Product Details

• Actors: Ashley Turner
• Directors: Andrea Ambandos
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: ANCHOR BAY
• DVD Release Date: December 7, 2010
• Run Time: 73 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00429C1W0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,850 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Stress relief and flexibility programs are natural compliments in yoga. When you release mental pressure, you simultaneously relieve tightness in your muscles and joints. Similarly, when you focus on reducing stiffness in the body, you automatically release tension held in the mind. These two rejuvenating yoga programs, filmed in a tranquil garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean, can help undo the physical and mental effects of tension. The Stress Relief sequence uses the breath, longer holds, and forward bends to encourage the body's relaxation response. This calming sequence will dissolve anxiety, improve quality of sleep, reveal clarity of thought, and activate the anti-aging benefits that restorative yoga provides. The Flexibility sequence uses simple but effective flowing vinyasas to enhance agility, alleviate pain, cultivate a greater free range of movement, and reduce risk of future injury.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beneficial Yoga Practice December 7, 2010

By Amy Henley VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

I love all the Element DVDs. I either own or regularly check all of them out from the library. I own Ashley Turner's previous yoga video Element: Yoga for Weight Loss. One of my fitness goals is to improve my flexibility, so I was excited to discover Element was releasing this video with her as an instructor. I find her to be a very supportive instructor and her Yoga for Weight Loss DVD to be beneficial. You can select play yoga for stress relief (about 36 min), play yoga for flexibility (32 Min), or play complete program. (66 Min),

Yoga for Stress Relief

The Stress Relief sequence uses breath, longer holds, and forward bends to "encourage the body's relaxation response." You start with several minutes of breathing, centering, and relaxing neck. Stretch arms overhead and lean to one side for a few breaths, and then switch to the other side for a few breaths. Reach arms overhead and slowly twist to one side and hold a few breaths. Switch to other side. Then, move on to a series of seated twists. Next, while remaining seated, bring your knees close to chest and slowly alternate between rounding and flexing your back. Re-center for a few breaths. Allow both knees to fall to side and flex feet. You do a series of twists with legs in that position on one side. Re-center for a few breaths. Do same series on opposite side. Re-center for a few breaths. Stretch one leg straight out and bend other knee so that the foot is flush against straight leg. Flex foot and do forward bend. Change position of bent knee so that foot is on ground. Wrap arm around bent knee. Twist far as you are comfortable and bring that arm as far as you can across the knee. Sit with both legs crossed. Fold forward for a few minutes. Stretch second leg straight out and bend other knee so that the foot is flush against straight leg. Flex foot and do forward bend. Change position of bent knee so that foot is on ground. Wrap arm around bent knee. Twist far as you are comfortable and bring that arm as far as you can across the knee. Sit with both legs crossed. Fold forward for a few minutes. Seat yourself on your sit bones as you stretch legs into splits, as far as you are comfortable. Reach forward as far as you are comfortable. Bend one leg so foot is against opposite leg. Lean sideways as you stretch arms overhead. If you are able, grab foot with both hands. Hold a few breaths. As you are folding over, move to center and roll up. Switch sides. Re-center with a few breaths. Then you pinch your nose while breathing? The next move is one I have never seen, and is hard to describe. It starts in a position similar to child pose, but head is placed so crown is on floor. You move your neck so one shoulder is on ground and opposite arm is bent. It is like your neck is being stretched. Hold for a few breaths before switching sides. It probably sounds painful as you're reading this, but it's not. Lie on back and hug knees to chest. Alternate between hugging your knees to your chest and pushing them away. Next, add in the following moves: as you push knees away, go into frog position, and as you hug knees towards chest, bring knees together. Do a series of side twists as you are lying on ground. Bring knees to forehead. Lie on back with knees and arms falling to each side. Breath for a bit. Bring knees to forehead. Stretch legs straight out. Bring hands into prayer position and place thumbs on forehead. Massage face for a few breaths. Let arms fall to side. Breathe for several minutes. Sit up into cross-leg position with hands in meditation pose. Take several breaths. Bring hands into prayer pose. Take several breaths.

