AM/PM Yoga for Beginners ASIN: 094567189X Customer's Rating: 3 Summary: Distracting and for moderate beginners Comments: Hi everyone. I ordered this set and could not even watch the whole first video. The man wears skin tight shorts, and, call me silly, but I found it very distracting, lol. I tried the woman's video and found her moves to be somewhat complicated for beginners. For beginners, I recommend "Living Yoga; Stress Relief." These two tapes (AM and PM) are better if you have more practice.

Prenatal Yoga ASIN: B00004U8H5 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: The yoga program that grows WITH your pregnancy! Comments: I really enjoy this exercise tape. I do it on days when I can't quite make it to the gym, but want mild exercise and stress relief. I love the fact that it has modifications for each trimester, too. I wouldn't recommend this tape to women who have never tried yoga or who want to start doing it well into their pregnancies. Although it is a very basic beginner-type yoga program, a minimal amount of yoga experience helps, so that you know how it is supposed to feel and you can adjust for your changing center of gravity. I'm glad I started doing it early in my pregnancy because although the poses for later pregnancy are modified, I have a feeling for what muscles to use and what the full stretch feels like. I really think this program is meant as a progression throughout pregnancy, and the third trimester model helps you maintain (not attain) tone and flexibility.

Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies ASIN: B00004YZH1 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Great for beginners-- even burns calories Comments: I had wanted to try Yoga, even tried another tape at one time and just didn't care for it. My hamstrings are really tight, and I've always felt that I just could not do the exercises-- the other tape I did confirmed that opinion because it just jumped into major stretching without much warm up, and did not show any modifications. It also was a little irritatingly "new age"-- and though I know that meditation is a crucial part of Yoga, I was not interested in turning it into a religion-- which the other tape seemed intent on doing. So this tape, with it's no nonsense approach, coaxed me into liking it. Some of the stretching is hard-- I can certainly see why people like Madonna are so buff in the arm muscles-- it takes effort to do the poses for the 6 breaths you have to hold them. The instructor is not too "simperingly" sweet, but clear, precise, and friendly. No annoying giggling, or over coaching like a cheeerleader ("come on, you can do it, you deserve to be fit cause you're a great person" blech) I feel I can continue doing this workout for a while, learn the basics, and maybe move into more complex work, which the later half of the DVD provides. You should have a chair handy when you start, and maybe one of those easy to find yoga mats (I got mine half price at a discount store). Also, maybe a towel, and some sort of band (a belt might work, but they sell special yoga bands too) for one of the poses. Try to clear your head as much as possible-- since you have to breathe through your nose, if you have any allergies (which I do) try to control the stuffiness if you can. (I know that sounds weird, but it will make it more pleasant if you can do the breathing). There is an option on the DVD for instructor cuing only-- so you can play your own music and still get the cues. Finally, for people worried about calorie burning. According to a website that I use to monitor calories burned vs. activities (it's free-- write to me if you want to learn the URL) the 51 minutes of stretching yoga that this DVD/video gives you burns a total of 165 calories. You burn approx. 3 calories per minute. It's not exactly boot camp, and it is not cardio, but combined with a cross-training sort of program, this is a good light calorie burning day stretch. It's important, when you're trying to sculpt those muscles, to stretch them out. This video/DVD will be a crucial step to doing that. This may not be the DVD/video for people who are into the more spiritual aspects of Yoga, but she does address them some, enough for those of us who don't want to go too far into it. But it's a great one for getting started. Good luck!

Bryan Kest - Power Yoga Boxed Set ASIN: 6303548970 Customer's Rating: 3 Summary: Beginer's advice Comments: This is a great video. If, and I mean IF you're experienced with yoga. This is not a beginer's set of videos. I wanted to try some yoga that was more powerful and advanced than the Yoga journal's AM PM yoga tapes. I didn't really consider myself a slouch at it, but my goodness! I got the Bryan Kest - Power Yoga set for myself for christmas. Yoga that involves pushups! Had me panting and sweating heavily, and that's the first tape..but dispite the fact I didn't keep up with the class of Gumby like perfect people I felt like I got a good workout and it woke me up. It's impossible to watch the tv and follow along with the tape, so you -have- to know all the asana's before you start so you can just listen and follow. It's a good work out, but let me repeat, this is NOT for anyone just starting out, or anyone that gets discouraged by the perfect people in the class. Good luck! and keep with it!

