Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Gaiam
• VHS Release Date: February 6, 2001
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004T6FJ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,878 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Yoga teacher Rodney Yee guides you through a 20-minute workout to build upper body strength and increase flexibility to support the chest and spine. Filmed in Maui.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent routine, challenging for beginners though, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

I have several of the Living Yoga tapes. I really enjoy the instruction of Rodney Yee, Suzanne Deason and Patricia Walden in the series. This tape was no exception with regard to the excellent instruction and the well planned routine. However, as only a 1 yr beginner myself, I found the routine to be quite challenging. I assumed since it was a "Beginner's" tape that it would be fairly gentle yet highly beneficial for building strentgh. I found the routine to be more of a Power Yoga. The rountine moves quickly and if you are a beginner, it may be hard to move quickly between some of these poses. I find myself pausing the tape often to get into correct form and then moving on. The rountine is still effective, but it can be cumbersome. You definitely should begin with something more simple than this to start out. Like the other reviewer I saw online, I would recommend the Back Care tape with Rodney Yee instead of this.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beginner?, August 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Living Yoga's Upper Body Yoga for Beginners [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have mixed feelings about this and other tapes in the Living Arts/Gaiam series. I feel that they offer good workouts, but are NOT for beginners.

I'm familiar with yoga postures, having had a daily practice over 10 years ago. But Rodney Yee never offers modifications for the postures or ways to build up to being able to do them.

A backbend? I haven't managed a full backbend that easily since I was 12. He doesn't offer ANY tips on how to build the strength to get there.

He has the student go into a "push-up" position, which requires a great deal of tricep strength and no way to build to that point. (The way to build to it would be to start in plank pose and slowly lower down.)

If you are a true beginner with little strength or flexibility, stick with Yoga Zone or Linda Arkin until you are stronger.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A short, challenging workout but doable for beginners., April 8, 2002

By 

Beth Cholette "doctor_beth" (Upstate NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Living Yoga's Upper Body Yoga for Beginners [VHS] (VHS Tape)

First of all, several reviewers have mentioned that this tape is not for beginners, but it is important to remember that ALL of the videos in the Living Arts series recommend that you start with "Yoga Practice for Beginners" if you are not familiar with yoga poses. That being said, this is a relatively fast-paced tape that can be a little hard to follow at first, so I'd highly recommend watching the tape before attempting to follow along.

I consider myself to be a yoga beginner with limited flexibility, but I was able to perform the majority of the poses on this tape. The first time I tried it, I thought that there was no way I would EVER be able to lift myself into a backbend, but on my second time through, I was able to briefly raise myself off the ground. This video is definitely challenging, especially given the fast pace, and I would recommend being well-rested before giving it a try. However, with some practice, it is certainly doable for beginners, and I highly recommend Rodney Yee for motivating, expert instruction.