Customer Reviews

Dr. Christine Anderson's Dynamic Prenatal Yoga

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been doing yoga for a few months before my pregnancy, so I am not a big yoga expert although I am pretty fit and flexible. I've started using this video 4 months into my pregnancy, when the regular yoga poses from the gym's yoga class started to become uncomfortable. I found the instructions very clear and the poses were well demonstrated by regular-looking women in different stages of pregnancy. The instructor said a lot of weird, new-agey things, such as "using the experience of the women who birthed before" and "clear your aura", as well as "point your kidneys" and "melt your heart", but I just tuned it out.

This video is 90 minutes long and broken up into 4 parts - breathing and warm-up (over 30 minutes long), sun salutations, chair poses (similar to warrior poses and you don't really need a chair), and restoration and relaxation (pretty short part). On most days I did not have enough time to do the whole video, so I would alternate between doing the sun salutations or the chair poses. That way the exercise was about an hour long and still had a nice flow to it. Some of the exercises in the video are "dynamic", as the title implies, and they are quite good at muscle toning. In the early months of my pregnancy I thought that the breathing and warm-up part took too much time and was not challenging enough, but as I got closer to my due date I started to appreciate this part more and more. Eventually, I would only do the first part of the video. It was especially helpful for relieving and preventing back pain.

Overall, this is a great video that gives you a full workout with a lot of choices.

This is by far the best Prenatal Yoga and workout out there! I ordered five other prenatal workout DVDs. This turned out to be in a category of its own.

My greatest concern about practicing yoga without an instructor was what if I didn't do the poses exactly as they were meant to be. Then I wouldn't be able to properly benefit from them. Dr. Anderson's instructions are crystal clear, simple, and yet extremely effective. Another concern I had was monotony. After working out to the same DVD you end up getting bored and you eventually lose your motivation. Not with this one! The reason why I had ordered 6 DVDs in total was to fight boredom. I'm now 3 weeks away from delivery and I ended up exercising to this one day after day this whole time, without getting bored, while the others collected dust on a shelf.

The other DVDs I bought were Shiva Rea, Zenmama w/Rainbeau Mars, Divine Mother of Yoga w/ Anna Getty, The Perfect Pregnancy Workout, and Pilates w/Niece Pecenka. The first three I listed were too gentle and I didn't feel like I was doing anything. The last two you definitely get to sweat and feel in your muscles but they're not yoga! This DVD, however, you will actually feel it all over your body. And I don't mean feeling sore but feeling great and fit, mentally and physically!

This is my second pregnancy and unlike my first where I had neck, back, and pelvic pains and was bloated the whole time, I have had no problems whatsoever thanks to this DVD. My OB/Gyn has seen the improvements and the difference this workout has made in me and now she's recommending it to her other patients. I only wish Dr. Anderson made more DVDs such as one geared towards post pregnancy.

As the founder of Hypnobabies, many Prenatal Yoga DVDs have been sent to me to review, and Dr. Christine's Dynamic Prenatal Yoga is my favorite. It goes beyond the gentle stretching and relaxation of most of the ones I've seen before, and gives the expectant mom a real Prenatal Yoga session, helping her to easily tone and condition the muscles that she will use to give birth to her baby, (and many others) along with wonderful breathing exercises to start the workout with. Peace and serenity is evident in all of the movements at the same time that excellent work is being done. All of this compliments what we teach in Hypnobabies, and I highly recommend this DVD!

Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI,
Founder of Hypnobabies

This video is wonderful. I teach yoga myself but wanted to find a video for my home practice to help me stay focused and to "treat myself" to a class. This one totally delivers. I am used to a vigorous vinyasa practice with a very quick pace. Since I am pregnant I know I need to ease up, but this video has really helped me to do so. I still feel challenged, and I know I am getting an excellent strength work-out. I also feel calm and centered when I am done, which can be a challenge with a video - to transmit that peaceful, meditative vibe! It is 90 minutes, so it can be tough to make the time, but when you consider how important pregnancy is I think it's definitely worth it. As an instructor and a student I give this video very high marks.

