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Yoga For Every Body

Yoga For Every Body

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $19.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Excellent idea but ...........
Review: I love the concept behind this video - having a range of workouts to choose from, to fit with your time available and level.

Unforunately I was a little disappointed in the video for two main reasons

First, Breathing instruction
For a beneficial yoga routine, getting the breathing right is essential. Every class I have attended has started with a few minutes beathing to calm the mind and get the breathing rhythm. This video doesn't. Also there are few instructions on when you should be inhaling and exhaling. If you're breathing wrong, you're not relaxing or getting full benefit of the poses.

Second - accomodating levels of flexibilty.
On yoga zone's video, they have two instructors doing the poses, one is demonstrating the pose at full stretch for those of higher flexibiltiy, and the other is doing the poses using blankets/ support for those with lower flexibility.

In "Yoga for Everybody", there is just JJ Gormley, and in some sections, she seems to spend the whole time changing between blankets, blocks and floor to demonstrate various ranges of support for the range of flexibility levels. The video would be better if it had followed yoga zone's presentation, leaving JJ Gormley free to talk you through correct breathing, or give you more detailed information about how each pose benefits your body.

An excellent idea, but the actual presentation of the routines, and breathing instruction could be a lot better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: How Fitness Video Should Be
Review: I picked this up just a few weeks ago and was impressed with this DVD as I am with their "Ultimate Body Challening Workouts for Weight Loss". Lots of variety, too much to mention here, but check it out hopefully you'll like it as much as I did. My yoga teacher had said that you need something good to supplement your workouts when you cant make it to class. While Ive heard some folks say you should get 90 minutes of practice in for someone with my schedule who hasnt practiced you for that look it can become a major pain in the butt. Anyway, the instructor is clear and concise the the flow steady and slow, Ive had a few other yoga videos that were just way too damn fast.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Patience required
Review: I purchased this dvd based on the reviews I read and thought as a beginner to yoga it would be ideal. However, compared to other routines from yoga tapes/dvd's I've never seen a routine this slow. I appreciate that yoga is not meant to be an aerobic workout but the constant black screen after each pose then the name coming up for the next pose is incredibly annoying and slows down the routine further.

Even as a beginner I would not recommend this dvd if you want to actually stay interested and motivated to continue with yoga.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Dangerous for a true beginner!
Review: I read reviews on this program, but could not "test drive it" as our library didn't carry it, and of course, if you buy it at the store, it is non-returnable once opened. Going on the limited reviews I was able to find and also the description on the box, I felt it might be a good choice for a true beginner.

I WAS WRONG! This program may be dangerous to a beginner. There is no instruction on proper posture during the poses, little to no mention of proper breathing techniques and the camera angles don't cover enough to tell if you are in the correct position. The program moves so fast, I felt like I was always trying to "catch up".

If you have been doing yoga for a while, this may be ok for you. But, if you are new to yoga as I am, take my advice and pass on this one!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: FLOWLESS, COLORLESS, INSPIRATIONLESS
Review: I read the great reviews and was looking for a DVD that I could grow with. I admit the bland and colorless background, music, and teacher's clothing gave me a disappointing first impression. Go ahead and call me shallow. But what really shocked me was how awkward the poses feel sequentially. I have done about 4 of the routines, and I don't get that "high", or feel more graceful afterwards, like I do with my other tapes or class. I didn't realize how important a sense of flow and dance were to me, since I've only been doing yoga for 2 months, but I think my class/tapes imprinted onto me those qualities and now I look for them.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gentle Way To Learn
Review: I really enjoy this DVD and the various routines. The instructor's voice is calming and I feel my flexibility increasing. The variety of routines, at least 15 or so even at the beginner level, is great and helps make the video fresh and new. I plan on using this for a long time. As others pointed out, just make sure to listen to the intstructions and relax.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great DVD To Learn From
Review: I really love this video. I didn't know much about yoga before I got this besides taking a few classes. The classes I took were all too fast and seemed more like an aerobics workout and I felt lost. This DVD gives a wide range of instruction allows me to proceed at my own pace and level, though I don't think I'll be doing the more advanced workouts for some time. The presentation is straightforward without a lot of frills. But if you're not looking for frills, just a good yoga instructional DVD this one's for you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: very versatile and more for the money
Review: i spend most of the year living in remote places, so i have fallen out of the habit of doing yoga. i bought this dvd when i got a new laptop computer with an internal dvd player. it is just great.

