have really liked to see pigeon pose to stretch the glutes, as there were no real glute-specific stretches, but it wasnât a big deal, and I can always sub poses once I get more familiar with the flow. The workout had no vinyasa sequences which was fine with me (less intense). The moves were not very varied but it was a short routine and the poses were held at length which like I said really worked on flexibility. A lot of newer yoga workouts really go too quickly through the poses to get flexibility gains. This was a strictly athletic yoga-type workout and did not have any mind-body connection or âwoo wooâ talk. Overall I would rate this as a beginner to beginner-intermediate workout, well suited for beginners because of the slow execution of moves, but any level of exerciser can benefit from all that hamstring stretching. I plan to add this to my regime as an evening relaxation workout to stretch me out before a good nightâs sleep. Overall grade A-.
Instructor Comments:
Kathy Smith has had, and continues to have, an impressive career in the exercise video industry. I think she has lasted so long due to her flexibility and willingness to adapt to new genres of exercise as popularity waxes and wanes. She has an overall very good reputation for her experience and expertise, and while some think sheâs too chatty (although certainly not Denise-level chatty) I think she is well balanced between portraying enthusiasm and being down to business. I havenât enjoyed all of her workouts (older or newer) but many of them are very good additions to my (large) collection. With minor exceptions, she seems to stay in the beginner-intermediate range, which is nicely complemented by her detail to instruction and her choice to stay with standard, tried and true exercises. This is the first Project You workout I have tried and she was a very good lead. I will note that when the background exercisers were being introduced, they werenât smiling (some even looked bemused!) which certainly didnât invoke enthusiasm on my part.
Emily B.
11/29/2010
As one might expect from this add-on to the Project: You series, this 20 minute video is straight forward, geared toward the beginner to intermediate exerciser. It brings the stretch benefits of yoga to the overall PY program. No sitars, Sanskrit or moons rising over desert sands.
The beginning is a brief vinyasa from cat/cow into down dog, crescent lunge with modifications and one chatturanga/cobra in between the sets on either side. It also covers some Warrior IIs, triangles, hip openers, forward bends and twists. The music was gentle and there is a brief Shavasana during which she encourages exercisers to release tension from their bodies - more in the physical than spiritual.
I read a post on the BB boards that a person precluded herself from doing BB yoga add-ons for religious reasons. This is a flexibility workout - period.
Instructor Comments:
Project You is my first experience with Kathy. She is very encouraging and while at times there are some slight miscues, it was forgiveable to me because she is right there working along with the viewer. In this yoga video her voice is kind of muffled from holding certain asanas, I thought it was cute (all my other yoga videos are in perfect studio voice over, Kathy is right down there breathin' with ya).
Pat58
11/28/2005
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Post by Karla on Oct 1, 2023 12:06:52 GMT
3 Week Yoga Retreat (Beachbody)
Ted McDonald, Elise Joan, VYTAS BASKAUSKAS, FAITH HUNTER
Year Released: 2017
I picked up this DVD set at a used book sale last fall and followed the rotation during the month of November (yes, it took me that long to write this review!).
This is a beginnerâs yoga set, not really designed for someone like me, a yoga practitioner for almost 20 years and yoga teacher for the past five. But I learned yoga myself via videos, and so Iâm still intrigued by what they have to offer. Also, I had previously tried some YouTube yoga routines with one of the instructors in this set, Vytas Baskauskas, and I really liked his style.
There are four total DVDs in this set. Each week gets its own DVD, and the fourth DVD is designed for weekends. The general structure of the workouts is the same for each week: Day 1, Core (30m); Day 2, Stretch (30m); Day 3, Balance (30m); Day 4, Flow (30m); Day 5, Flow On-the-Go (20m); Day 6, Relax (25m); and Day 7, Take 10 (10m). The DVDs feature different instructors and build progressively on each other. I have provided complete breakdowns below.
DVD #1: WEEK 1, FOUNDATION, WITH VYTAS BASKAUSKAS (long-time yoga instructor and former Survivor contestant)
*Core*
Discussion of core bodies and principles. Start seated with seated twist; move on to cat/cow, bird/dog, childâs pose, and downward go. Transition through forward fold, and chair. Balance with knee lift/twist. Repeat low lunge 3x and move through down dog, plank. Return to floor for bridge, core series, and a long stretch to finish.
*Stretch*
Focus on lengthening, extending, and creating space. Begins lying with reclined leg stretch. Transition with down dog to mountain to half lift. Perform half sun salutes and wide forward fold. Repeat lunge variations 2x and move back through down dog, squat, and reverse table. Seated, perform twist and forward fold.
*Balance*
Designed as a balance of core and length, strength and stretch. Starts with childâs pose and down dog and moves through forward fold, half lift, and mountain. Balance with knee lift to tree pose. Standing poses included warrior 2, wide forward fold, side angle, and triangle. Transition back down to floor through downward dog and plank; introduce chaturanga. Perform eagle arms and neck stretch to finish.
*Flow*
Move from mountain into slow lunge salutes with variations. From half salutes, move into lunge salutes with crescent pose. Break down up dog. Move through sun salutations 3x with variations. Finish on floor with reverse table, seated 1-leg forward fold, and cross legged seated forward fold.