Crunch - Fat Burning Yoga ASIN: B00005LQ1K Customer's Rating: 4 Summary: This is a good one... Comments: I was shocked to read some of the negative reviews about this workout. While I understand that a yoga pro would not get enough challenge, I adored the instructor. She gave just enough instruction while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. I especially appreciated how much she asks you to focus on your breathing...for a relative new yoga practicer, that is the part I always forget! I would consider myself in great shape aerobically (taebo addict) and chose this to begin branching out into yoga. It has given me some great workouts and worked muscles I would never work with the typical aerobic workouts. Beginners, definitely start with this one!

Yoga for Beginners Kit ASIN: B00002EPXM Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Authentic Yogi Gives Instruction Comments: The instructor is obviously an experienced yogi, i.e. someone who has studied and taught yoga for a long time. I find this generally preferable to an aerobics instructor who has recently jumped onto the yoga bandwagon. This tape is great for the novice, and a wonderful intro to yoga.

Yoga Journal: Yoga Practice for Beginners ASIN: 6301475917 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: A Solid Beginning Comments: Patricia Walden's Beginners tape is a great instructional video on Iyengar yoga fundamentals. I took Iyengar Yoga in college as an elective, but I didn't like it and could't wait for the classes to end because they were painfully slow. Cutting yoga classes brought my GPA down, but I just couldn't bear holding the poses for infinity. I knew enough from taking ballet and yoga classes recreationlly that I had to do body work outside of the classes to progress especially as I age, and I later bought this tape impulsively in a video store to keep my body fit as a young working professional without realizing that it is an Iyengar yoga tape. Patricia Walden and this tape inspired me to practice yoga. She is very graceful and her instructions encouraging. In the beginning the tape might feel exceptionally slow and unusually long, but Patricia's slow soothing voice and the noninvasive background music forced me to slow down and to concentrate on my alignment and poses. The detailed instructions on the poses taught me to become aware of my body and to stretch properly. The slowness that I resented in my younger days has become a teaching tool. We can't order flexibility on demand. Our muscles (and mind) need time to learn to relax. I was not progressing much in the first few years of doing this tape because I was doing the tape only once or twice per week or when I got motivated. Although I always felt stretched out and refreshed on day 1, I also felt sore and stiff enough the next day that I had to rest my body. My practice would then invariably lose momentum and became sporatic. It's difficult to be disciplined, but I suggest that you push through the stiffness gently and discipline yourself to practice yoga DAILY in order to see any noticeable changes in flexibility. This tape teaches the fundamentals of the static poses and therefore does not overwhelm a newcommer so one can really learn the basics. I gave this Beginners tape as a gift many times to get someone started with yoga. I have since then moved on and now use mostly Patricia Walden's Flexibility tape and other Yoga Journal tapes. I like her instructional tapes for two reasons. First, she speaks only to teach yoga and so I can turn inward to learn about my body and not be distracted and turn outward to focus on the music or an instructor's joke, personality, or ability to motivate. Now when I am doing vinyasa, i.e. moving from one pose to another, or doing other forms of yoga to challenge my body and mind, I can appreciate the fundamentals I learned from holding these static poses in this beginners tape. The basics that I learned from this tape keep me in proper form, help me move from one pose to another more manageably and in a more controlled manner, and I continue to practice awareness in motion. Secondly, her Beginners and Flexibility tapes tend to have longer holding time (but still shorter in duration than those held in my college yoga class) which helps me to practice concentration, awareness, and flexibility. My flexibility has improved with a regular practice, but I still wonder if I need a practicing partner or some pilates equipment to speed up my progress so I can do everything she does. At any rate, the Beginners tape is a solid beginning.

Living Yoga - Back Care Yoga for Beginners ASIN: 0945671636 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Solid everyday workout for back care Comments: I bought this video a month ago and have done it every morning for three weeks. The effects haven't been as dramatic as some reviewers have described, since I have a very severe back problem, but nevertheless it has been very helpful, hence me continuing to do it every morning. I especially find that after doing the workout, I maintain correct posture quite naturally and the hip opening exercises really help with decreasing my pain. Another good aspect of the video is it's length, 20 minutes is not too long for me to have time to do it every morning, and then I reserve the weekends for longer yoga workouts. Another aspect of doing a workout like this for back pain is that it balances and boosts mood, helping with the depression that is so often accompanied with chronic pain. I would reccommend this video to anyone that is getting frustrated with traditional physical therapy not working, especially if done in paralell with a back-safe workout like swimming.