Yoga for Flexibility

You start with several minutes of breathing and centering. Stand up with feet a foot apart and do forward bend. Keep legs as straight as you feel comfortable, but bend them if you need to. Settle into comfortable position. Grab elbow with opposite hand. Hang like a rag doll. Take a few breaths. Grasp hands behind back. Straighten arms behind back as high as is comfortable. Let go and do forward bend with head towards knee. Look forward with chin raised so you have a flat back. Go back into forward bend position. Alternate a few times. Roll up as you shake like a rag doll. Take a deep breath and stretch arms overhead. Bring hands into prayer position. Re-center.for a few breaths. Go back into forward bend position. Go into lunge with knee on the ground. Lift up knee. Alternate between bringing head towards knee and raising head to ceiling. As you raise your head, go into a deeper lunge. Place knee on floor. Stay in lunge position and make sure abdominals are tight and knee in 90 degree angle. Gently and comfortably go into as deep a lunge as you are able and then slowly pull back. Alternate. Add arms by stretching them overhead. Bring them around in circle so you are flexing your back. Straighten leg and bring crown of head towards knee. Alternate between bending knee at 90 degree angle and straightening leg. Then, alternate between head on knee and raising chin towards ceiling. Move into forward fold position. Raise one leg towards the ceiling. If you are able, grab ankle with both hands and keep both leg as straight as is comfortable. Go back into forward fold position with head towards knee. Look forward with chin raised so you have a flat back. Go back into forward bend position. Alternate a few times. Take a deep breath and stretch arms overhead. Bring hands into prayer position. Wrap one leg around the other so that the ankle is resting on the other and balance yourself. Wrap one arm around the other so palm is to palm. Hold for several breaths. Unwrap yourself and stretch arms towards ceiling. Bring hands into prayer position. Wrap opposite leg around the other so that the ankle is resting on the other and balance yourself. Wrap one arm around the other so palm is to palm. Hold for several breaths. Unwrap yourself. Hold for several breaths. Go back into forward fold position with head towards knee. Look forward with chin raised so you have a flat back. Go back into forward bend position. Alternate a few times. Next, do the previously described lunge, hamstring stretch, and balancing series with opposite leg. Instead of bringing arms around in a circle, stretch arms forward and back when you get to that point. Go into plank position with knees on floor. Raise knees into tru plank position. Do yoga push up. Settle yourself comfortable. Do cobra. Go into plank position. Move into Downward Dog. Breathe for a bit while in that position. Alternate between flexing and releasing feet to stretch calves. Then stop and breath while in Downward Dog. Go into Cow (tabletop) position. Then you do move that is hard to describe. You bring chest towards ground while still in cow position. Then, lie flat with stomach on ground. Stretch arms and pretend you are swimming. Grasp both hands behind back and raise stomach as far as is comfortable. Rotate head to loosen tension. Go into child's pose. Next, is position that is hard to describe. Go into cow position and rotate entire body in circle so that your butt is alternately up in air and chest is moving towards ground. Sit in Hero position (on knees). Lie back as far as comfortable or until you are on your back. Hold for several breaths. Lie on stomach with knees bent. Alternate rotating legs in clockwise and counterclockwise position. Lie on back with bent knees. Hug knees towards chest. Slowly drop knees to one side. Hold for several breaths. Hug knees to chest. Slowly drop knees to second one side. Hold for several breaths. Hug knees towards chest. Lie on back with arms at sides. Lie on back with knees bent. Lie on back with straight leg. Roll to side. Sit in crossed leg position.