*Flow On-the-Go*
Start in mountain; move into chest lift and half sun salutes. Continue with forward fold, down dog, lunge, and crescent; add plank, cobra, and up dog. Perform sun salutation A 3x with options. Finish with childâs pose, reverse table, and cross-legged forward fold.
NOTE: The âRelaxâ and âTake 10â routines for Saturday/Sunday are on a separate DVD as I have described below.
DVD #2: WEEK 2, EXPANSION, WITH ELISE JOAN (former ballet dancer)
NOTE: I didnât like Elise as much as Vytas; although she is fine overall, her speech contained a lot of repetitive language, such as saying âwe rememberâŚâ over and over.
*Core*
Start seated for breathing and a side stretch. Move to hands and knees for cat/cow and bird-dog balance. Take a modified side plank and kneeling half moon. Move through down dog and half sun salutes with chair pose. Perform rag doll forward bend and a twist. Move into lunge; add low lunge with twist. Come into wide standing position for triceps and side stretches; move into warrior 2 and extended side angle pose. Transition from mountain pose to plank pose (held 3 breaths) to childâs pose, then core work with twisting half boat variations. Finish with bridge, reverse table, reclined Figure 4, and return to seated.
*Stretch*
Start with seated breathing; add cactus arms. Seated twist into seated 1 leg twist and seated Figure 4. Yoga squat to wide forward fold, warrior 2, reverse warrior, and triangle. Perform goddess pose, mountain, and lunge with backbend, half split, and high crescent pose. Flow through down dog and plank to seated for bound angle. Perform first relaxation pose (4.5m) and finish seated.
*Balance*
Start with yoga squat. From mountain, move through sun breaths and add chair pose. HOLD plank pose and then move into tabletop and bird-dog balance. Flow through down dog, crescent lunge, warrior 3, standing knee twist, and tree. Vinyasa transition to childâs pose. Move through down dog/down dog split; add hip stretch and knee-to-chest. Return to childâs pose and then perform kneeling rock star. Move through rolling cat/cow and finish seated.
*Flow*
Perform 2 sun salutes, adding chair and then moving through chair flow. Introduce dancing warrior flow (warrior 2, reverse warrior, triangle, reverse warrior) and introduce forearm plank. Come to seated for Figure 4 and cradle. Finish with a short relaxation (2.5m) and seated.
*Flow-on-the-Go*
Start in mountain and move through sun salutes, adding chair pose. Flow through crescent lunge, low lunge, twisting lunge, high crescent, and warrior 3. Move from wide standing dancing warrior flow. After a wide standing forward fold, vinyasa transition to childâs pose. Finish with kneeling rock start and seated breathing.
DVD #3: WEEK 3, PROGRESSION, WITH TED MCDONALD (trainer to Tony Horton and Tour de France competitor)
Ted clearly is more athletic in his approach to yoga; he comes across as more of a general fitness instructor. Also, this week felt like a significant step up from Week 2, with many poses to challenge even more experienced practitioners.
*Core*
Start breathing in mountain pose. Move through shoulder stretch and standing side bend, then into forward fold with shoulder stretch. Flow through chair pose and move into sun salutation A series; add crescent lunge plus hip/hamstring stretch. Transition through childâs pose and then into forearm plank and dolphin. Come to belly for long hold of locust, back through childâs, and repeat. Move through side forearm plank, dolphin, childâs pose, happy baby, and half happy baby into a twist. Finish with short relaxation and end seated.
*Stretch*
Start kneeling with neck stretch/roll. Come to a wide leg standing position for side lunge and add twist. Move through half sun salutes. Transition to plank, chaturanga push-up, cobra pose, childâs pose, and down dog. Move through hip/hamstring flow, lizard pose, and return to down dog. Flow through two sun salutes, adding low lunge and crescent pose. Final poses included down dog, childâs, camel, and âhappy cowâ (bull seat); conclude seated.
*Balance*
Start seated for side stretch and cat/cow. Move through hip circles and kneeling side stretch Transition through down dog, forward, fold, and mountain, then one sun salutation. Next, vinyasa flow series with warrior 1, pyramid, vinyasa and then warrior 1, revolved triangle, vinyasa. Balance in tree pose and then standing extended hand-to-foot pose, releasing foot. Finish with pigeon, down dog, and very short relaxation; end seated.
*Flow*
Start in mountain pose for neck stretch, shoulder stretch, and lateral stretch. Move through a round of sun salutation A and then sun salutation B; add dancing warrior series (warrior 1, warrior 2, reverse warrior, and side angle pose). Next, âbonusâ flow that includes chair pose, plank, down dog, warrior 1, warrior 2, half moon, and triangle pose. Come to floor for cross leg twist, short (1.5m) relaxation, and finish seated, saying ânamasteâ for the first time.
*Flow-on-the-Go*
Perform one round each of sun salutation A and sun salutation B followed by dancing warrior. Move through crescent flow that includes vinyasa transition, crescent, warrior 3, half moon, and triangle pose. Come to floor for pigeon pose and conclude with seated twist.
DVD #4: WEEKENDS WITH FAITH HUNTER (experienced yoga/meditation instructor)
I found the "Relax" routines to be fairly active, not what I would generally choose for a more restful practice.
*Relax, Week 1*
Started with seated breathing and a seated twist. Move into table, down do, plank, cobra, and childâs pose. Move through down dog into mountain pose and then half sun salutes. Perform lunge, down dog, plank sphinx, cobra, and childâs pose. Finish with wide forward fold, cross leg forward fold, and seated breathing.
