Customer Reviews

Ali MacGraw - Yoga Mind & Body [VHS]

5 star:		(193)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This was the first yoga video I ever bought. I had a hard time following it at first, but after a few months of a regular group yoga practice I could do every asana with reasonable grace. If you buy this video (and I think you should), I recommend that you watch it at least 3 times before trying any of the poses. It helped me to write down the sequence of the poses so I could remember what came next. Please go slowly if you are a beginner. Start with just the sun salutation series and learn it before you move on. You WILL progress through the whole video, but don't push yourself too fast. The video rewards you with great music, beautiful visuals and a logical sequencing of yoga poses. It shows a gentle sun-salutation series. When I need more upper body conditioning, I add a yoga push-up and change the cobra to an up-dog. The only complaint I have is that it is hard for beginners to see a full pose on the screen from beginning to ending -- especially during the sun salutation series. The camera cuts from actor to actor doing the same pose, and I became confused as to exactly how to move through the whole pose. I ended up looking at books to figure it all out -- alignment is so important, especially to beginners. Having said that, once I knew what I was doing, I enjoyed seeing the cut-away shots of the sky, sand and trees. Some other videos are boring because you only see a full shot of a yoga instructor going through the poses. This video is never boring, even after 4 years of watching it. I sometimes watch it just to relax, without doing any yoga myself.

I was saddened to see a few bad reviews for this wonderful video. Of course everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but as someone who has been a student of yoga on and off for years, and as someone with terrible chronic back problems I find this to be a safe, effective and challenging session. It seems like it's over so quickly but it really does stretch and tone the entire body if done correctly. I have to wonder if those who found it too difficult might have been pushing too hard or trying to match the level of the people on the tape. And for those who find it boring, they may not be comfortable with meditative arts like yoga and tai chi. Some people find it frustrating and difficult to slow down and hold postures and prefer more traditional exercise classes. But please be assured that this tape has been praised by so many for a good reason. The instructor is wonderful and passionate, but calm and guides you into a state of having a clear mind and a fulfilling practice session. The poses are good for beginner to more advanced students; beginners will find it very challenging, more advanced students will find it very relaxing. I certainly hope they follow this up someday with another video.

I did a yoga class over 5 years ago and loved it. I bought AM/PM Yoga and have been doing it daily, finding it deceptively simply but very effective for my upper back and neck pain, and my posture. I am one of those people who find my shoulders up around my ears in times of stress. At the same time I ordered this tape, based on the reviews, thinking I would have it when I was ready to move on to a little more challenge and a longer "workout" than either AM/PM offers. I watched it through completely and felt daunted, but it was so beautiful, and I knew that when I was a little more flexible I would try it. Today I tried it for the first time and it's so amazing. Not as hard as I thought, especially if you are easy on yourself and do what you can do gently, as the instructor advices. By the time we got to the meditation/relaxtion at the end I couldn't believe the time had passed so quickly. I also experienced a powerful energy in my chest area, and understood what is meant by yoga being for your soul as well as your body. That was completely unexpected for me, as I was really only initially interested in feeling better, more toned and flexible physically. Like many of the other reviewers, I would love if they or Eric Schiffer would please do another video. The guidance through is wonderful, the music and scenery as well. This is a beautiful tape that I feel would be hard to tire of.

Yoga Mind and Body is a classic yoga video which stands the test of time. It is designed for those already familiar with yoga (ie, there is little instruction on how to perform each pose), and it will gently challenge you while also providing deep relaxation. The practice begins with instruction on ujjayi breathing, a basic form of yogic breathing to accompany asana (posture) practice. The warm up then continues with a cat/dog tilt series to open the spine. This beginning section lasts about 7 minutes total, but once you understand the breathing, you can skip over that segment.

Sun salutations comprise the next 10 minutes of the practice. You will begin with simple breathing and forward bends before adding lunges to the sequence. After practicing tree pose for balance, you will continue with another 10 minutes of standing poses performed in steady flow; postures in this segment include warrior, triangle, and side angle. The next 14 minutes of the workout involves floor work. You will begin on your stomach for cobra and bow, then switch to your back for leg extensions, lying twists, and bridge. The only seated posture is a single seated forward bend, and then you will return to your back for a relaxing 1/2 bridge pose. The practice ends with approximatley 4 minutes in shavasana for a total of 45 minutes.

Although others have complained about the background music, it didn't bother me--when I even noticed it, it seemed to fit nicely with the postures, as it varied from being upbeat to more soothing. One minor criticism I have of this video is that although the scenery is beautiful, the cameras sometimes focused too much on scenic views when I wanted to see close-ups of the poses being performed; similarly, there was a bit too much shifting between cameras for my liking. However, this issue did not detract from the fact that this is an excellent yoga practice which I will enjoy for a long time to come.

What a beautifully done video! The scenery is so calming and relaxing. I would love to go to this white sand desert and watch the sun set!

