Customer Reviews

Beth Shaw's Yogafit Workout NTSC Video [VHS]

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As someone who has been practicing yoga for years and teaching for almost two years, I can sympathize with a lot of the issues that Shaw surfaces in her book. In a nutshell, many people who are curious about yoga and want to take advantage of its physical benefits are either intimidated or turned off by what they perceive to be the rest of the "yoga lifestyle" and feel as if Yoga with a capital Y is an all-or-nothing proposition. To the extent that Shaw's book opens the door for those people, I applaud her. I also find her statement that she feels she has a mission to contribute to society by sharing yoga admirable.

However, I feel like she unnecessarily insults "traditional yoga" several times in the course of the book. For instance, she writes in her preface, "What separates YogaFit from other forms of yoga is that YogaFit speaks directly and without pretensiousness to everyone, but especially to the needs of amateur and professional athletes." And later in the same paragraph, "...YogaFit holds the answers to all of these [sports-training] problems without boring you to death." Reading these words, I can't help but get the impression that Shaw is convinced that she is the only one who can deliver the goods to athletes and fitness enthusiasts; Baron Baptiste will be interested to hear that.

One of the other notable aspects of the book is that Shaw can't seem to decide whether YogaFit is a form of yoga or something else altogether. She refers to it as an accessible, demystified form of yoga, then later has a full page chart contrasting the difference between YogaFit and yoga. Curious, since she went to great pains several years ago to have her training program recognized by Yoga Alliance, a registering body of yoga instructors and schools.

The most glaring inconsistency presented by the book is that while Shaw's focus is clearly on the postures, her instructions are lacking. While I don't think one needs to spend paragraphs describing how to enter and hold a pose, some things are worth mentioning, like hip placement in the warriors and not locking your elbows in postures such as Tabletop and Upward Dog. Finally, the instructions that she gives for some of the sequences are difficult to understand in some places, and she appears to work sides unevenly (for example, in the YogaFit Classic sequence, you're doing more Pyramids on one side than another).

Having said all of that, I do like the postures that she chose- most of them are basic and appropriate enough for both beginners and more advanced students.

A few years ago, I was at my local gym when I noticed a group of people practicing yoga on the aerobics floor. I wandered over and asked what they were doing, and Beth Shaw looked up at me and said, "I am teaching these people how to instruct Yogafit classes Do you want to join us?" I'm not a fitness proffessional, but It looked like fun. I filled an empty space in the class, and for the next two days I was emmersed in Yogafit. Initially, I worried about not being as "in shape" as everyone there, but Beth explained that everyone regardless of fitness level, or age could benifit from Yogafit. She was right. It was a great workout and for the first time in years, my back stopped hurting. I had been seeing a chiropractor for low back pain for years, but I didn't go back after my Yogafit weekend.

I didn't end up teaching Yoga, but I assist at a local martial arts academy and use many of the stretches and poses to warm up the class. Yogafit is wonderful for preparing your body for higher impact activities. When I saw Beth Shaw's book in the store, I bought it immediately even though I already have her training materials. The photos are great and she explains the poses really well. It is a great tool. Beth Shaw is the real deal and Yogofit is an awesome way to take care of yourself.

Beth's Shaw's YogaFit 2nd edition is a refreshing guide to yoga for the masses. I truly enjoyed the clear cut and comprehensive way she helps the reader learn how to incorporate all the aspects of the yoga lifestyle into their practice. This book will speak to the new yoga practitioner, clearly, but also is a great tool for the experienced practitioner and yoga teacher. The sequences for various sports are unique and effective. There is also an introduction to other aspects of yoga practice, from nutrition, to meditation, yoga philosophy and the chakras. This book uses exercise science and the ancient teachings of yoga as its foundation.

I really like this book. It is a great supplement to my yoga videos. I have found Yoga a great source for relaxation but also for sculpting. Beth Shaw's book really allows you to know which muscles you are stretching and/or strengthening with each pose. I guess the only draw back is that it is a bit short on poses. Only 50 which were mainly familiar to me from the videos I use. I hope she does another book with more advanced poses. THis is a great resourse!

Beth's YogaFit Second Edition is one of the most comprehensive well written and useful book about Yoga I have found on the market. It is written for both the beginner and the advanced Yogi and is an incredibly valuable tool for anyone who is interested in Yoga. Beth's book is nothing short of brilliant and the comprehensive, well thought out content clearly demonstrates the work of a true expert. This book packs years of education into a very valuable resource and a very useful tool. After 20 years in the fitness industry as an instructor, educator, author and presenter, I finally have something I can feel good about recommending to my clients, my staff and my family.
Shonna Porter M.A. CPT

Other than doing yoga poses when I was pregnant, YogaFit was my first exposure to yoga poses. I took a college course, and our course book was the first edition of the Beth Shaw's YogaFit book.

The second book is so much of an improvement over the second book, in that the second book has delved into the philosophy of yoga, a bit more detailed information about special populations of people, who might enjoy practicing yoga, details about YogaFit's Seven Principles of Alignment, which are essential in one practice of safe yoga, and excellent descriptions of the poses with photographs and great worded explanations.

A bit of a bonus, which I really like, are visual diagrams of the YogaFit varied workouts. From Beginning Yoga, to Flex and Flowing through your poses, to a core version of yoga, to ending with a diagram of poses to do in a power yoga format.

There are some nice additional sections in the book about diet and nutrition, meditation, and information about the chakras. Plus at the end a list of the different pose, and where they are optimally placed in YogaFit Mountain format.

I've been pleased with the Human Kinetics books, and Beth's second edition book is wonderful.

Gail Pickens-Barger

Beth Shaw's YOGAFIT is truly Yoga For The People. Easy to follow, easy to understand, Beth Shaw creates a user-friendly fitness yga appropriate for athletes, work out buffs and fitness enthusiasts who want to use this ancient practice for modern purpose. I found mysef stretching in ways I never thought possible. My shoulders feel open, my body activated yet relaxed, this is a great book for all.

WOW! Some reviewers are just being cruel. I have nothing but respect for Eric Shiffman, Richard Freeman, Sean Corne, Baron Baptiste, and Rodney Yee, but I don't see any of them giving away free books/classes/seminars/videos-DVD's, just for the sake of teaching their form of yoga. Beth is being attacked for something that anyone in the yoga field is doing by writing a book, etc. They are making a living. This is a wonderful book to start anyone out in learning about basic yoga. As in the physical aspects of yoga. It is a starting point, so if someone wants to move on to the more spiritual aspects they can. Or if they just want to feel comfortable walking into any yoga class, they will with confidence from what Beth has put in this book. By the way, YogaFit is part of the Yoga Alliance, so it is a legitimate form of yoga.

Beth Shaw's latest edition is easy to follow, in depth, inspirational and a note worthy addition to any Yogi's library. It truly unites Yoga and Fitness into one, keeping in mind safety and consistency for the novice yogi or extra knowledge for the more experienced one. In addition to speaking to the essence of Yogafit and how to effectively life a yogic life in today's world, it also provides a guide for a yoga practice depending on your sport or exercise of choice. So, if you are a basketball player, it gives you the best way to practice yoga to improve the overall flexibility, strength and balance for this modality. This book is a definate buy, for you or as a gift!

This book is not only about Yoga, but about ways to keep your body injury free. I coach high school boys Cross Country and Track Teams and use the Seven Priciples of Alignment as a guide for all of their warm-ups and cool down.

If you listen to your body whisper - you won't hear it scream. Get the book today.