*Relax, Week 2* (longer, almost 29m)
Start breathing in mountain pose; move through sun salutes into childâs pose. Continue into goddess with flowing movements and then low lunge, adding an upright twist. Return to the floor for bound angle with cat/cow, forward fold, twist, and a short relaxation.
*Relax, Week 3* (longer, 30m)
Starts standing with breathing and a lateral stretch; moves into wide forward fold x2 and optional ragdoll x2. Transition through 3-legged dog to lizard lunge and then perform vinyasa to childâs pose and lateral childâs. Come seated for 1-legged seated twist and 1-legged seated forward fold. Finish with short relaxation.
*Take 10, AM*
Designed to energize and wake up. Start seated for breathing and move in arms flow. Flow through down dog, cobra, forward fold, and half sun salutes. Standing, perform warrior 2 and wide forward fold; finish in mountain.
*Take 10, PM*
Recommended for before falling asleep. Starts seated with breathing, neck stretch, and side stretch. Lying, moves through bridge flows, reclined figure 4, reclined hamstring stretch, knees in, and happy baby; finishes with lying breathing.
*Take 10, ABS*
Begins with a standing side body stretch. Moves into cat/cow, adding knee to chest balance (10x). Flows through down dog, 3-legged dog, dog with knee in 3x, and side plank. Concludes with boat twist, locust, and seated cat/cow.
*BONUS: Beginner Basics*
These are short tutorials, about 3-4 minutes each. All four instructors take turns. The chapters include Balance, Breathing, Childâs Pose, Cobra vs. Upward Dog, Downward Dog, Elongating the Spine, Elongating the Core, Mindfulness, Mountain Pose, Props & Equipment, Savasana, The Warriors, and Yoga Squat.
OTHER INCLUDED MATERIALS
* Quickstart Guide â a step-by-step instructions on following the program
* Clean Eats Nutrition Guide â a nutrition calendar that includes recipes
* Class Calendar â a large, colorful 21-day calendar outlining each dayâs workouts
* Pose Tracker â a guide for visually measuring your progress (via photos)
ADDITIONAL GENERAL NOTES
Most of these routines do not include a final relaxation, or shavasana; many end seated. The music is generally soft and pleasant; there is a music on/off option. The set is white and featureless. With the exception of the âTake 10â practices, each routine features two of the other instructors in the background who are performing âeasierâ and âharderâ variations. Other than a yoga mat, no props are used in these routines (which, in my opinion, is not an appropriate way to teach to beginners.)
As I noted, I am a yoga instructor myself. I largely teacher beginners/those new to yoga, and these practices are well beyond most of my students, even the regulars. Although some modifications are offered here at times, it is difficult to provide appropriate variations for different body types and abilities when 1) you are not actually showing differing bodies, and 2) you are not using props. This more athletic approach to vinyasa-style yoga would mainly be appropriate for already fit people who were new to yoga.
Instructor Comments:
I included comments on the instructors above. I liked Vytas, but the others I found to be so-so, in part because them seemed more scripted, less genuine. Ted does have a down-to-earth goofiness about him, but I didn't like his more athletic style. Elise and Faith both seem friendly, but less "real."
Beth C (aka toaster)
05/05/2020
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Post by Karla on Oct 1, 2023 12:09:11 GMT
Ageless Yoga
John Schlorholtz
Year Released: 2005
I came across this DVD at a used book sale. I am a yoga instructor, and I admit, I fell for the description on the DVD case, which said that this DVD offered innovative teachings "whether you are a yoga instructor or a beginner." I also expected that as the subtitle suggested, there would be both chair AND standing yoga sequences, plus I assumed that with the vast variety the DVD had to offer--over 60 routines!--there would be plenty to suit my needs, whether for practice or to assist with my teaching.
Unfortunately, the way that this DVD is marketed is extremely deceptive. First, although the DVD does include both chair and standing stretches, there are NO practices that are entirely standing--some are all seated, and all others are a mix of seated and standing work. This is obviously fine if that's what you want (and may be better for those wanting chair yoga only), but it was NOT what I had expected. Second, while there are TECHNICALLY 60 practices on this DVD, by no means are these unique footage! By my count, there are about 11 unique sequences on this DVD--5 labeled as Gentle, 5 called Challengers, and 1 meditation. The various practices on the DVD simply feature these practices strung together in different ways--e.g., a single sequence, or 2, 3, 4, or 5 sequences combined together for a longer routine.