Living Yoga - Power Stamina Yoga for Beginners ASIN: B00000I1OI Customer's Rating: 3 Summary: Well, the exercises are good but... Comments: I got a decent workout from this tape. I have back problems and was concerned that I wouldn't be able to do it but it was easy to follow and felt good. However, after the first week, I put the tape away and haven't touched it since. I couldn't take any more of watching the camera zoom in and scan Rodney in his Speedo. Ick. Dress him in something baggier and focus the camera more on the scenery and I'd happily buy another of his tapes.

Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss ASIN: B00004T6FM Customer's Rating: 4 Summary: Great introduction to Yoga Comments: I finally jumped onto the yoga bandwagon a few months ago. This was the first video I bought, and I have really enjoyed it. I'm not sure it contributes to weight loss, but it is a great relaxation and stretching tool. Many of the poses are challenging, but she provides an adequate rest after difficult positions. There are three other ladies who provide modifications for all fitness levels. The background music and location (the desert) are very relaxing. Even though I don't sweat, I still feel the burn in my muscles. Try it!

Crunch Yoga Mama ASIN: B00004Y6AE Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: I love it! Comments: I alternate every day between this tape and the Buns of Steel aerobic tape. I hadn't done yoga before but thought I'd try it out. I am convinced that it helps me with my breathing, posture and flexibility. I have viewer aches and pains after I do this workout - it's a calming tape, but I still feel like my body got a good workout. I like the format of the workout and the instructor. I bought Yoga Journal's Prenatal yoga tape and rarely watch it - didn't like the voice over, plus, this tape is just a little more fun.

A.M. and P.M. Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss (2 pack) ASIN: B00007D00J Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: My FIRST yoga tapes, and boy am I glad I started here! Comments: I'd been thinking about trying yoga for awhile, since I no longer have the time (working full time plus school 4 nights a week) to go to the gym, and my health was suffering from the strenuous schedule and the stress, and the horrendous insomnia. I really wanted something that I could do at home, that wouldn't annoy me so much that I'd watch it once then sell it on Ebay. Also really needed something that I could do at night that wouldn't energize me so much that I'd be even MORE unable to sleep. After alot of shopping around(reading the back of every yoga video at Borders), I finally decided on this two pack set. What a lovely surprise! My favorite feature of this set is the voice-over technique - that is, she doesn't speak to you as she's doing the poses, but you hear her voice. I can't say enough about that. (I bought the Crunch Fat Burning Yoga tape, and was just too annoyed with the instructor talking all the way through it to get too far. Well, also, it's a little too advanced for me.) I'm definitely going to try to stick with videos with voice overs. The workouts are challenging for a beginner (downward facing dog can be daunting the first couple of times) but very relaxing, and she doesn't hold the poses so long that you feel stressed or get bored. I liked the flow of the tapes, although I still have some awkward transitions (I'm thinking I will get smoother as I get better.) I found it amazing that yoga could make me sore! As a former workout junkie (who is admittedly VERY out of shape since starting school), I need that day-after soreness to feel as though I've done something, and these tapes provide me with that. I would highly recommend this set to a beginner. It's relaxing, soothing, AND energizing and she really centers you with talk about softening your eyes, and breathing into the spread of your shoulders blades and the like. She cues your breathing very nicely, and always reminds you to engage your abs or widen your shoulders. She reminds you to experience the moment you're in, and to really feel your body. I can't say enough about these tapes. They've gotten me excited about yoga, and I'm definitely going to be collecting more tapes, and coming up with my own regime. I'm even starting to modify my eating habits a bit. Especially for the price, you canNOT beat this. Well, speaking from total ignorance, having bought this set and the Fat Burning! Decide upon your own grain of salt, but in my opinion: BUY IT! :)

Yoga Zone - Beginners Boxed Set ASIN: 6305661731 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Nobody does it better! Comments: These are the best tapes you can purchase to get you going in yoga. Alan Finger is the best! His tapes are challenging and calming at the same time. He doesn't talk too much like some instructors do. The background sounds are pleasant and not distracting. My only complaint is that Alan Finger has not made more advanced tapes! Thanks to starting with his tapes, I can work out with other instructors. But, nobody ever compares to him!

