Basic Yoga Workout For Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Good for beginners
Review: I had never tried yoga before, and after reading several reviews I decided to try this DVD. It is a really great DVD for people who like me know nothing about yoga. It has helped me learn basic positions and I am now ready to go on the another DVD. This DVD is a good place to start.

Rating:
Summary: The best for beginners!
Review: I tried other "beginner" yoga videos several years ago, and found them much too fast and intense for a real beginner.

This tape gives you plenty of time and instruction to move from pose to pose. Sara is sincere and encouraging -- not smarmy or obnoxious like a lot of exercise instructors. She offers variations for those who are unable to execute the standard poses. The workout is gentle, but a good way to ramp up your activity level if you've been slouching around all winter as I have.

Those who think this video moves too slowly are missing the point: it's for rank beginners -- like me. You'll probably "graduate" to another video soon, but _Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies_ is an excellent and inexpensive way to get started.

Rating:
Summary: Boring, I mean -- relaxing!
Review: This was a decent intro to the mysteriously popular world of Yoga... I'm glad to find out what it's all about, and some of the poses are a decent workout. Overall, the concentration on 6 complete breaths per pose was a bit boring...but I suppose it's relaxing! I'll probably use it again.

Rating:
Summary: Great Intro for 1sttimers
Review: Anyone looking to give yoga a tryout need look no further than this video. An attractive female instructor leads you through a dozen basic poses. The pace is gentle and the instruction is laid back, but thorough. The only downside to this tape is that once you have the poses down, its not really paced to do the exercizes altogether. By adding a sequence at the end showing all the poses back to back (held for 6 breaths each) and minus the instruction would have made this an outstanding tape - even doubling the price of the video for the extra sement would still make it a very good value.

Once you've mastered the poses here, I recommend Brian Kest's "Power Yoga" tapes for an intermediate/advanced challanging workout.

Rating:
Summary: Great DVD
Review: This is an excellent introduction to Yoga. It is a great flexibility workout, but relaxing at the same time. Sara is easy to listen to and encouraging, and the poses are explained extremely well. There is only drawback to this dvd, and it is the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5... Once you've done it a few times, and are familiar with the moves, the DVD moves too slow... I almost wish there was a routine with lots of explanation for the beginners, and then the same routine that just moves through the poses... i may actually start doing the daily dozen without the DVD when the moves are perfected!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to yoga!
Review: This is a very good videotape for true novices. The instructor, Sara Ivanhoe, provides an enjoyable introduction to yoga with occasional reminders that yoga is not meant to be a competition with others (which is why, after hearing of my sister's experience, I thought it would be better to try yoga at home rather than in a class). Sara explains how to do a series of poses which include warm-up, peak, and cool-down phases and emphasizes the proper way to get into the poses, the proper way to hold the poses, and proper breathing. Because of this, I can see the videotape being a good refresher of the basics even for those more advanced.

Sure, the occasional sound of her hands and feet 'unsticking' to the sticky mat could have been edited out, but overall, the tape seems very professional. The background music is fitting and relaxing, the transitions from pose to pose and view to view flow rather seamlessly, and Sara clearly possesses competence and has a very friendly demeanor.

I have found Basic Yoga for Dummies to be extremely helpful in several ways: 1) for managing chronic neck and shoulder pain from computer work and stress, 2) for fitting in SOME physical activity into my day if I can't make it to the gym, and 3) to help me relax, get more toned, and become more flexible. Doing the videotape in the morning is a great way to ease into the day, and doing it in the evening is a great way to unwind before drifting off to sleep. Even after the first week, I felt more energetic, flexible, and most importantly, I can now consciously relax my neck and shoulder muscles to some degree when they tense up; I was not able to do that before without the help of a physical therapist, massage therapist, or vicodin.

After having watched the intro once, I always cue the tape to begin with the breathing segment, and now that I'm very familiar with the tape, I spend the time it takes for her to explain the poses by holding the poses longer and fitting in that many more breaths. Now I can do the poses without the tape when I am away from home which makes it very convenient and easy to fit it in anytime and almost anywhere. A definite keeper as I build my yoga videotape collection.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT INTRODUCTION TO YOGA--START NOW!
Review: I have never really done yoga, or so I thought until I viewed this tape. Being active all of my life has kept me flexible and so I was surprised to know that I had been practicing "yoga" without knowing it. A few of the poses were new to me but mostly they are common sense stretches. OR SO I THOUGHT. Now I know, thanks to Sara, stretching isn't yoga. Yoga is an art that unites the body and mind. It combines poses with focus and breathing which result in a feeling of calm AWARENESS. Sara has the gift--a very pleasant, friendly, poised and positive instructor that is the perfect example of the way yoga will make you feel: calm, relaxed, focused, balanced, positive and strong.

Here are the "daily dozen" of which each should be held through six breaths:
1 Cat pose*
2 Mountain pose*
3 Standing Forward Bend
4 Lunge
5 Tree*
6 Standing Side Stretch Pose*
7 Downward Facing Dog*
8 Cobra*
9 Child's pose
10 Seated Spinal Twist*
11 Seated Forward Bend*
12 Final Relaxation pose
(* a favorite pose of mine/ feels great)

Sara says, "THIS IS YOUR PRIVATE TIME. SO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO FOCUS AND REALLY ENJOY YOUR PRACTICE." That being said, I recommend using this tape until you are happy with your results (yoga is not competitive) and then muting it and do your moves to your favorite dreamy, inspiring music. As you advance, get another book or video, or incorporate your favorite moves from different tapes (I really love Tai Chi) and go through your own poses.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a terrific yoga introduction of poses concentrating on the proper alignment, breathing, and focus for the beginner to advanced athlete. However, if you already have yoga experience you might want to try a more advanced tape or class.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Instructional Video, a Bad Workout Video
Review: If you're looking for an actual workout video, avoid this one. If you are just starting out in Yoga, and want to know how to do it or want to know more *about* it, then you may consider buying this tape.

Unfortunately, the instructor spends so much time instructing, that the video is nearly worthless for someone who wants to turn it into part of their fitness routine. Unless, of course, you wish to strap the VCR remote to your arm. It also seems that in the amount of time it takes to work through the video (about an hour), you haven't gotten much out of it.

Unfortunately, they missed a golden opportunity to fix this problem in the DVD version. What I've read of the reviews implies that the DVD is just a direct copy of the VHS version. What they really should have done was put two versions on the DVD: one with commentary and instruction, one without. Alas, this does not appear to be the case.

For what it's worth, I do like the instructor. She seems down-to-earth and knowledgable, and she doesn't have a fake, vapid smile on her face. I would love to give this video five stars, but the drawn-out instructions really get old after a couple viewings, and it just isn't worth it if you want to make it part of your routine.

Rating:
Summary: Great for Beginners
Review: If you're thinking of taking up yoga, this video is a good place to start. It's easy to understand. The instructor takes the time to thoroughly explain each of the poses and stretches. The exercises are great. I've found that I have more energy since I started using the video. It also shows moderations on the exercises for those who are less flexible. The video does move extremely slow, however. If you're already in pretty good shape, you will probably want to find a video that's a little more challenging than this one. But if you're looking for something that goes slowly with exercises that work but aren't too strenuous, then this is the video to buy.

Rating:
Summary: Great for Newcomers to Yoga
Review: I was new to Yoga and found this program to be a great intro with no cheesy music or backgrounds that were distracting. I felt great after just the first time but be sure to get a Yoga mat!