Yoga Journal: Yoga Step by Step, Session 1 - Foundation Poses for Strength & Stamina

Rating:
Summary: Great for Beginners
Review: About four months ago I began taking yoga classes and discovered how reqarding and challenging yoga can be. I also realized my body was very weak and a full 1 hour session in class was difficult for me. So I picked up the Yoga Journal: Step by Step series of discs and found what I needed to practice at home. The DVDs provide expert/detailed instructions for each yoga pose, the option to follow along to modified poses, and an easy to follow sequence of standard poses. I was able to go back and refine my posture and breath for each pose and the vinyasa. In doing so I built up the strength I needed.

Although I bought all three DVDs at once, I spent a couple weeks on Session 1 before I moved to the Session 2 DVD and then another couple weeks before using Session 3. Now I use all the DVDs together for a longer yoga practice. That leads me to my only complaint; it would be great if there was a way to combine the sessions without having to stop one DVD and then start another.

I have viewed a few other "beginner" tapes and DVDs that provided the basic beginner poses, but the instructions were lacking in detail or non-existant. That is not the case with this series.

Rating:
Summary: Precise and Informative for All Age Groups and Experiences
Review: Clear in depth focus on the basic asanas: Sun Salutation A&B, followed by Warriors I and II and final Triangle pose. Natasha explains very thoroughly what to look out for and feel in your body; along with working at your pace. The chalk drawings demonstrate further what each asana should bring forward in your body for optimum benefits. Super training DVD for teachers and the new to yoga students.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Beginners!
Review: I became an instant devotee when I first saw Natasha in action. I'm usually not one for fitness videos, but when a friend insisted on having me watch Step by Step, I was instantly hooked and bought it for myself.

I've attended yoga classes for years, but I didn't realize how much I still had to learn about the basic poses until I saw and heard Natasha's instruction. I've been recommending this video to all my family members and friends - especially the ones who have never before practiced yoga. To me, the Step by Step series seems like the perfect way for a beginner to precisely learn the basic poses, and at home with privacy.

Not only is Natasha supportive and graceful to watch, but you can watch her assistant modify each pose - a huge benefit for someone like me with shoulder pain and tight hamstrings. In fact, everyone who thinks they can't practice yoga because of body pain will be thrilled to learn they can modify the poses and still get huge benefit from it. And, there's tons of other helpful content on the DVD. In one section, a doctor talks about the medical benefits we derive from doing each pose as Natasha is demonstrating the poses. I knew yoga was good for me, but now I know WHY it's good for me!

If you couldn't tell, I'm really excited about these DVDs -- series 2 & 3 are just as good and maybe even better! Yoga Journal puts out the series and, if you've seen the magazine (it's been around for umpteen years), you know you can trust them with all your yoga needs. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Great Video!!!!!
Review: I love this video and I love the entire series.. Great instructor,great instruction, it takes the time to teach you each move, what the name means, little tips about the poses and how not to do each pose.. if you have never done yoga this is a great video.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Instruction
Review: I started my pratice in a yoga studio which was great. I wanted to take my practice further and felt I needed alittle more detail than what the yoga class instructor could offer in a large class. This DVD was perfect and it gave me lots of insight on how to correctly perform the asanas. I especially like the two sessions included in the DVD-one instruction session and one practice session.

Rating:
Summary: This DVD is inspired!
Review: If you're a beginner and need a "first tape", I suggest this one. Natasha Rizopoulos is a great teacher: very specific, yet very understanding and forgiving of beginners. The DVD has all sorts of added value showing how to modify the exercises if you're a beginner. The medical commentary points out potential issues to be aware of as a beginner. You can get the whole three volume set if you're feeling flush, but you can start with just the first one and see if you like it. (That's what I did) This is a great and inspired DVD. I just wish Natasha taught class in NYC so I could work with her directly. Hint, hint, Natasha!

Rating:
Summary: Great Instruction
Review: If you've never done "power" yoga before this will definetly give you in depth instruction on breathing and posture. <br />They show decent modifications for beginners with yoga blocks, although I couldn't tell if the blocks were used when you went from downward dog to cobra.<br />I wish it had been labeled more clearly about the Ashtanga vinyasa style of yoga taught because I was looking for something that also had meditation too.<br />It is definetly a good buy if you're mostly fit and want a beginners yoga DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Great Instruction
Review: If you've never done "power" yoga before this will definetly give you in depth instruction on breathing and posture. <br /> They show decent modifications for beginners with yoga blocks, although I couldn't tell if the blocks were used when you went from downward dog to cobra.<br /> I wish it had been labeled more clearly about the Ashtanga vinyasa style of yoga taught because I was looking for something that also had meditation too.<br /> It is definetly a good buy if you're mostly fit and want a beginners yoga DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Depends on how you define "beginner."
Review: Since this program is marketed as yoga for beginners, I thought it would help me develop a practice of my own. Unfortunately, it didn't work that way: Even though variations are shown, most of the poses here are very challenging if you're starting from Square One (i.e., being completely out of shape and out of practice). Also, the program's WAY to fast-paced to follow if you're out of shape. That said, if you're IN shape, you could get a lot out of this program.

Rating:
Summary: What I've been looking for!!
Review: This yoga DVD was exactly what I've been looking for. Having just begun doing yoga about 6 weeks ago, I wanted to have a video that I could use in between my classes. Being cautious about just buying any DVD, I decided to try this one. And I'm glad that I did. Natasha was wonderful. I did the instruction segment first then moved into the practice segment. The practice segment is perfect for an early morning routine. I found her to be easy to understand and follow and she was not boring nor slow. I'm definitely looking forward to trying the other 2 DVDs in this series.