And now for the video. It is not for beginners, unless you are already very flexible or you can develop your own modifications. I took yoga a long time ago, so I am familiar with the breathing and how to modify the asanas, so it was OK for me and actually provided something to aspire to. This video is pretty new for me, and there are still many poses I cannot do fully, but I find it to be an effective workout anyway. Bending a knee here and there, touching my calves instead of the floor, or holding onto something for balance has helped me to get through this video while also feeling calm, relaxed, and like I am doing something!

All of the yoga students are wonderful. Ali McGraw is beautiful and an inspiration. She is graceful and serene at all times. Eric Schiffman is a wonderful teacher. His voice is soothing and his directions are clear. I'm also glad that they don't show him doing all of the poses because he is so advanced and it's hard to aspire to be like him because I just look at him and think that it will be years before I am that good! But he really is fantastic! Also, the cinamatography is done well.

I originally bought this video because it was highly recommended and I was interested in trying yoga. I wanted to add some variety to my workout routine. Having never done yoga before, it was slightly difficult at first. But after a few times it became easier and helped me to really discover the benefits of yoga. I did not expect to get as much of a workout as I did, however, it is also peaceful & relaxing (the music and scenery are wonderful too). I love to do this video after a long, stressful day at work. I always feel calm & centered afterwards, but I can also tell that I have used some muscle (it seems almost incidental). This video helped me discover a new type of workout that I love. I have since tried other yoga videos that I like, but often return to this one because it is my favorite.

I had a serious car accident and endured a year of searching for relief from almost unbearable lower back pain. I was given medication (muscle relaxants, pain killers). I was sent to physiotherapy (they stretched me, taught me stretches) I was sent to a chiropractor (he cracked me...) I was sent to a different physiotherapy center (with lots of exotic machines). I went for massage therapy. They all felt good ... for a while. None of them fixed the problem of stiffness and pain. One day, I saw Yoga Mind and Body and thought "I've always wanted to try yoga...what can it hurt?" THE VERY FIRST TIME I did the stretches I felt as though someone had put a heat lamp against my lower back. When I was done, I had more mobility than in a year. I did it a few more days -- and found the mobility growing and pain lessening. I thought it was psychosomatic because NOTHING could possibly work so fast after a year of trying everything. But it did. For months I was a good girl, did my yoga at least 4-5 times a week. After several months I felt good as new. Now, 5 years later, I'm not AS good as I know I should be but if I'm going on a long trip (car, plane, whatever) I do Yoga Mind and Body before and after. No problems. If I'm going horseback riding or skiing -- yoga beforehand. Overall I try to do it 2-3 times a week. If you buy this video you'll build a great habit for the rest of your life. Erich Shiffman is wonderful -- a calm reassuring presence, Ali McGraw is an inspiration, the music and visuals are all beautiful, calming. This video really isn't hard and after a while, you'll feel almost as though you're doing a graceful, slow-motion dance routine. As a bonus, you'll also be in a great mood when it's done! I love this video and have bought it as a gift for half a dozen friends.

This is the first yoga video I have ever owned and I have not been disappointed in the least. It is a great workout and leaves you feeling energized and relaxed at the same time.Highly recomended!

I've practiced Yoga for over 7 years using the Yoga Moves with Alan Finger video. I wanted a change and luckily my local libray has an extensive yoga video collection so I watched them all before deciding which one to purchase. This was one of the tapes I watched and frankly I found it annoying. It's filmed like a music video and the camera spends as much time on rock, trees and the sky as on the people demonstrating the poses. During a pose the camera will break away to the sky or a rock several times and we never see the complete pose. We see see disjointed parts of a pose and rocks and trees. Plus when the camera is on a person it switches angles so much it's hard to copy the pose. If you're a beginer this video is not for you,not only because it's hard to follow,but because the poses are advanced and definetly not for beginers. After watching this video all I could think of was all the newcomers to yoga who would have got turned off by or given up on yoga after watching this best selling yoga tape. There are far better choices out there. After watching all the yoga tapes at my library I would say Yoga Moves with Alan Finger is still the best single yoga video out there and the best box sets are the Yoga Zone box set and Living Arts Abs/Back/AM/PM set. I would recommed this video to only to someone who is advanced, and had watched and exhausted all the other yoga videos out there.

Although I originally wrote a review within the first month of owning this tape - it has now been almost two years - and I write another review as a followup. THIS is by far the best yoga tape out there - and I wished it was higher up in the ratings, above the RODNEY YEE videos. In comparison, this is YOGA - peace of mind, working the body. Rodney Yee's videos usually turn into jumpy moves, and desperate attempts on keeping up.

ALI Macgraws video may be slower paced, but you hold the poses longer, which leads to great flexibility in the end. Not for the out of shape beginner. Wow, this video has not gotten old after two years, and I may order a new copy soon just because my old one is worn out! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!