A final issue that I had with this DVD is that it is VERY hard to navigate. There are actually instructions in the DVD insert for the "Technologically Challenged," but not only are these poor done, they would not even be necessary if the DVDs menus were simply better constructed. Part of the problem is that instead of defaulting to a Main Menu, the DVD loads an E-Z or Quick Start Menu (and yes, it is called different things in different places--also confusing!). It is difficult to know where the options on the Quick Start Menu come from in relation to the rest of the DVD, but here they are as listed:
Sitting Only, 30 minutes
Stretch Out, 18 minutes
Stretch, 19 minutes
Loosen Up, 17 minutes
Joint Freedom, 18 minutes
Balance & Breath, 18 minutes
MORE OPTIONS
More Options leads to the Main Menu, which offers Gentle-Sitting Only-Challengers-Meditations-Credits. The Sitting Only segments are taken from both the Gentle and Challengers series. For Gentle and Challengers, there are the exact five same segments under each--Loosen Up, Stretch Out, Joint Freedom, Stretch, Balance & Breath. The only difference is in the length--each Gentle segment is about 18-19 minutes, whereas each Challenger, 5-6 minutes. The submenus simply let you choose the options for stringing the various segments together. So, for Gentle, you have shorter routines of 18-37 minutes (1-2 segments) or longer of 54-90 minutes (3-5 segments) and for the Challengers, the short routines range 5-12 minutes (1-2 segments) with the long routines being 15-32 minutes (3-5 segments). Finally, for the Meditation sub-menu, you have various options as well (With Quiet-With Music-Just the Songs-With Ocean Sound-With Chanting), but all of the guided meditations feature the same Balance & Breath segment followed by whatever meditation option is chosen.
With respect to the practices, they are okay. There is focus on the breath, which I like, but no more formal pranayama (breathwork). There is also plenty of stretching and joint mobility, great for warming up, but there's not much here that will be recognizable yoga postures, even as adapted for the chair. Again, that's fine if that's what someone is looking for, but it doesn't really seem consistent with what was described on the DVD case. If this was billed as an exercise routine for those with physical limitations only, I would not have purchased it, but it seems like that's the best audience for these routines. Even so, I would still be somewhat hesitant to recommend the DVD--i.e., if you don't choose an-all sitting routine, the other routines have a lot of frequent up and down movement, which may not be ideal for some.
I'm still trying to decide whether to keep this DVD. If I teach chair yoga in the future, there might be some things here I can use, but otherwise, this has not been a good fit for my needs.
Instructor Comments:
John is likeable enough. He is encouraging and supportive.
Beth C (aka toaster)
09/05/2017
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Post by Karla on Oct 1, 2023 12:10:12 GMT
AM & PM Yoga for Weight Loss
Suzanne Deason
Year Released: 2002
AM/PM Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss provides three short yoga practices (AM, PM, and a bonus practice) that are especially appropriate for someone just starting out with yoga, but more experienced yogis looking for some shorter, basic practices are likely to enjoy these as well. Although the workouts in and of themselves are unlikely to provide weight loss, instructor Suzanne Deason makes a point of saying (both on the DVD itself and in the helpful included leaflet) that these practices form just a part of an overall weight loss program that would also include healthy eating and other fitness activities.
All three practices are filmed in beautiful outdoor settings, and for both the AM and the PM workouts, there is a list of poses included in the accompanying leaflet. The AM practice begins and ends in hero's pose (which I believe she calls "seated warrior"). It focuses on gentle opening of all areas of the body through lunges, standing poses, twists, and finally, simple core work and backbends; two yoga bricks are used to allow greater access to the postures. The PM practice also uses props, this time a yoga wedge and strap (substitutions can be made for these). It starts with some nice shoulder openers using the strap and then includes just a few standing postures such as downward dog, lunge, and wide-legged forward bend. However, the focus of this practice is on seated forward bends, which are supposed to be calming, and so you will do a variety of these before ending in relaxation pose. The AM and the PM workouts come in at just under 25 minutes each.
The bonus workout, Breathwork Through Yoga, is a bit shorter (about 22 minutes). This time, Deason does not use any props (although she reminds you of how you can use them as in the other programs if you wish), and she places a greater emphasis on the breath while moving through the postures, with the practice beginning and ending in a seated meditation. She again leads a brief series of standing poses--pyramid pose is included this time, and the wide-legged standing forward bend is especially nice--moves to kneeling for gate pose, and then moves to the floor for both backbends and core work. The most challenging poses included in this practice are probably bow pose and a boat pose variation; therefore, it has a higher difficultly level than the other two practices but would still be very doable for experienced beginners. A final bonus on the DVD is an approximately 7-minute interview with Suzanne Deason during which she explains the rationale behind each of the workouts.
Overall, this DVD provides some excellent practice experiences for those new to yoga as well as offers options for the more experienced yoga practitioner.
Instructor Comments:
Suzanne Deason is a marvel--it's amazing how beautifully graceful and fit she is, especially for her age (around 60? the interview said she'd been practicing yoga for 35 years, I think). She has such a gentle, calm manner, and she offers excellent voiceover instruction. Her form pointers are very good, but she does not perform mirrored cueing.
Beth C (aka toaster)
06/24/2005
This DVD features 3 short yoga workouts. If you like Suzanne's other workouts, you will probably enjoy this one also. If you are more of a Power Yoga person, these yoga practices may not appeal to you. This series is supposed to be an add-on to her original Yoga for Weight Loss video. Like that video, the yoga doesn't have anything specifically to do with weight loss. It is more about the ability of yoga to help you connect your mind and body. The dvd includes a bonus interview where Suzanne talks about this. It all makes perfect sense to me, but there is nothing special about this yoga as opposed to any other yoga practices in terms of tapping into that benefit.
Suzanne gives good form descriptions (although no mirror cueing) and I like the way she leads a yoga workout. This workout is not as nice or as thorough as her hour long Yoga for Weight Loss, but it is nice to be able to get finished in 25 minutes. These workouts are beautifully produced.
Overall, there isn't anything super special about these workouts, I just personally like having a bit of variety. Also, I most often reach for SHORT yoga workouts, and these all clock in at under 30 minutes.