I enjoyed both the programs. I'm getting back into meditation, and yoga for stress relief helped me relax. I'll have to wait and see if this DVD improves my flexibility over time, but I know it will be helpful on days I'm sore from exercising. I also like that it has some moves I've never seen. Even if you have never done yoga before, I think it's easy to follow, especially because of how long you hold the poses. I recommend this DVD to anyone.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, low-impact workout for viewers of all ages and backgrounds December 9, 2010

By Midwest Book Review

Format:DVD

Yoga instructor Ashley Turner hosts Element: Yoga for Stress Relief & Flexibility, an inexpensive DVD offering two yoga programs to improve one's physical and mental health. The "Stress Relief" program emphasizes controlling one's breath, longer holds, and forward bends in order to heighten mental acuity and foster higher quality sleep. The "Flexibility" program lives up to its title with vinyasa techniques have enhanced agility, dampened pain, and promoted greater freedom of movement for countless generations. An excellent, low-impact workout for viewers of all ages and backgrounds, Element: Yoga for Stress Relief & Flexibility is an excellent addition to any fitness DVD library. 73 min.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Two excellent yoga practices ideal for experienced beginners and beyond January 8, 2011

By Beth Cholette #1 HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

NOTE: I received a free copy of this DVD to review for Metapsychology Online Reviews; you can read a more detailed copy of my review on that site.

This is the first DVD I have tried from the Element series. It features Ashley Turner, who also appeared in Element: Yoga for Weight Loss. Here Turner offers two yoga routines which can be used either together or separately to enhance relaxation, stimulate circulation, and increase agility. Turner teaches via voiceover and offers mirrored cuing, sometimes using only Sanskrit names for the postures, sometimes adding in the English translations as well. Other than her yoga mat, Turner does not utilize any props, although she occasionally makes suggestions for how props (e.g., blocks) could be used to modify some of the postures.

The Main Menu of this DVD offers the following options:

*Play Yoga for Stress Relief
*Play Yoga for Flexibility
*Play Complete Program

I have broken down each of the practices in greater detail below.

YOGA FOR STRESS RELIEF

This is the longer of the two practices at just under 36 minutes; virtually the entire routine is performed seated on the floor. Turner begins with instruction on ujjayi breathing, taking time to cultivate this breath. After a few head rolls, she performs a single "ohm" and suggests setting an intention (sankalpa) for the practice. This is followed by a seated side bend, simple seated twist, and a unique seated twist with an emphasis on stretching the upper back/shoulders. After using Lion's breath to promote cleansing, Turner continues the seated postures with head-to-knee pose, half Lord of the fishes, double pigeon, wide-legged seated forward bend, and revolved head-to-knee pose. Finally, Turner begins a series of finishing postures: first, she comes to hands and knees for a cranial massage, and next, she moves to a reclined position for windshield wiper legs and knees-to-chest. After a brief rest in reclined cobbler's pose, Turner comes into savasana with an optional self-massage (4 minutes). She concludes the practice seated with a final ohm.

YOGA FOR FLEXIBILITY

Turner also begins this practice seated with instruction on ujjayi breathing. She moves into a standing forward bend/half forward bend sequence before coming to standing at the front of the mat to set an intention and to chant a single "ohm." (Note: Turner has her mat placed parallel to the viewer; placing your mat perpendicular to your TV may make it easier to follow along with this routine.) From here Turner flows into a standing series which moves from low lunge to half split to standing splits. Turner then performs eagle pose on both sides before repeating the lunge series on the opposite side. The next sequence adds in some gentle backbends: Turner starts in down dog and moves into baby cobra, a cat/cow series, a locust variation, and some brief free form work. Coming back to seated for hero's pose, Turner offers the option of moving into reclined hero. She concludes the practice with a lower back release, a reclined twist, and a short (about 2 minutes) relaxation, finishing this 33-minute practice in a seated position with a final ohm.

Overall, this DVD offers two very nice yoga practices providing exactly what the titles suggest--i.e., the opportunity to decrease stress and enhance flexibility. Although Turner does suggest some modifications as well as offers tips on form, her level of instruction is not appropriate for those brand-new to yoga. However, this would be an ideal DVD for anyone with some basic yoga experience looking to enhance their practice and move on to the next level; moreover, intermediate practitioners such as myself are likely to find a place in their home practice for these enjoyable routines.