used to be i would go to yoga classes off and on, so i have some knowledge of the poses, but am by no means advanced. and i'm the proud owner of what appear to be the tightest, most stubborn hamstrings in the history of bipeds. this dvd was neither too challenging nor too easy. it is helping me improve in flexibility and strength. it is relaxing and ideal as a daily practice dvd, because of the variety and the calm soothing manner of the instructor.

there are over thirty different workouts, taught in iyengar style, broken down first into level of practice (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and then within each of those they are again divided into practices either shorter or longer than 45 minutes. within each of those sections, there are various routines arranged to target a particular part of the body or as a general practice routine. the great thing about the dvd is that each pose is a single chapter, prefaced by the sanskrit name of the pose spoken and written on the screen (only 1-2 seconds). each routine is a string of chapters that takes you through a set group of poses. you can forward to other chapters within a routine if you want to skip certain poses or want to shorten the routine length. you can also go to a particular pose if you want to work on it individually, as long as you note the chapter number. there is no set way to do this (which would have been a nice touch).

the one thing some folks might not like is that the routines therefore do not always flow from one pose into another like a live class. sometimes you finish sitting in one pose and have to be in on your hands and knees for the next, for example. i found this insignificant, especially given the versatility this format allows, but it may be irksome to others. another plus on this dvd is that some poses that are hard to learn are taught differently at each of the practice levels--for example, there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced versions of the sun salutation. actually, i wish they had done this with more of the poses, but whether they do or don't, the instructor always includes suggestions for modifications and use of props. there are also a handful of different versions of savasana (corpse or relaxation pose) so you don't have to hear the same spiel every time. the dvd does not include poses that can cause injury if not taught by an instructor, such as handstand and plow. there is a supported shoulderstand but no full shoulderstand and there are several routines that include headstand.

the instructor has a smooth gentle voice and explains things very well. i like the no-frills atmosphere of the dvd--simple music, simple set design, one nice lady (the instructor) doing the poses. i'd rather get more routines for the money than views of distant beaches, however beautiful.

i have since bought the pilates and power yoga dvds in this series. the pilates is not bad, very extensive in choices with detailed and easy to follow instruction, but i find the instructor's voice a bit irritating. the power yoga dvd took some getting used to for me, as it is a sloooooowwwwww flow version of power yoga, not what you would expect from the title. since learning to change gears before using it, it has grown on me. still, i use this dvd far more often and expect to continue to do so.


Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Video
Review: I think this is an excellent video for people of all abilities and flexibilities! The instructor constantly reminds for that you should not go further than your body is able. This is helpful, because your less likely to hurt yourself doing the poses.

I did feel a little sore after doing my first workout, but thats because I am the most un-flexible person every. Despite being a little sore, I felt energized after each workout. A half-hour a day really helps a lot!

I would recomend this video to anyone who wants to try out yoga, or any one of any skill level, because you can keep challenging yourself to do the harder poses and workouts.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Might be beneficial, if I used it.
Review: I was looking for an easy beginner's DVD on yoga. At the time I purchased it, this one had rave reviews. When it arrived I popped it into my laptop, did the first workout, and promptly put it up on a shelf to collect dust.

It's absolutely boring. The premise centers around one expressionless woman who does all the exercises and another who talks you through them with voiceovers. The set is sparse to say the least, just a mat on a wood floor in front of a blue fabric wall. Oh, and I almost forgot, they threw in a vase of flowers to add some flare. I didn't realize how important positive visual feedback is to a workout routine until I watched this video.

I'm sure it has some great advice and moves for beginners but what's the point if you can't sit through it? If you're the type of person who needs visual stimulation to get and stay motivated pass this one by. You'd probably be happier with a good beginning Yoga book than with this DVD.


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