AM:
I like this routine because it has a lot of poses that stretch the lower body (lunge, triangle, side stretch, down dog, forward bends). The props in the video are just 2 blocks, but you really don't need them. It isn't radically different than Suzanne's other workouts, but I appreciate having the variety.
PM
This is a nice relaxing workout that gives me a nice 25 minute stretch. It has a little something for many areas of the body, but includes a lot of poses that will stretch your hamstrings. I find it similar to some of Suzanne's other short yoga workouts, but different enough for me.
Bonus - Breathwork:
A third short workout on the dvd that also works well for stretching. The purpose is supposed to be to focus on breath, but it doesn't seem different from any of Suzanne's other workouts in terms of focusing on the breath.
Lisa C
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Post by Karla on Oct 1, 2023 12:11:27 GMT
AM Yoga
Rodney Yee
Year Released: 2000
I have this CD, not the video, but I believe the program is exactly the same. This workout focuses on breathing and gentle stretching. It begins with a 4-minute breathing practice which offers instruction on deep relaxation; the entire segment is performed lying on the floor. Next is a 12-minute practice consisting mainly of floor poses to awaken the muscles. Both of these segments together are only 16 minutes, and the entire practice works well for either AM or PM.
Instructor Comments:
Rodney Yee is an excellent instructor who provides thorough voiceover explanations of each movement in a soft, soothing voice.
Beth C (aka toaster)
02/02/2004
This is an excellent tape for stretching the low back and hips. I have arthritis and this is an efficient stretching tape for me. It's also relaxing enough to do late at night.
People with back trouble would want to preview this with their docs to make sure the twisting poses are suitable, especially after an acute bout of back pain.
This tape is available in a 2-pack with PM Yoga for Beginners (Patricial Walden). The AM tape is much simpler and easier than the PM tape, I find.
Instructor Comments:
The pace is a little fast for beginners to switch positions.
Louise K
09/13/2002
I've tried several yoga tapes in the past but haven't liked them. (They usually make me feel grumpy and irritable rather than relaxed). However I like this tape a lot.
I'm naturally very tight and a beginner and my athletic therapist (I'm currently seeing him for "runner's knee" or iliotibial band friction syndrome) recommended a regular program of stretching for me. I found this tape quite useful for this purpose as the majority of poses are not difficult and there are lots of leg stretches in it (I especially like the one with the strap).
The tape begins with a progressive relaxation segment (with a minimum of mysticism) and is followed by simple poses and stretches. The scenery is gorgeous (a Hawaaian beach at sunrise) and Rodney has a calm, relaxing presence.
The things I didn't care for were:
- too many commercials and warnings at the beginning.
- Rodney is extremely flexible and I had to modify the degree of some poses (ie. forward bend, lunge etc.). It would have been nice if he had verbally suggested these modifications
- I wish the stretches were held longer
Nevertheless, I'd recommend this tape for beginners interested in yoga or starting a stretch program.
Instructor Comments:
Rodney has a very calm, soothing voice. He is also incredibly flexible.
Anne MacL
11/08/1999
This is more of a relaxation video than it is an actual hatha yoga tape. The Maui beach at dawn is beautiful, & the Buddhist monk type-chant is relaxing. No, the tape doesn't really have any of the Eastern philosophy in it, just the music. There are a few asanas, & I think a beginner could definately handle it. This tape will introduce a beginner to the benefits of the meditative side of Yoga. I highly recommend it especially if you can get it for 6.99 at Target. It can be used for anytime of day not just in the a.m. or if you feel stressed. Overall grade: A
Instructor Comments:
He has a pleasant & sincere demeanor. He has one of the most calming tranquil voices around. Very fit & sinewy.
Jackie
01/09/1999
This is one of the shorter (20 minute) yoga programs in the Living Arts series. Like the others, this one is filmed beautifully--this time on a Maui beach. The music is new-agey with subtle vocals (kind of chant-like), very much like the music on P.M. Yoga. Rodney starts out by talking about the benefits of doing yoga in the morning as a transition between being asleep and being awake. He then starts out in a reclining pose. He instructs you in proper breathing technique, having you place your hands on your belly, your solar plexus, your ribcage, and your throat (so you can become aware of the "path" that your breath takes). You then will be taken through a guided relaxation. After that, some of the poses that you will do are gentle reclining twists, seated twists, standing side bends, reclining leg stretches with a strap (or belt), downward facing dog, reclining cobbler's pose, seated cross-legged pose (not in order). You will end in seated meditation (cross-legged or lotus) where you do some focusing. The pace of this video is slow, and I think it would be an adequate yoga video for the beginner. Modifications are not shown, but these moves for the most part are not very strenuous; some of them are already modifications. While I think this is a decent video, I am not wild about it. I don't feel challenged, nor do I get a thorough stretch with this one. I need something a bit more "get up and go" when I first wake up. This may be a useful video for some, but I much prefer the other videos in this series (P.M. Yoga, Power Yoga for Beginners, and Stress Relief Yoga for Beginners).
Instructor Comments:
Rodney's cuing is good, although his descriptions of where your body should be during the poses isn't as thorough as Patricia Walden in P.M. Yoga. He does not mirror R/L.
