Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: My beau does yoga, and loves it! I bought it because of its great reviews!
Rating:
Summary: Great Beginner and Intermediate Yoga DVD
Review: This is a great Yoga DVD, whether you are a beginner trying to explore Yoga (like I was when I purchased this) or if you have some experience with Yoga. I especially like how the workouts are broken out into 3 sections, Warmup, Conditioning and Cooldown. The DVD is as challenging as you would like it to be because it offers different modifications of the workout, fully modified, 1/4 modified, 1/2 modification, or no Modification at all. The music and landscape view in the background are very soothing! I highly recommend this Yoga DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: You won't lose weight with this video
Review: It's a nice gentle workout, but I got tired of this video pretty quickly. The instructor uses too many modifications of the Proud Warrior, whereas I look for a variety of positions. I agree with the previous reader who said that more advanced yoga students may find the tape to be too slow and the moves to be too easy, which I do, although I am not even an advanced student. The instructor walks you through the breathing, which is nice, however, she would tell you to inhale, and then would make a 3 sentence speech, while you are standing there holding your breath.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Way to Ease into Yoga
Review: I'm 22 yrs, 5'4"/145 lbs. and this was my first foray into yoga. While I'm not much thinner, my back pain disappeared and I feel more flexible and energized. Deason is a gentle, calming teacher, the workout is well paced and 45 min. long, in a beautiful outdoor setting w/ great music; 3 additional women practice simultaneously in different modifications of each pose. Great for basics and when combined in a regular routine w/ Pilates, after 15 sessions you'll be ready for a more strenuous level of exercise. Relaxing while envigorating, perfect for the morning or when stressed after a busy day.
Rating:
Summary: My Second Yoga Workout!
Review: I have been Jane Fonda's Yoga Workout for the past year or two, but decided I needed a little bit of a change. I saw the DVD for this workout and thought I would give it a try. I must say, I am glad I did. I still do Jane Fonda's Yoga Workout, but do this one also as an added bonus to further improve my fitness. This is very good yoga workout. I really like the idea of having four different people doing different levels of the same workout. This way, it can be accessible to people of all levels of fitness, flexibility, etc. There is also a feature on it called the Personal Instructor. This is great if one is not sure how to do a position. It was filmed in a very beautiful location in Arizona which makes it that much more relaxing. Suzanne Deason is a great instructor. She has done voice-over which takes you all the way from beginning to end without leaving you hanging wondering what to do next. There is a warm-up period, the workout period that includes a variety of poses, then there is a 14 minute cool-down ending in the Relaxation Pose. Suzanne tells you to stay in Relaxation Pose as long as you like. Really good for reducing stress, etc. I highly recommend this workout for anyone no matter what one's level of fitness may be. Each instructor does great with each level of the workout. There is fully modified for people with that are not flexible. There is 1/2 modified for people with some flexibilty (which I do). There is 1/4 modified for people that are a bit more flexible. Then there is the full pose workout for experienced yoga practitioners.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful way to calm down and work out at the same time
Review: I use this video for my "off days" of more intense exercise, or when I have had a stressful day and want to calm down. This particular video is great in that it both soothes you and energizes you at the same time! Although I am fairly flexible to begin with, I find that this video helps me to improve on that, and I am impressed by Suzanne Deason's attention to all levels of yoga practicioners by providing 3 other modifications to her routine so everyone can follow along (provided they have the yoga props, which you can easily purchase). For people who fear that yoga involves far more contortion than they can muster, you will be relieved to find that none of the poses in the routine are at all complicated, and Suzanne throws in reminders/suggestions every step of the way to make sure you're doing them correctly. Clearly, you won't see a dramatic loss of weight after your first couple times using this tape. However, you will get a renewed sense of satisfaction in taking time for yourself, and I believe that weight loss and fitness in general is not just about huffing and puffing, but also involves your emotional state. "Look good, feel good" should be reversed to "Feel good, look good"! What this tape WILL do for you, and you will feel it right away, is begin to tone your major muscle groups simply by holding the positions. My legs always feel noodly, like I just did an intense workout, after doing this routine! It's kind of bizarre to feel yourself almost breaking a sweat and not moving at all. This tape is also wonderful, for intense exercisers, to be used the day after a hard workout, to stretch and relax your body and prepare for the next workout. :)
Rating:
Summary: almost great
Review: As a heavier yog-ette, this is an excellent video- the poses are challenging but not held so long that you have to give in. 2 of the demonstrators are more round bodied and make the tape much more encouraging. The setting and music are very soothing...BUT....it SKIPS all over the place. I know that it isnt my player because its new. When the dvd switches between instructors it often skips or jumps back to 15 minutes earlier. Very annoying to interrupt practice to find remote, find place, etc. I would highly suggest this on VHS
Rating:
Summary: Nice Workout
Review: I have taken yoga classes and have a few tapes as well. This is my favorite taped workout. It's a nice balance of relaxation and working the muscles. If you are a true beginner, I would take a class to get the basic principles first. However, if you have had some exposure, but are still a beginner/intermediate this is a good DVD for you. I like the instructor, and like the fact that there are 3 other variations (with realistic-looking women, I might add). The combined workout is my favorite: it shows all versions at once (the instructor and 3 other modifications), and is good if you can do some of the poses fully, but have a few that still challenge you. By showing you each modification, the DVD demonstrates how you can step it down but still keep a correct position.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to Yoga
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Great For what it's Designed to Do.
Review: The real secret to Suzanne Deason's DVD "For Weight Loss" series is found in her Pilates Video. She explains "The exercises were chosen with the idea that larger bodies would be performing them." While she has a timeless dancers figure, a look at 2 of the 4 models demonstrates that these moves can be done those who are somewhat overweight. (Deluxe Edition) So don't expect to see any airplanes, plows, or down doggies. It's great to see that all models are not in their pert 20's. The setting is Sedona Arizona which provides a stunning backdrop from every angle. Speaking of Angles, the DVD edition allows not only to pick the level you want to do, but during the exercises it can be changed by using the angle button on the DVD player. This uses the DVD Multilayering technique to isolate the desired level of performance. This especially useful for level 3, which is not quite as obvious at times. It's easy to switch levels as needed. The music is clearly in the spirit of Sedona and well suited to the video. The transitions are well done and the moves are explained. A Personal Assistant Icon can be set up and when it appears you can click on it and it takes you to a studio where more detailed explainations are given. The only disadvantage is I haven't been able to have it return to the same spot in the work out. I would also like to have a special studio section where the detailed explainations can be viewed all at once. Some complain that the moves are not held long enough. It is appropriate however given the style of the exercise for the less fit. It's great for beginners, larger bodies, or those who want a relaxing workout. If longer time is needed, press the pause button. Suzanne is clearly a skilled and experienced instructor. The entire workout is recommended since it glides easily from breathing to warm up to strength to cool down. Her voice is soothing, and relaxing. Don't be surprized if your eyes are closed at the end of the exercise, and you feel both relaxed and balanced. I'm looking forward to a more advanced video once I've mastered this one.
|
