Living Yoga has created an exceptional yoga DVD with their three-in-one All-Day Yoga Workout, which combines three of their most popular programs. The first workout is A.M. Yoga for Beginners, a 15-minute morning set led ... more »by Rodney Yee. In the morning, Yee tells us, "the body is rested but stiff from inactivity." The stretches he demonstrates are designed to increase circulation, improve mobility, and bring clarity to your mind. The movements are easy to follow (they include a conscious relaxation, the a.m. workout, and a guided meditation), and the set is short enough that it can be squeezed into the most hectic of morning schedules. The next set is Stress Relief Yoga for Beginners, led by Suzanne Deason. This 20-minute practice, during a sunset on the beach at Maui, will help relax your mind and muscles--especially those of the neck, shoulders, and lower back, where tension accumulates--and let stress drift away. The yoga practice includes 4 minutes of gentle stretch, a 13-minute stress-relief workout that increases circulation and flexibility, and 3 minutes of deep relaxation to leave you calmed and balanced. The final workout is P.M. Yoga for Beginners, filmed at Death Valley and led by Patricia Walden. This 20-minute evening routine is designed to quiet the mind after the stress of the day and to help you make the transition from active to quiet. She uses a combination of a centering series, standing poses, forward bends, and restorative poses to help you ease into night. These workouts are perfect for the harried and the beginner, and you will need some props (a yoga strap, a brick, a mat, and some firm blankets). The DVD format is ideal for a workout program--the chapter search makes it easy to skip the introduction and jump right into the body work. Or if you're short on time and just need to relax, you can move directly to the meditations. An extra feature, "Learning the Basics," has pictures of every pose with written instructions on how to do them, which is just the thing for beginners who feel befuddled when told to do a cow-face pose or gate pose. A section on props explains how to use straps, bricks, and mats in order to modify more difficult poses for less limber bodies. Finally, the interviews with Suzanne Deason, Patricia Walden, and Rodney Yee round out the DVD, making for a full program. This is the ultimate introduction to yoga; it's a workout regimen that's easy to incorporate into your daily life and fun enough to convince you to stick with it. --Jenny Brown« less
Movie Details
Actors:Rodney Yee, Patricia Walden, Suzanne Deason Director:Steve Adams Genres:Fitness & Yoga Sub-Genres:Fitness & Yoga Studio:Gaiam Format:DVD - Color DVD Release Date: 11/16/1999 Theatrical Release Date: 04/15/2003 Release Year: 1999 Run Time: 1hr 40min Screens: Color Number of Discs: 1 SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Total Copies: 2 Members Wishing: 0 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English Subtitles:English
B. Woudenberg | Northern Virginia, USA | 06/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an excellent DVD that I used as an introduction to yoga, and that I continue to use two or three times a week to supplement my yoga studio classes.The movements are largely stretches, with none of the "huffing and puffing" that more intense yoga can require. The teachers are very responsible about showing alternate poses when needed. The standing poses helped me with my initial balance so that I was able to sustain more challenging poses in my studio classes.The production values are very good, and the audio quality is great. Many yoga teachers encourage the use of home yoga videos and DVDs, but recommend listening to them more than watching them (after you're familiar with the sequence, of course); with audio instructions only, you're more likely to focus on your own body rather than trying to mimic the "perfect" teachers. This DVD has great sound quality and instruction, and I'm able to turn away from the TV and listen only.I recommend this DVD for yoga beginners, and for yoga intermediates looking for a light 20-minute program on days they can't attend longer classes."
A great start to yoga practice - props helpful
09/26/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I discovered this about eight months ago, and it's the only exercise program I've been able to stick with since high school. I'm not terribly fond of the Stress Relief section-- Suzanne Deason's voice annoys me, and I frequently get lost following her instructions-- but I truly enjoy the AM and PM segments. Even when I've fallen off the yoga path for several weeks, I can get right back into it with the PM workout, without much pain or grief. I don't even sit facing the screen anymore-- it's easy to internalize the sequence of postures. It's great as an occasional stress release or as a nightly routine, and props are not essential, in my opinion.The AM workout is fast-paced, and you will want to watch it at least once before attempting to do the workout, (most workout tapes say this on the label, but this time they really mean it!) but once you catch on, it gets you energized to start the day. I enjoy the faster-paced moves, but it's definitely up to you to choose the style that fits you best. The triple set on one DVD is also a good value for the price, but the biggest drawback of this product is that two out of three workouts on this disc do require props to complete, at least for most beginners. I was fairly flexible going in, but large sections of the AM and stress relief workout are nearly impossible without a strap in particular."
I LOVE this DVD
B. Woudenberg | 01/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before I had a DVD player, I purchased the VHS set of AM/PM Yoga, which I really enjoyed. Once I upgraded to DVD, this was my first yoga purchase. I was already familiar with Rodney Yee and Patricia Walden's sections, so I knew I would enjoy those workouts. Each is perfect for the time of day it addresses; Rodney's AM Yoga is a wonderful way to wake up and revitalize in the morning, while Patricia's PM Yoga really helps me relax and wind down in the evening. However, my enjoyment of both was greatly augmented when I started practicing Suzanne Deason's Stress Relief segment. I was not too familiar with using props, except for the strap part in AM Yoga, before I got this DVD. Since using the Stress Relief workout, as well as the How to Use Props feature, I am able to implement the strap and blocks into the other workouts to make the poses more effective for me.I use this DVD daily, choosing whichever workout I have time to fit into my busy day. I would highly recommend it to any yoga practitioner who enjoys the Iyengar methodology used by all three instructors."
This DVD is fantastic....
christineinmass | Boston, MA USA | 08/09/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is the third yoga tape I have bought and definitely the best. I especially enjoy the Stress Relief 20 minute workout with Suzanne Deason. I am defintely a beginner at yoga, but I found that I could handle this tape without feeling like an incompetent or that I might hurt myself trying to get into the poses. All three workouts are extremely relaxing. I stretched muscles and relieved tension in places on my body that I wasn't even aware of! The PM session is definitely the toughest, but still not bad at all considering I have always been very unflexible and stiff. All in all, a fantastic beginner's tape, ideal for relaxation and those who are just getting into yoga like me."
New to yoga? Curious? This is the ONE to get.
PeteisWho | Columbia, MO United States | 12/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The other reviews have offered ample reasons for purcasing this. I would add that while the straps and blocks are needed, these can, if you wish, be fashioned from things you have around the house. A nice wide terrycloth belt from an old robe makes a great strap, for example.If new to yoga, the best course would be to do Rodney Yee's A.M. Yoga for 21 days. This will build a healthy habit that will help you more than you can realize. Each of these lessons, by the way, are very well written and sensitively convey the benefit of the movements while expertly leading you through the actions. Suzanne Deeston's Yoga for Stress is more strenuous and is very effective. A week or two into Rodney's A.M. session, you might want to begin with the Stress session after work.After a week or two of Yoga for Stress, you should be ready for the P.M. session. But don't rush into it. Take your time. If you do nothing other than wake up each morning and do A.M. Yoga, I believe you will find very pleasing results. I give this a powerful 5 star rating."