Kristin Aziz
01/07/1999
I think this 20-minute yoga video could also be done at night to relax, as well as for its intended purpose, which is to get you going in the morning. You start with lying-down poses and then gradually work your way up until you're standing. All of the poses/stretches are very slow and relaxing, nothing vigorous.
Although I liked the tape okay, I really don't have much use for it. I wanted something to do either as a warmup before a workout or a stretch after a workout. The stretches aren't really good enough for either purpose. Grade B+.
Instructor Comments:
Rodney is a great yoga instructor, and awesome to watch.
Annie S.
12/19/1998
This tape has changed my yoga attitude. I have to say upfront that I didn't really like yoga. I probably just don't have the patience to stick with the beginner tape I already have. I bought this tape because it was on sale at Target ($6.99) and because my husband mentioned that I've been stressed out lately.
I really like this video. There isn't any actual instruction, which made me glad I've done another beginning yoga tape before, but it isn't really needed. Rodney's instruction is clear and the meditation section is great. I've done this tape every morning first thing for over a week now and I really feel calmer all day long. It's short enough to do while my husband is in the shower and getting ready for work. My evening workouts seem to be more focused and I'm enjoying them again since I've done this tape. I may even be motivated enough to give my regular beginning yoga video another chance.
Instructor Comments:
Rodney has a very soothing voice and his instructions are very clear. I could do most of the stretches with my eyes closed the second time I viewed the tape. He has a funny way of saying the letter "L" which some picky people might find a little annoying.
Patti Walsh
06/03/1998
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Post by Karla on Oct 1, 2023 12:12:30 GMT
AM Yoga for Your Week Rodney Yee Year Released: 2008 I love this DVD! I like that even though they are 20 minute practices they feel longer. Each practice has a certain focus, so there aren't tons of sun salutations like many DVDs do. Each practice is very well done and I feel good after all of them. I think this is one of my all time favorites, especially at the 20 minute time frame. Scenery and music are beautiful. Instructor Comments: Rodney cues great in this one, has a great, calming energy dmlarue1 01/13/2015 I like all these practices. I'm inflexable in the hips and I think he picked some good poses in the Hip practice, I feel it in inner and outer hips. The Backbends practice feels great too! I like having these short practices in the morning, but I agree with others, they are great for any time of day. Instructor Comments: He gives his typical strange commentary, like "move the muscle away from the bone." But his cueing is actually good despite being sometimes strange. Very calm demenor as usual. PeakFitness 10/01/2012 Rodney Yee, a veteran yoga instructor as well as the featured instructor of many yoga videos and DVDs, has recently released this new offering, AM Yoga for Your Week. The intent was to provide five 20-minute practices (but note that the actual practice times vary from 22-26 minutes) which could be used during busy weekday mornings to get the day off to a good start. In reality, these five excellent yoga sessions, each of which has a different focus, are appropriate for use at ANY time of the day. Although each individual practice revolves around a specific body area/group of postures, each are well-rounded, stand-alone yoga sessions. I have described the five practices briefly below. STANDING, 22.5 minutes Standing postures include standing forward bend, tree, triangle, side angle pose, warior 1, and warior 2; standing forward bend is performed in-between some of these poses. The standing poses conclude with chair and wide-legged standing forward bend before moving to the floor for hero and then finishing in relaxation pose. Yee offers some particularly nice form pointers while holding the standing poses. TWISTS, 26 minutes This practice opens with a series of reclined twists (one of which uses a strap). Yee then transitions to standing with down dog and standing forward bend for revolved prayer twist and crazy dog. Coming back to seated in cobbler's pose, he performs a twist in wide-legged seated pose and two variations on Sage 3 posture. This practice finishes with half Lord of the fishes, cobra, and relaxation pose. BACK BENDS, 25 minutes Yee starts here by rolling two blankets together to create a bolster for under the upper back; he lies over this for a gentle lying backbend. Coming to standing, he moves through a variation on sun salutations which include standing backbend, chair, down dog, warrior 2, side angle, warrior 1, and crescent lunge. He then moves to the floor for cobra, bow, and camel. After finishing with the backbending work, Yee nicely stretches out the body with cobbler's pose, simple seated twist, reclined leg stretch (using a strap if needed); he finished with relaxation pose. FORWARD BENDS, 24 minutes This practice begins in a reclined position for a series of moves that felt more like hip openers than forward bends: reclined leg stretch (using a strap if needed), happy babies pose, and thread-the-needle. Next Yee gradually transitions to standing through child's pose, down dog, standing forward bend, wide angle standing forward bend, and 3-legged down dog. Coming back to the floor for seated forward bends, he performs a simple cross-legged forward bend, head-to-knee pose, full seated forward bend, cobbler's forward bend, and wide-legged forward bend, finishing with a brief rest and then relaxation pose. To my surprise, this segment was probably my favorite, as it had a great mix of postures. HIP OPENERS, 26 minutes This segment uses a yoga block. It starts with a seated opening vinyasa in which Yee flows from staff pose to cobbler's to wide-legged seated pose, gradually speeding this up and also adding half-boat pose. He next does a simple cross-legged forward bend before incorporating the block. Keeping one leg stretced straight out in front, he first rests the other knee on the block, then brings the knee out to the side at a right angle. He also uses the block for cobbler's pose with the block between the feet. Additional postures