Customer Reviews

Back in Shape

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had worked in the Plumbing Heating and Cooling business and the constant lifting and working in miserable conditions had caused my bottom three discs to crack and leak.

I slept on the floor in a ball every night and crawled to my hands and knees. After 6 months of using this DVD every day, I'm able to play golf 3 times a week and teach my workshops on my feet from 8 to 4 PM without having to take pain killers.

Relief from back pain is the gift you give when you buy this DVD for yourself or someone else who is suffering

Although this isn't a comprehensive DVD for your back, it doesn't claim to be.

I've been using this for about 2.5 weeks now, and while I don't use it every day, I have been using it twice a week. The first section introduces breathing and general stretches to help with your back while the second section concentrates on strengthening the abs and introduces stretches to loosen up your neck and shoulders (in addition to your back). I've generally been doing only the first section, simply because I feel my lower back needs to be a bit more flexible before I tackle the second section on a regular basis.

Both sections are only 15 minutes each, so there's no reason *not* to do one or the other or both! Just make sure you have a mat to lie down on (a yoga "sticky" mat really comes in handy here, but isn't necessary) and a folded up towel.

As for the poster who was bored with this...that's not the point of this program. The point is *not* to move through at a quick or moderate pace; the idea is to stretch and strengthen your back. Yes, it's quite slow, but if your back feels tight, would you really want to move through the poses at a quick or moderate pace? I know I wouldn't, and the instructor doesn't do so.

A good companion book to this DVD (for those wanting stretches for specific ailments) is Back Care Basics: A Doctor's Gentle Yoga Program For Back and Neck Pain Relief. It's helped me with the pain I get in my lower back specifically related to endometriosis.

This is a very relaxing and nicely paced routine. All the excersizes are performed on the floor and include a flat on the back 15-min session and sitting up 15-min session. You can easily do them both together or either one separate. It not a tough routine, very gentle and geared towards those with injuries or just starting with stretching, but I found it also very beneficial as an intermediate yogini. There is a mix of slow movements and stretching. Setting is on a beautiful beach with smoothing instruction and music. Even though this is only a 1/2 hour routine, I will use it again and again on days when I'd like a gentle, short practice. Treat your back to this one !

Check my other yoga dvd reviews on amazon.

20 years ago I had a motorcycle accident that reeked havoc on my lower back. Then five years ago I was playing football and again injured my back. I "slipped" a disk and a month after the incident I could not sit down without excruciating pain from my sciatic nerve. I've been to medical doctors, therapist, acupuncture, chiropractors, etc to no avail. In November I had had it with the constant nagging pain in my lower back and decided to do something. I read review after review on Amazon concerning yoga and back pain and decided on this DVD. I had tried yoga before but found it very painful at times because of the state my back was in. This video is GREAT for someone like me who needs to strengthen his or her back and abdominal muscles while not further injuring anything. I'm a very physical person who loves to work on my car and motorcycle as well as our house but would be in excruciating pain by the end of the day. After religiously following the two routines daily in this video I am for the most part pain free (and in a much better mood). I'm still aware of the pain in my lower back, but it's quite a bit better and I'm sure that it will subside the stronger my back becomes. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone who has suffered like I have. It is a great place to start from if your back has lost its ability to maintain its flexibility and strength. I will start looking for a more advanced yoga DVD for strengthening and maintaining my back integrity.

I was diagnosed with a herniated disc. I was sent to physical therapy and pain medications. My back pain was still there. My wife suggested I get Mimi's DVD. I am so glad I did. When I started the exercise program on the DVD, I still had back pain, but the exercises were gentle enough that I could still make it through all 30 minutes. As a result of following the program my back pain is relieved. I no longer have weeks that I have to walk crooked with back spasms. The program relaxs, strengthens, and stretches. I have flexibility I never did before.
Mimi is a great instructor. I would recommend this tape to anyone with back problems. For the cost of one co-payment at physical therapy, I can now just put on the DVD and get results I never got at physical therapy. I no longer have to take the pain meds. I hope this doesn't sound like an informercial. I got the DVD and it worked. I feel better.

I'm a busy mom of three -barely 5 and under. I'm in great shape....BUT, I carry around a 27 lb. 13 month old all day and have herniated L5 & S1. I also separated my pelvis TWICE during childbirth which has made my hip area very weak (and i believe contributing to the back problems). I opted to try this before going to the physiatrist who I'm sure will refer me to useless Phys Ther.

Anyway, for under $30, I invested in this DVD and one other one. I just completed it and feel amazing! Now, I know when I wake up in the morning, it's not going to be perfect, but I feel like I literally created space between the disks in my back. The relief is instant. I'm not a veteran in yoga, so I really like how the instructor was very specific about how to attain the positions. She kept reminding you to relax certain areas and I think that it made for a more effective session. A lot of stretches I've done for athletics and working out, but I wasn't doing them nearly as effective as this instructor had me do it.

Your body feels a lot like it does after a massage, so I would recommend a lot of water after the session...I think it helps a lot.

I'm so excited. I highly recommend it. Save some money on your doctor co-pay and try it.

I was hesitant to order the Back in Shape DVD as I have tried Yoga in the past and found it difficult. I suffer from a bad back having had back surgery 4 years ago and also arthritis. After reading all the great reviews, I decided to try it and WOW! am I glad! Everything about this workout is great and I look forward to the 30 minutes just for myself every day. When I first started, I could hardly accomplish some of the positions however after only 3 weeks I have limbered up considerably and do not have the pain and stiffness that I had. A great workout!

I had the misfortune to require 3 back surgeries in the last year - one laminectomy/discectomy, one fusion w/o instrumentation and one 360 fusion with instrumentation and bmp, all at the L5-S1 level. I have been healing finally, but very stiff. After sleeping or sitting, I walk like an 80 year old until I get loosened up. I am now 6 months out from my 3rd surgery. Fusing well, and wishing to strengthen my core muscles and get back to more of my regular life. (I just turned 41).

This dvd is very beneficial. It is broken up into 2 15 minute sections. I started off just doing the first 15 minutes, which involves simply relaxation and stretching. Of course I am paranoid to ever hurt my back again or herniate another disc, so I was worried that any program might be too strenuous for back surgery patients. This one is not. I love the feeling I have in my back, shoulders, hips and really entire body after these sessions.

The second 15 minutes is a little tougher, and my body can't quite do exactly what is suggested, but I don't push my self. I go very slowly and just enjoy the beginnings of flexibility and a decrease in stiffness and pain.

All back surgery patients know that the key to future back health is to have our core muscles strengthened and doing their jobs. I was out of commission for over 16 months and my core muscles have been on permanent vacation for quite a while. I am excited with this dvd and look forward every morning to the experience.

I get up thirty minutes early every morning to do this work-out. It is the best group of back stretching exercises I've ever come across. I'd recommend it to anyone with back troubles. It's cheaper than a trip to the chiropractor and probably just as effective.

This is without a doubt the best back exercise I have ever done. I was in physical therapy for 4 months and did not get the results that I now get from this video. I have since quit physical therapy and rely on this video to help my back. I use to be in constant pain from my back and now after just a month I occasionally have some minor pain. I actually experienced results within days of staring this exercise. I strongly recommend this video and have already referred it so several of my friends. Thank you for this wonderful product.