Ali MacGraw - Yoga Mind and Body ASIN: 6303243606 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Great advanced beginner - early intermediate tape Comments: This is a great tape for mindful yoga work. The tape is especially good for students who have some foundation in the basics of hatha yoga who want to begin to expand their practice or supplement studio work with at-home yoga. While initially I found some of the pose flows to move too fast for me, I found that as soon as my body understood the poses, I was able to align my breath and movement and really work into the postures in the time allotted. Unlike some of the ashtanga/power yoga classes and tapes, Eric Schiffman has you breathe mindfully in each pose which I find promotes strength more effectively. The instruction on achieving alignment and working into the poses is strong. In addition, the music and scenery on the tape and the diverse group of students working with Eric are all beautiful. A few minor disadvantages are: - there is very limited instruction on how to adapt the poses if you are not yet ready for them, such as using blocks, etc. - there are a few instances of misalignment among the students that show up in the tape - Ali, for instance, has her knee at an acute angle rather than the perpendicular in some of the lunging poses, which can be damaging to the knee.

Rocki's Prenatal Yoga ASIN: B00005V3VX Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: best yoga workout ever Comments: I love this tape! I've been doing it since my first trimester and I always feel better the days I work out with it. The breathing makes me feel good and I especially loved the meditation at the end. The teacher explains the poses well and even offers different ways to do them, depending on how far along you are. I don't know what I'd do without it !

Living Yoga - Abs Yoga for Beginners ASIN: B00000G3GH Customer's Rating: 4 Summary: Awesome Comments: This was an awesome thing for new yoga people. this helped me get fitter, use this product

Living Yoga's Power Strength Yoga for Beginners ASIN: B00004T6FL Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Not quite for Beginners--More for Intermediates! Comments: This tape really gives me a great upper body workout. Me and my wife first bought the AM/PM yoga series about a year ago. I quickly got bored with those tapes since they were not particularly challenging to me after a while. I decided to move on to the Power Yoga series, expecting to further improve my yoga techniques while getting a great upper body workout with improved flexibility. I first bought the "Power Yoga for Stamina" and enjoyed it very much. For more variety, I bought this video. I bought the third volume, "Flexibility" at a later time. This tape is certainly the most challenging of the three Power Yoga tapes. You do upward and downward facing dog poses until your shoulders get so sore they can't move! You do these side arm bends which challenge your balance! And there's three different poses where you support yourself only your arms! But don't be scared away: you'll steadily improve with these poses every time you practice. I can finally do the arm lifts without much difficulty. And you WILL sweat after trying this video. If you're new to yoga, I highly recommend that you try the AM/PM yoga first. Then buy the "Power Yoga for Stamina". It's an excellent introduction to Power yoga and is a summation of all three videos. If you're advanced: get all three videos and practice all three in a row(never tried). The series seems to be designed to work this way. The first video (Stamina) is essentially a warmup with the middle video (Strength) as an intense workout with the final volume (Flexibility) to cool down your muscles. Yes, it is fast pace, but you need to watch at least once without exercising to observe and then practice the tape a couple times before you get familiar with the poses. And the "Stamina" volume already introduces you to many of the poses done here. An excellent buy!

Power Yoga for Beginners - Flexibility ASIN: B00000JPRS Customer's Rating: 1 Summary: If I could twist my body like that, I wouldn't need Yoga. Comments: Forget this one folks, you would have to be a contortionist to even begin. I've done the Yoga Zone meditation tapes, and really enjoy those, but this one even says in the beginning you will work up a sweat etc.. I can tell you this: You don't sweat because there is no exercise. It is a matter of forming your body into impossible pretzel shapes. I really think you have to be more than a beginner to do this stuff. And it seems unnatural and actually dangerous. I tried it several times, careful each time to follow the instructions to the letter, and finally decided it was a definite no for me. I am in good shape normally, so it isn't a matter of being primed for it, it's a matter of being able to contort yourself like a rubber band.

