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| Article: 2005 Review of Yoga DVDs - by Terra Wellington | ||
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Since 2003, there has been an increasing variety and quality level of yoga instructional products, primarily DVDs, that would bring a yoga practice to anyone, anywhere. While I am of the same opinion as most yoga professionals that a home yoga practice should only ideally supplement an on-site group or private practice (guided by a qualified instructor), many of us cannot escape our homes, work, and family responsibilities for over 90 minutes several times a week to attend an on-site class at a designated time and day. And, for many, a yoga studio is often an expensive investment -- even with monthly and yearly packages. So, from a real-world application, yoga videos offer you the freedom to practice yoga when it’s the best time for you -- as long as you are disciplined in both the practice and technique. By combining a yoga studio class visit (perhaps one day a week) with home yoga DVD routines, you can manage a yoga practice that provides ongoing motivation, flexibility, and needed instruction to avoid injury, improve posture and alignment, and keep progressing in your abilities. YOGA STEP-BY-STEP: THE TOTAL GUIDE TO BEGINNING YOUR HOME PRACTICE -- If you are starting yoga for the first time, go to a studio and take a series of introductory yoga classes. However, if you want to complement your growing knowledge and abilities with an at-home experience, then the most extensive I have found is this series. Produced by Yoga Journal (www.yogajournal.com) and hosted by Natasha Rizopoulos, who has not nearly an ounce of fat on her body, Beginning Your Home Practice is actually three DVDs. The first volume introduces you to beginning poses and breath work. Volume 2 adds bends and twisting poses, and Volume 3 focuses on balance. The production quality is good. A nice consistent addition is Natasha’s assistant, Jason, in all three volumes who modifies poses for those with less flexibility, experience, or ability. The videos are highly technical and add several layers of detailed instruction, including a high focus on correct posture and alignment which would lessen your chance of injury if studiously followed. YOGA STEP-BY-STEP: THE TOTAL GUIDE TO MANAGING STRESS -- This Yoga Journal-produced guide to managing stress is a re-packaging of easy, beginner-focused yoga poses and some interesting side features like a breathing routine and a guided meditation sequence -- all under the banner of “reduce your stress.” More a marketing strategy that finding anything else new, the volume does, however, focus on those areas that would lessen your stress rather than a complete yoga workout -- releasing tension in the shoulders, back, and mind. The routines are simple and short. JOURNEY INTO POWER: BAPTISTE POWER VINYASA YOGA -- This is a two-volume series with Level 1 labeled for beginners and Level 2 (separate DVD) for all levels. I like Baron Baptiste’s style. These two DVDs are different that everything I reviewed for this column. Rather than the usual voice-over instruction, the video is shot with him as an active yoga trainer helping his students. You get the feeling he is right there with you instead of simply posing for you on the screen. While I don’t agree his DVDs cater to beginners, I enjoy his style, attention to alignment, and vinyasa flow. The DVD is energizing, motivating, and offers multiple points of view. I see his products as being for those who already have some yoga experience. There’s nothing boring about Baron and his DVDs -- no sleeper product here! NICHE-MARKET YOGA DVDs AND CD -- There are a few other multimedia yoga products that caught my attention, and they all serve non-traditional markets. Yoga for Your Pregnancy is produced in conjunction with Yoga Journal and Lamaze; it offers needed pose adjustments for expectant moms and is well done. Yoga Just My Size with Host Megan Garcia caters to the “larger people” market; if you’re on the heavy side and rarely exercise, then this simple-pose video is for you. Chair Yoga by Jodi Stolove centers on offering yoga for those who are likely chair bound -- such as the elderly; however, I wish there were a better-produced product for this market as this DVD is utterly un-entertaining. And, an innovative, quality-recording CD called Yogafit on the Road (www.yogafit.com)is an audio-only yoga workout for either on the plane or in your hotel room; this CD will test your self confidence while doing simple stretching poses in your coach seat but is completely worth the potential embarrassment as you relax and refresh your body. Note: Most of these DVDs are found at Amazon.com or at retailers like Target or Wal-mart. |
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Terra Wellington is a national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle. Sign up for her free newsletter on how to create a balanced life at www.terrawellington.com Do not reproduce this article without permission. © Copyright 2005 Terra Wellington |
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