which follow include pigeon, revolved crescent lunge, double pigeon, half Lord of the fishes, wide-legged seated forward bend, and cobbler's forward bend. The practice concludes with lightning pose, hero's pose on the block, and relaxation. Despite Yee's long history of making yoga videos, he has still managed to offer something that feels fresh and new here. As always, his cueing is impeccable (although mirrored cueing would be even better!), and he offers wonderful form pointers which help you to get into the postures more deeply. Although I wouldn't recommend this DVD for those brand-new to yoga (Yee doesn't give quite that level of instruction), more experienced beginners and beyond should do fine. In conclusion, the practices are amazing, the instructor is extremely skilled, and the scenery is breathtaking--what's not to like? Highly recommended! Instructor Comments: I have always liked Rodney Yee, although I tend to prefer his older media (ie, his Yoga Journal releases) and don't own any of his newer offerings. However, I'm happy to have found this one; it's definitely a keeper! Now, if Rodney would only learn to mirror cue...  Beth C (aka toaster) 01/15/2009 This DVD offers five short (23-26 minutes) yoga practices, each with a different focus: Standing Poses Twists Backbends Forward Bends Hip Openers Kath has already written a very thorough review on this DVD so Iâll just give my impressions here. I am an inconsistent yoga dabbler. Every once in awhile I think it might be a good idea for me to try some yoga but I never wind up practicing on a regular basis. It might be too soon to tell, but this DVD may have changed that for me. The practices are short, which makes them very accessible for me. Time is of the essence and as much as I would like to practice yoga more often, I usually donât want to relinquish my limited workout time. Iâve been adding these practices on at the end of my cardio or strength workouts and I really enjoy using them this way. Iâve been using them almost daily since I acquired the DVD about two weeks ago. Thatâs pretty consistent for me. I find Rodneyâs instruction incredibly helpful. Youâll do a pose on one side of the body, impeccably cued, and then youâll do the other side and get even more helpful tips. I am not terribly flexible so I do find that these challenge my flexibility and that is exactly what I am after when I use one of the practices after weights or cardio. These are short and thorough practices with precise instruction. A perfect yoga DVD! So glad I picked this one up. My DVD actually came in a regular plastic DVD case, not the cardboard box. Instructor Comments: Helen K (antbuko) 10/17/2008 Iâm reviewing this workout after doing each practice once. General workout breakdown: This yoga DVD contains five distinct short practices designed for the morning. Here is a list of the poses included in each segment: *Standing Poses (22 min.): mountain, standing forward bend, downward-facing dog, tree, triangle, extended side angle, warrior I, warrior II, wide angle standing forward bend, chair, heroâs, relaxation, and seated. As with most of the other poses in the other practices, you generally do a pose on each side before moving onto the next (rather than doing several in a row on one side, then repeating the series on the other side). *Twists (25 min.): reclined mountain, reclined twist (with one leg straight and the other bent), reclined belly twist (with both knees bent), reclined one leg stretch, downward-facing dog, standing forward bend, low lunge with twist (hands in prayer), one-legged down dog with twist (bent knee), cobblerâs (with forward bend, later without), wide angle seated forward bend, wide angle with side bend into forward bend over each leg, simple cross-legged with twist, staff, seated twist with knee into chest (aka Marichiâs pose with twist C), sage twist III, half fish, cobra, and relaxation. *Back Bends (24 min.): reclined mountain over bolster, standing mountain with slight backbend, sun salutations (each time varying the posture list with childâs pose, baby cobra, chair, plank, and push-up; the salutation always includes mountain with slight backbend, standing forward bend, and down dog), crescent moon lunge, warrior II into extended side angle, warrior I, cobra wave, bow, camel, cobblerâs (aka bound angle), simple twist, reclined one leg stretch, back release, relaxation, and seated cross-legged. *Forward Bends (23 min.): reclined mountain, reclined one leg stretch, happy baby (aka dead bug), reclined pigeon, childâs, downward-facing dog, standing forward bend, standing mountain, wide angle standing forward bend, one leg down dog, simple cross-legged with forward bend, staff pose, one-legged seated forward bend (aka head to knee), two-legged seated forward bend, cobblerâs with forward bend, wide angle seated forward bend, rest (back release), and relaxation. *Hip Openers (25 min.): staff â cobblerâs â wide angle (later adding half boat; this series is repeated multiple times), simple cross-legged with forward bend, an interesting stretch with one knee bent inwards and then outwards while the other remains in staff, cobblerâs with block between feet, downward-facing dog â one-legged down dog with twist â cross-legged lunge (aka pigeon) â cross-legged lunge with forward bend, low lunge with twist (hands in prayer), seated stacked legs with forward bend (aka double pigeon or firelog), half fish, wide angle seated forward bend, cobblerâs with forward bend, lightning / heroâs, and relaxation. Each practice has its own relaxation pose, which is customized for that focus. Relaxation is short (1-2 min.), but as others have pointed out if you stay down when Rodney comes up and the credits play youâll add another minute or so, and if you continue to stay down for the loop that plays during the menu you can extend your rest pose by several more minutes. Rodney packs a lot into a little time, but the pace never feels too rushed. Those looking for long holds may be disappointed, but I didnât feel like anything really got cheated. Level: Iâd recommend this to someone with at least a little yoga experience (e.g. youâve taken a beginnerâs yoga class or practiced with some introductory yoga media). The routines are probably approachable to most yoga beginners who are generally active already, although some poses may present a challenge to those with less strength or