Customer Reviews

Living Yoga's Upper Body Yoga for Beginners [VHS]

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

While perhaps not for the absolute beginner, this yoga sequence is definitely an excellent way to get a solid upper body and back workout in a short space of time.

Don't let the title mislead you. This is a VERY difficult workout. This video is for people in great shape and lots of expertise in yoga.

This video has been a godsend to me for unwinding after work. The exercises target the places where we all feel tight after sitting at a desk all day: the neck, shoulders, and upper and lower back. Yee's videos always feel as much like meditation as yoga. His soothing voice and slow pace is so relaxing, along with the peaceful locations (this one is filmed on a grassy hill in Maui, overlooking the ocean). This video contains lots of "down dog" and "upward dog" moves, along with a few backbends and even some leg stretches to balance out all the upper body work. And don't be afraid of the backbends! He starts slow with moves that will prepare your back for this!

Though not for absolute beginners, I found this tape to be a real gem: A well designed yoga practice with just-right verbal cues and just-right pacing, with a length (about 25 minutes) that actually fits into a real life schedule. That said, my ability to follow this video is, I am sure, dramatically helped by my 4 years of off-and-on yoga practice with real-life (not video) instructors.

I purchased this tape with the idea that it was a beginner's tape. However, it is not at all. I am not an expert in yoga but I do know that yoga excercise should not hurt. The tape is quiet but Mr. Lee goes to fast, and a person perfoming these exercises will have to pause the tape to adjust several positions.