Yoga Journal's Yoga Practice for Intermediates with Rodney Yee ASIN: B00004XOX1 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Great intermediate tape Comments: I've been practicing yoga for 18 months and was looking to expand my practice of inversions. Since my instructor does not always include them in my weekly studio class, I bought this tape. While I have enjoyed the other Rodney Yee tapes I have (AM/PM for Beginners, Partner Yoga), I have often found that he moves too quickly through the poses with limited instruction, so I was somewhat anxious about buying this tape. My fears were unfounded - Rodney does a great job of providing very detailed instructions on working into the poses, alignment, etc. The pacing of the tape is great - poses are held long enough to make you really work at them if you know the pose, or to get into them with good alignment if they are new to you. I am a novice at handstand and forearm stand, and found the instruction very helpful at learning how to get into the pose safely and effectively, while overcoming the disorientation, etc. that comes from beginning to work upside down. I have been practicing shoulderstand for a while, and found the hints about how to deepen the pose to be outstanding. The work in the wheel/inverted bow is also excellent. After a few weeks of using this tape a few times a week, I can get into these poses confidently (although I still can't hold them very long). I'm looking forward to continuing to use the tape to deepen my practice.

Living Yoga - A.M. Yoga for Beginners ASIN: 0945671873 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: ** GREAT for those with BUSY Schedules and Neglected Bodies!** Comments: This is a great video for people on the go. The tape is approximately 15 minutes and easy to incorporate in your daily routine. "A.M. Yoga" offers a very basic and relaxing yoga routine. The beautiful scenery, voice-over, and music will calm your mind, while the gentle stretching poses will relax your body. Rodney Yee's yoga routine mainly consists of seated positions and hamstring stretches. Please be advised that he uses a yoga strap for the hamstring/leg stretches, but a piece of fabric or belt could work as a substitute. There is also a nice, relaxing meditation at the close of the routine--which could easily put one to sleep. =) My only complaint is that he does NOT hold the poses very long for a thorough stretch and the routine does seem a bit rushed. In a yoga class, you would normally hold a pose for 2-3 minutes. I found the routine straightforward and easy to integrate in my hectic daily schedule. After using the video, I always feel energized and ready to take on the day! After three weeks of practicing this routine, I NOW feel motivated to continue exercising and to seek a more advanced fitness routine. For me, this video was the perfect starting-place! I would recommend A.M. Yoga for *beginners* and those who just want a quick stretch.

The Method - Baby and Mom Pre-Natal Yoga ASIN: 6305107807 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: I like this video alot! Comments: This was my first try at Yoga. After reviewing other tapes this one (other than the chanting) is my favorite. I am glad that I bought it on DVD because the first 15 minutes or so is just the instructor talking. I like the fact that it focuses on your breathing and the relaxation at the end. The only thing I did not like about this tape is the chanting and I just breathe deeply through that part. I would suggest this to pretty much anyone that is just starting out with Yoga. I have also heard from several friends that they like "The Yoga Journals Prenatal Yoga". Good luck and happy pregnancy!

Total Yoga - The Flow Series, Complete Set ASIN: B00005QCY5 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: The best Yoga tapes you can buy! Comments: I started out with Total Yoga (their first tape) a fell in love with Yoga. Tracy and Ganga are great at explaining how you should breath and how you should hold the poses. I was very excited when they came out with the flow series. I have been trying other Yoga tapes and was just not satisfied with the lack of explaination and breathing technique. With the flow series there is no guess work and I feel confident I am doing the salutations correctly and I am breathing properly. Tracy and Ganga are very spiritual and inspirational. Namaste

MTV Yoga ASIN: B00006JE52 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Good workout Comments: I am very pleased with this dvd. It was an excellent work out. It's not the "you are a magical tree" type of yoga. It is completely about the movement and breath. It is beyond beginner yoga. I feel fantastic after this workout. I only wish there were more in this series! The instructor is absolutely fantastic.

Yoga, Short Forms ASIN: 189125202X Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Fabulous! Comments: I ordered this video about a year and a half ago, and it sat on my shelf until rather recently. Now I remembered why I bought it. And boy, am I sorry that I let the thing languish on my shelf. I've been using the 30 minute workout in the morning, and the 45 minute session when I get home from work, and I don't think I can get sick of it. David Swenson's voice is so calming, and he provides just the right encouragement. I really like the breath cues, and the emphasis on "it's YOUR practice, do only what you can do, but don't be afraid to challenge yourself". I find myself losing all sense of time and easily moving into a meditative state when I do this tape. Which is basically the point of yoga. The tape is that good. I prefer Swenson's presentation over Richard Freeman's. While Freeman has his strengths as a teacher, something about Swenson just clicks with me. Maybe it's because he lets you stay in the pose a bit longer, to really feel it. Although the tape is great for those beginning to study Ashtanga and for people who consider themselves "advanced" when it comes to flexibility, I would not recommend this tape to the beginning yogi/yogini, unless you have a lot of natural pretzel in you.