flexibility, especially with that morning stiffness. (You can always do these sessions after a little activity if your muscles need to be warmer.) Rodney suggests some modifications but doesnât always show them. That said, as a more experience yogini (6+ years) who has been on a big back to basics kick for a long while now I found these routines very enjoyable. If, like me, youâre still working on flexibility and strength, you can appreciate this DVD no matter how long youâve been practicing yoga. If youâre time crunched, again whatever level you consider yourself, these routines may appeal to you, too. Class: Rodney alone, with instruction via voiceover. Music: unobtrusive gentle instrumental (usually flute, guitar, or sitar), with a few moments of vocals (the âooh, ahhâ type rather than words). Set: Rodneyâs on a wooden platform overlooking Arizonaâs Glen Canyon National Recreational Area. Production: very clear picture and sound. The music is quiet in relation to Rodneyâs voice. Although the camera angles are always changing and moving, I didnât find them all that distracting in the end. They move slowly and steadily to reveal different views, including both wide angles and close-ups, of Rodney in the poses. The voiceover matches up with the movement well, with only a few slight differences between the two in some of the practices. Equipment: yoga mat (or equivalent). Some segments use a prop: Twists uses a strap (substitute: old tie, belt, etc.), and you might also want it for Back Bends and Forward Bends; Back Bends asks for two blankets, rolled up into a bolster (one thick one might be sufficient; you want a firm blanket, like a wool or cotton one, rather than something squishy or fluffy); and Hip Flexors uses a block (substitute: thick hardcover book, like that discount volume of Shakespeare youâve never cracked). Space Requirements: enough room to lie down with hands and legs extended, to sit with legs out to each side, and to do a full sun salutation. DVD Notes: The main menu offers you two choices: A.M. Yoga For Your Week (which leads to a menu with each of the five routines) and Bonus Features (Get to Know Rodney Yee, which has a copy of Rodneyâs bio from the back cover as well as a live interview with Rodney, and Audio Selection, which offers these options: Full Instruction, the default option; Minimal Instruction, or cues only; and Spanish, a translation of the full instruction). Each pose is individually chaptered with the routines. As has been noted, the DVD cover promises a guide to meditation, but I havenât found it, either. Those who believe itâs the brief blurb included in the Rodney interview are probably correct. Thereâs no more long Gaiam intro. Hooray! After the warnings, however, the DVD launches right into Rodneyâs intro, which plays every time. Fortunately you can skip this by hitting âmenuâ right after the Gaiam logo flashes on the screen. This comes in Gaiamâs new âeco consciousâ biodegradable cardboard package, which has an awkward egg carton-like spindle (mine grips the disc too tightly, which means Iâm in constant danger of snapping the disc as I attempt to dislodge it, but another Gaiam eco conscious case I have grips it too loosely, so the disc comes loose whenever I move the case) and doesnât like to stay close when stacked vertically. Saving the environment shouldnât look this cheap. Comments: This is not a repackaged video; all material on here is brand new. (That said, it wouldnât be a shock if Gaiam reissues some or all of the practices under different titles in the future. Sigh.) This DVD is very versatile; you can choose whatever practice suits your needs on a particular day. I do agree, however, with the VFers who have posted about the no doubt purposeful order of the sessions, starting you off with the active standing series on Mon. and invigorating twists on Tues., reenergizing you with backbends on Wed., and then releasing tension and stress with forward bends on Thurs. and hip openers on Fri. Although Rodney intends beginners / beginner-like people to do these practices first thing in the morning, this DVD can be used much more broadly, such as by people with more yoga experience or at other times of day. For example, Forward Bends would make a great pre-bedtime routine, as forward bends can have a calming and even drowse-inducing effect. (You might want to avoid Back Bends right before bed, however, if like me you find backbends keep you awake, kind of like caffeine.) Hip Openers and Twists are both great post-work sessions to get out some of the stiffness that comes from sitting in chairs all day. Forward Bends, Hip Openers, and Twists also make great post-weights routines, too. If you need to get things moving in the lower digestive tract, Twists would probably do the trick. And I found that Back Bends makes a nice complement to my Pilates class by balancing out a discipline that tends to focus on forward flexion; it also stretches out hip flexors, abs, and other muscles that get tight from Pilates. One VFer suggested Rodney make a P.M. Yoga for Your Week. I would definitely be interested in that, too! While there are a number of other AM yoga videos out there (including, if Iâm not mistaken, at least one by Rodney), if youâre looking for something else with multiple options for the morning you might also like Barbara Benaghâs AM / PM Yoga for Beginners. Instructor Comments: Although Rodney is almost exuberant in the intro and interview, heâs more laidback and straightforward during the practices themselves. He focuses on instructing and reminding you to breathe. In fact, Rodney cues well enough that I didnât often have to look at the screen during my first time through. Also, I found some of his form tips and reminders (in the full instruction) helpful and insightful; I may have heard a number of them before, but they resonated more with me here for whatever reason. He uses English names only for poses (although he doesnât name all of them). Rodney cues for his right and left rather than the viewerâs, but given the constantly changing camera angles this makes the most sense. Rodney subtly discourages you from trying to rush into the poses and hold them rigidly; he has you play with some slight movement, and heâs not above wiggling a little to get into position or to get more out of the posture. KathAL79 08/20/2008 |
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