Rating: 
Summary: Great for beginners like me
Review: As a beginning yoga enthusiast, this video has been a real help.
It is easy to understand, the moves are just the right balance of being challenging without being too difficult. I also found the outdoor nature setting to be relaxing. In my opinion, this is a great choice for anyone who does not know a lot about yoga but is anxious to learn. Simple, straightforward, detailed, I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Relaxing and nicely paced, yet challenging
Review: I was immediately intrigued with this video, as its warm-up features no sun salutations, opening instead with slow, dance-like movements for the arms, neck, spine, etc., and abdominal breathing exercises. Although I myself exercise on a regular basis and can do sun salutations with no problem, I felt more relaxed going into the main part of the workout as a result of her more gentle warm-up.Her pacing seems right on-target, slow enough to feel the muscles working (i.e. long holds in Warrior 2, the Plank) and more relaxing than many fitness-type yoga videos I've tried, yet she doesn't spend so much time in a pose that you go beyond the benefit and start to feel uncomfortable. Lots of reminders to pay attention to the breath. I also like the attention she pays to low-back strength and flexibility, as this is an area which I need to work on. She's extremely knowledgeable with exercise and muscles, yet somehow explains in a way that is interesting without talking down to you. The flow is excellent: relaxing, yet arranged in such a way that the time seems to fly by. I feel myself going on auto-pilot, where I just listen and let my body respond to her cues. Within a few viewings, I actually found myself able to perform most of the video without watching...her verbal cues are enough. Her ending meditation is refreshingly devoid of new-age references or extraneous language. Instead, she helps you focus on your breathing and muscle relaxation, with subtle imagery to help you maintain your concentration. I also liked the music, very unusual yet still appropriate for yoga. I love her selection for the ending meditation, sort of brings an "underwater" mood. All in all, I think the "beginner/intermediate" describes this video well; she offers enough options to keep beginning practitioners comfortable, yet her choice of postures (and the length of time she dedicates to each) will ensure that more fitness-oriented and intermediate level practitioners will remain challenged. I would classify this video as one that hits four areas that are very important to me: muscle tone, low-back mobility, flexibilty, and of course stress reduction.
Rating:
Summary: Great Video
Review: I was very impressed with the ease of being able to follow along, the instruction and infomation given made the time pass quickly, all to my healthy benefit! Not intimidating yet suficiently challenging. A very nice production.
Rating:
Summary: great video!
Review: I was very impressed with the ease of being able to follow along, the instruction and infomation given made the time pass quickly, all to my healthy benefit! Not intimidating yet suficiently challenging. A very nice production.
Rating:
Summary: A straighforward, strongly recommended video guide
Review: The first volume of the Yellow Cuckoobird Productions "Yoga in Nature" series, and hosted by instructor Evamarie Pilipuf, Yoga Basics: Beginner/Intermediate Level is a straighforward, strongly recommended video guide and daily workout in the art of Yoga for physical fitness, flexibility, and just plain fun. Divided into a workout section (60 minutes) and a section devoted to tips and information about yoga (26 minutes), Yoga Basics has everything from proper breathing and major emphasis on safety to testing one's body and enjoying the physical and spiritual relaxation that a good Yoga workout can bring. Total Running Time: 86 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: A straighforward, strongly recommended video guide
Review: The first volume of the Yellow Cuckoobird Productions "Yoga in Nature" series, and hosted by instructor Evamarie Pilipuf, Yoga Basics: Beginner/Intermediate Level is a straighforward, strongly recommended video guide and daily workout in the art of Yoga for physical fitness, flexibility, and just plain fun. Divided into a workout section (60 minutes) and a section devoted to tips and information about yoga (26 minutes), Yoga Basics has everything from proper breathing and major emphasis on safety to testing one's body and enjoying the physical and spiritual relaxation that a good Yoga workout can bring. Total Running Time: 86 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth Having in Your Yoga Library
Review: The setting and execution of this video is a refreshing change from most of the others that I own. The warm up and poses are appealing and easy to follow. I was relieved that we weren't led into another seemingly endless round of sun salutations, and I appreciated the helpful hints given at the end. (I just wish that she would cut her hair. It gets in her way and makes me understand why ballerinas keep theirs in a bun or a pony tail or whatever.)
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific all-over body stretch but pace is too fast
Review: There are some wonderful aspects to this video. The segment of explanations and modifications is excellent. And by placing it at the conclusion of the video, it doesn't disrupt the flow of the yoga once you know the routine. I like not having Beginners' Tips Coaching all the time; however she does remind you often to check for proper alignment and relax your shoulders (how does she know I have trouble with that!?) She's not a cheerleader and she doesn't try to be your friend. She has no supporting cast of gym buddies that the camera jumps to, there are no jarring camera angles, her attire isn't the latest yoga fashion and she's not Hollywood chic. She is VERY accessible. You will need a sticky mat, a pillow or blanket once or twice, and a strap and blocks (or very thick phonebook) if you're not very flexible yet. In the final segment she addresses the myriad retail choices of yoga equipment and advises you not to be intimidated by it. Most props you can find in your home, like a belt or thick books. The sticky mat is really the only thing you have to buy (and this is my personal advice. I practiced yoga a year without it and always hated Down Dog and Warrior because I slid. The mat has made ALL the difference.) Her sequence of poses flows sensibly and really stretches your entire body. No pose or modifications of it is beyond a beginner and she doesn't make you feel "less than" just because you might not be in the pose as deeply as she is. Even though I do not have her range of motion, I am not intimidated by her advanced level. She is extremely graceful and incorporates many dancer elements in her hands, arms and feet when she moves. The warm-up is a series of gentle stretches and some attention to breath. One surprising element is Flamenco Fingers, which made me feel a little silly at first, and now, sort of exotic! There are no sun salutations. The music is okay, an unusual patchwork of all kinds. Because I know most of the tunes, it can distract me; I would prefer a New Age-y white-noise-doesn't-have-a-real-melody-and-goes-nowhere kind of music. That being said may I reassure you the background music is NOT disruptive, it's just that I notice it and I'd prefer not to. The two aspects where this video really falls short for me is its fast pace and lack of meditative quality. She goes TOO FAST. I practice yoga because I'm tense and need to learn mindfulness about my own body. When I get into a pose I must take a "body inventory" to be sure I'm not tensing and then will myself to relax. By the time I'm done with that and can finally turn my attention to my breath, she's moving on. I don't feel like I get the full benefit of the poses. Except for the final cool-down, again, MUCH too fast, there is no attention to the meditative quality of yoga. I'm accustomed to a warm-up which focuses on lying still and getting in touch with my breath, and that helps set the tone for the meditative aspect to my practice. While her warm-up is a good stretch, it doesn't prepare me at all for a mindful approach. Don't misunderstand me, I do not sit in a lotus position and hum or chant and I'm not even looking for that sort of thing! It's just that the intentional slowing down of the breath and attention to it is meditative and good discipline for me. Only occasionally does she tell you whether you should be inhaling or exhaling when making a certain motion. A good instructor will tell you every time how to breath when you're moving into a pose and coming out of it. This is such a key element to yoga that I must recommend you not choose this as your first introduction to yoga. So, all that being said, I think this is a good video to increase your flexibility and have a thorough stretching session. Again this is not a good first introduction to yoga. I think one needs an intentional slowing down in our fast-paced lives and I believe yoga can offer that. This video doesn't.
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