Denise Austin - Fat-Blasting Yoga: 21 Days to a Yoga Body ASIN: B00006SFMH Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Review of Denise Austin's Fat-Blasting Yoga:21 Days... Comments: I thought the video was very good. Denise broke it down into three work-outs which you can do all at once or break them down and do at different times of the day or week. I thought that she motivated very well and that she was easy to follow. It was challenging in some places, but, to me, that's what makes a great work-out and pushes you to succeed your own expectations. Thank you very much. Keep making more great work outs Denise!

Bryan Kest - Power Yoga, Vol. 3 - Sweat ASIN: 6303534392 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: A Very Powerful and Effective Practice Comments: Bryan Kest just doesn't have too many videos that I don't like. I think I only gave one a less than favorable review and that may be simply because it didn't work for me personally at my level. But this video is one of Bryan's original, older sessions and it's excellent. It is a really powerful workout for folks who have some experience in Power Yoga and want to take it to the next level.

Bryan Kest - Power Yoga for Weight Loss ASIN: B000067P3L Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Excellent Comments: The tape was challenging, but possible. I liked Bryan's philosophy and queing.

Beyond Basic Yoga for Dummies ASIN: B00006FMB7 Customer's Rating: 4 Summary: great for beginner Comments: I have started doing Bikram's yoga for a month and a half and was looking for a supplementary program which I can do at home when I am not going to class. After going through almost every yoga video available at Amazon[.com], I chose this one by Sara Ivanhoe. I like her style. Her instructions are clear, and her tone is encouraging and soothing. However, perhaps Bikram's program is more fast-paced, I generally find her pace too slow. Her instructions become long-winded after you have done the program several times. I wonder if she can do a video for the more experienced.

Bryan Kest - Power Yoga, Vol. 2 - Tone ASIN: 6303534384 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Excellent! A real workout. Comments: I've been doing Power Yoga for a few years now and am advancing to Intermediate. So I am discarding my Beginner's tapes and looking into some stronger stuff. I checked out the instructors and wanted to try Kest. This was his first video I bought. I now own three with one on the way! This is a really challenging workout. It is not a beginner's workout, however. In addition, he doesn't give the names of the asanas --- I wish he would. He did in the first tape in this series so I guess it's best if you get it and do it first. I would prefer an instructor to say to take Crow than to say put your hand here around . . . etc. Or worse, to just have the class do it. Having said that, it was not that hard to follow and I love Bryan. He is so totally cool and inspiring, such a wonderful instructor. I do think that he and Baron Baptiste both are a bit too touchy-feelie with some of the students --- a bit inappropriate. But all that aside, after the workout I knew I had worked every muscle. I was sore for two days! But I felt great mentally and physically. So for anyone who has a bit of Power Yoga under their belt and who wants to progress to a more advanced and probably longer class, I highly recommend this video and this instructor. I was more challenged and felt more muscle soreness doing this video than Baron Baptistes new one.

Yoga in Nature Series: Yoga Basics - Beginner/Intermediate ASIN: B00005Y7A6 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: ... Comments: I am fairly new to yoga (6 to 8 months), and in that time have ordered approximately 30 yoga videos! Out of those 30 there are 5 that come out on top for me and this is one of them. This is one of my recent acquisitions and I learned something new about a few of the poses, that's impressive! Evamarie gives clear-cut instruction and a balanced workout, plus an added bonus - no sun salutations! Eureka! Many of the 'beginners' videos I order are just too easy, and then I have, of course, ordered several that are too hard - this one is just right, leaving room for growth and improvement. Good Job Evamarie!

Yoga Practice for Meditation ASIN: 6304448392 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Great for relaxing and calming the mind Comments: I love this tape. I use it at least 4 times per week in the mornings. It calms my mind and prepares me for the work day. Great for beginners or those new to yoga practice. Even if you don't have time to do the entire tape, the first two sets are rewarding in and of themselves. Buy, practice, and enjoy!