When I have the time (it's 90 minutes long), I love this yoga video. The best thing about this workout is the gentleness of it while really stretching and working your body for a more comfortable pregnancy and labor preparation . The poses are comfortable even though I'm usually really tight going into the workout. I think this video would be suitable for any fitness level at any time in pregnancy if you pay attention to the modifications- even if you've never done yoga before. She moves slowly and easily from pose to pose and holds them long enough to get real benefit. Her voice is normal and natural- not annoying or anything- though her pink and white bird-like hair took a second to get used to. (I actually like her unorthodox hair now.) Maybe this sounds silly, but some of the things she says really makes you feel like a strong, pregnant woman capable of anything and she somehow delivers the message without being corny or too "mother earth-y" in any way. She clearly is well educated in the field and explains each pose and available modifications carefully. It's a pretty no-frills DVD which I appreciated- it appears to have been filmed in her actual yoga studio (urban environment) and you can hear the muted sound of cars driving by every once in while. There aren't any jarring camera cuts or lighting changes or loud music. It's a very peaceful exercise though I definitely feel the effects of it. When I do this video, I feel more in control of my pregnancy and upcoming labor. Also, though it is long, it's easy to eliminate segments if you're short on time since the DVD chapters are well defined and easy to manipulate.

I love this DVD. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the production value is not the greatest. But, other than that, it is excellent. I'm now in my 8th month of pregnancy and starting to get pretty uncomfortable, and I've found that doing this DVD really helps me to feel better. It seems to really ease my tight hips and back, and after I do it, my body feels very open and relaxed, which I imagine can only help with my upcoming labor. It's a long workout (about an hour and a half)and quite challenging, so I'd only recommend it if you are an experienced yoga practitioner, but it is well worth the time and effort. The sequence of poses really opens up the body and especially areas that need to be opened during pregnangy (like the hips) with squats, pigeon pose, and modified lunges. There is also a lot of focus on strengthening and limbering up the spine. She focuses on building endurance, which is key during pregnancy, and if you practice this DVD using deep, slow breathing, it can be very meditative and calming. I really love this one!!

I have tried 3 prenatal yoga DVD's including this one (Yoga Journal's Yoga for your Pregnancy and The New Method Baby and Mom Prenatal Yoga) and this by far is my favorite. I was looking for a practice that is challenging and this one was it! I like that many of the poses are held for a long enough period of time to actually get some benefit out of it (such as supported bound angle). I don't necessarily dislike the others and I still use them occasionally, but I find I do this one the most as I feel I am getting a real workout. Lots of hip work, which I really needed as my hips are so tight. I am 26 weeks now and have been using this DVD since early in my 2nd trimester. Highly recommended!

This DVD is great for women who want an athletic workout, without the spiritual aspects of yoga. I was looking for both, so was disappointed in the DVD. The exercises are very mechanical and not very fun. Anderson comes across as cold. I went out and bought Crunch's Yoga Mama. Still not exactly what I'm looking for, but the instructor was pregnant when the DVD was made and comes across as having a sense of humor and warmth. Much more enjoyable experience, although I still put in Anderson's DVD occassionally. Wish I could find a somewhat difficult Yoga routine (I've practiced for over ten years) that has a sense of wonder and humor about pregnancy.

I've tried Shiva Reas's Prenatal Yoga DVD and thought it was way too slow and easy (even though I'm not even that advanced or fit) so when I did Dr. Christine's Dynamic Prenatal Yoga DVD I was extremely pleased and relieved to find something both enjoyable and that made me feel like I got some decent exercise. I'm in the middle of my second trimester and will definately keep using this DVD for the next 4 months and probably even after the birth.

Relaxing, clear guidance from highly knowledgeable Pediatric Chiropractor who is also an experienced yoga teacher.

Dr Christine Anderson gently guides women who are in different stages of pregnancy through a complete yoga session for body, mind and spirit (of mom and baby).
Easy to follow modifications are given for different stages of pregnancy.

The DVD chapter format is great for yoga as the viewer can easily do all or part of the session. Dr Anderson's final relaxation is essential for any pregnant mom to practice alone or after the session.

I will be sure to add this to my collection and recommend it to my students who are pregnant. I also suggest for women to refer to Dr Anderson's wealth of information and expertise on natural child birth and children's health concerns after birth.

Amy Sat Bachan Reich, Yoga Teacher, Los Angeles, CA