Customer Reviews

Healing Yoga: Aches & Pains [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been practicing yoga with videos for some time now, and I thought that this would be a relaxing workout which would help with my frequent headaches. However, I discovered that the video is more focused towards bodily aches and pains--namely neck pain, back pain, arthritis, or injuries. For someone suffering from one of those conditions and who has only a limited range of motion, this tape might be useful. It is a led my a husband and wife team, Charles and Lisa, and broken into three 10 minutes sections. The first, in which Lisa demostrates and Charles provides voiceover, is a series of seated poses on a chair with a strong emphasis on breathing. Charles leads the second section with Lisa's voiceover; this section includes gentle standing postures using the chair for assistance. In the final section, Lisa again leads, this time demonstrating a series of floor poses for relaxation. Anyone who has some prior experience with yoga is likely to find this video to be much too easy, but for those who are absolute beginners and/or those who have chronic pain, this workout could be beneficial.

In just one week I can see a difference. My pain level has dropped dramatically. This isn't extremely physical and is easy to do. I have fibromyalgia and the muscles are always tight. Shoulders are the biggest problem area for me, and this video has the best pose for the shoulders that I've ever tried.
If you are in pain, this video can help.

I turned 40 and noticed that my knees were really beginning to ache going up and down stairs. My feet and ankles would become stiff also. I play and teach young children with disabilities in preschool. Because of this, I need to do a lot of lifting and bending and kneeling. I needed a workout that helped me move more freely. Boy!!!! was this video great. I have loved using this and can feel the difference after a couple of weeks. The instructors have soothing voices without sounding as if they are about to enter a different dimension of being at any moment. I also liked the way the workout has been divided into 3 parts. I work the tape as a whole, but I could see how time constraints or pain would make the shorter sessions ideal.

This is a good beginner DVD that slowly moves through each of the positions and focuses a lot on proper breathing. Other DVD's (Yoga for inflexible people & Yoga basics) that I bought talked about breathing but not as well. I'm in my mid 50's and have lost a lot of hearing - this DVD has a feature that allows you to turn off the background music so that you can hear just the voices. When I turn up the volume on the other two DVDs above the music gets louder and I still can't hear the female voices except for my wifes saying turn down the volume. This DVD has only one yoga routine, whereas the two others have numerous - reason for a 4 versus a 5 rating. If you are in your mid 50's or older and have lost a lot of flexiblity - I would recommend this DVD, then Yoga for inflexible people and then Yoga basics by Gaiam. They are all good beginner yoga DVD's.

I am a total beginner to yoga, and have a lot of pain in my back arms and neck. After trying this the first day, I felt less pain that night, which encouraged me to try it the next day...It is not complicated and gets to the point , for those who are not familiar to yoga, I think that it will help anyone deal with pain and to see the limits that you can pass with patience and respect for your body. Oh, one important thing, always respect what your body is telling you and never force it. Sometimes we might go overboard, but within a short you willbecome flexible... Just think of the reward of having less pain is enough for me!

This tape is great. Granted it is not for the advanced but more geared for what the title states. The instructors walk you through the moves and take into account injuries that cause you to not be as flexible. My husband has re-occuring back pain from a herniated disc and we have tried different yoga videos but they all caused him more pain and frustration from not being able to do the moves. This one however, by addressing all the issues associated with chronic pain and injury, has actually begun to make his back feel better and he doesn't feel inadequate because he can't do the moves. I'm planning on buying another copy to send to my mom, in addition to their other video.

I was disappointed in this tape and a companion tape "Healing Yoga for Common Ailments." They are nothing more than beginning tapes. I was looking for specific recommendations/instructions for specific problems which they did not provide, but newcomers to Yoga might find some basic information of value.

This video has been essential for me to get back into the world of exercise. You can do these moves with very little balance or flexibility. As you do them more often the flexibility and confidence come back. I first tried this on Netflix and used it so often I bought a copy. And I recommended it to my mother and another friend suffering from pain and stiffness, it is not a miracle cure but it feels so good to finally move!

This video is excellent in every respect. Good instruction. Clear images. Wonderful ambience. Very useful for its intended purpose: healing and wellness. Also useful for any yoga practice. Highly recommend.
To the two yoga instructors on the video, if they read reviews: Part of yoga practice is an emphasis on modest attire during practice. The skimpy top worn by Lisa Matkin does not seem to fit that tradition.

This video is excellent in every respect. Good instruction. Clear images. Wonderful ambience. Very useful for its intended purpose: healing and wellness. Also useful for any yoga practice. Highly recommend.
To the two yoga instructors on the video, if they read reviews: Part of yoga practice is an emphasis on modest attire during practice. The somewhat skimpy top worn by Lisa Matkin does not seem to fit that tradition. Although the instructors are not immodestly attired, Ms. Matkin might want to consider dressing more modestly for various camera views. That is to say, my family members and I were slightly uncomfortable and distracted from practice when we were inclined to look away because she was somewhat immodestly exposed at times. Yoga tradition tells us to dress modestly during practice (and otherwise, for that matter, but that is Ms. Matkin's business). That is my only negative comment about the video and overall that is a small complaint. It is a very good video and I will use it often and recommend it to others. Perhaps in the next video the Matkins do, this comment about attire can be considered.