Beryl Bender Birch Power Yoga The Practice ASIN: B00006CXTK Customer's Rating: 3 Summary: Tina from NY Comments: This is a very advance yoga workout. I found it helpful because I was looking for some additionally challenging yoga postures, well I found it. In reality, it's a little over the top unless your a very dedicated and practice yoga on a daily basis. I do asanas daily (power style) so it is appropriate for me, but most people I know do not practice daily and if they do this video they are likely to hurt themselves. So if you are not doing regular ashtanga style or power style yoga on a regular basis, don't get this, it will be to difficult for you. If however, you practice power/or ashtanga yoga regularly, here is the next step to challenge yourself. (Dont' expect to perform all the postures at first)

Yoga Conditioning for Athletes ASIN: B00004Z4S0 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: Just excellent Comments: I have a lot of back problems, but I love jogging, cycling and swimming. I have found out that doing yoga 3 times a week allows me to do all these sports that I love so much. I took part in a 5k race about 2 years ago, and I hurt my back really bad. I got this DVD about 3 months ago, started using it (about 3 times per week), and started training at the same time for another 5k race. I did the 5k race, and the difference was incredible. I was perfect the next day. Yoga has made a huge difference for my back. Also, I would like to add, this DVD has several "mini-routines" targeted to specific sports (jogging, tennis, swimming, cycling, golf, others), every time I go jogging around my house, my back is always hurting a little bit, as soon as I do the "jogging mini-routing", the pain is gone. Something very good about this dvd too,is the fact that is divided in several parts, so it's like having several dvd's. I really recommend it. I wouldn't say that it's for beginners, you must have some practice. Another plus... his voice, it is sooo relaxing.

Yoga Zone: Conditioning and Stress Release ASIN: 6305661723 Customer's Rating: 5 Summary: My Favorite Yoga Tape Ever Comments: This continues to be the best, most satisfying and relaxing tape I ever do. Alan Finger does the best job of any instructor in reminding us to breathe (otherwise I forget!) and in explaining how to do the poses correctly and why. I also like the 55-minute format much better than any shorter videos. This length makes me feel like I've worked out without rushing every pose, gives time to really stretch, and provides enough time for relaxation. I think Yoga Zone makes the best tapes of anyone.

The Method - Baby and Mom Post-Natal Yoga ASIN: 6305107793 Customer's Rating: 1 Summary: Good thing it didn't cost any more than it did... Comments: Let me begin by saying that yoga is not new to me, and prior to this video I typically found yoga instructors soothing to listen to and I love the serenity of holding poses and breathing deeply. If that is what you're looking for, don't buy this video. Khalsa talks CONSTANTLY through the workout. (And she doesn't have one of those mellow, relaxing voices either.) The exercises were not familiar yoga poses, but were the more traditional ab crunches, etc... They were not the slow stretching and holding poses I am more familiar with. I bought this video because it claims to include babies in the workout, but the babies are included only minimally and in ways that are neither comfortable or relaxing for them. They are supposed to spend most of the workout time resting quietly on the mat next to you. As already mentioned, Khalsa does not have a baby with her as she leads this workout. My guess is because she's concerned about being interrupted by a fussy baby. I can't blame her, because that's what happened to me, but it probably means that the workout does not include babies in a way that makes them happy or relaxed. My suggestion? Get a yoga video for yourself that you can do while baby is asleep. You'll find it much more helpful and relaxing, and you won't have to worry about a fussy baby that you're supposed to be including every now and then in the exercises.

Kundalini Yoga with Gurmukh ASIN: B00004XOWZ Customer's Rating: 3 Summary: sore muscles and joints Comments: I found that with all of the arm flapping this was not a very mindful yoga video and the next day my back muscles, and arm joints ached, less pretending to fly would have made this a better video

Bryan Kest - Power Yoga, Vol. 1 - Energize ASIN: 6303534376 Customer's Rating: 3 Summary: Beginer's advice Comments: This is a great video. If, and I mean IF you're experienced with yoga. This is not a beginer's set of videos. I wanted to try some yoga that was more powerful and advanced than the Yoga journal's AM PM yoga tapes. I didn't really consider myself a slouch at it, but my goodness! I got the Bryan Kest - Power Yoga set for myself for christmas. Yoga that involves pushups! Had me panting and sweating heavily, and that's the first tape..but dispite the fact I didn't keep up with the class of Gumby like perfect people I felt like I got a good workout and it woke me up. It's impossible to watch the tv and follow along with the tape, so you -have- to know all the asana's before you start so you can just listen and follow. It's a good work out, but let me repeat, this is NOT for anyone just starting out, or anyone that gets discouraged by the perfect people in the class. Good luck! and keep with it!

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