Customer Reviews

Lower Body Yoga for Beginners [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I started this tape after practicing Patricia Walden's beginner's tape for a month or so. I've been practicing yoga for only 3 months. This is definitely very challenging. The hardest poses for me are the boat poses for the abdominals. This tape has a lot of postures that require not only strength and flexibility, but a lot of balance too. However, I believe that I'm benefiting from this video (I do it every other day). I'm starting to see some tonus in my legs that wasn't there before, after only 3 weeks or so. I'm able to at least keep up with the routine, but I definitely break into a sweat as I'm doing it. They do show modifications for the poses at the end of the tape for those of us who are less flexible, which is very helpful. My main criticism for the video is that she moves through the poses very quickly. I wish we could spend more time on them--but that may be the nature of a condensed "workout" video such as this. So on that note, definitely watch the video first, before you participate, and if you haven't yet, get Patricia Walden's Beginner's yoga practice tape to understand the poses before doing this one.

As a recent fan of the Living Yoga for Beginners series, I can't praise these tapes enough! I have instantly become a yoga addict with these tapes, and now, with Lower Body Yoga for Beginners, I can have the benefits of this age old exercise targeted at specific areas of the body. I always use this tape after my lower body workout, and the results continue to amaze me!

Yoga teacher Suzanne Deason (really, an amazing teacher with INCERDIBLE stamina!), takes you through a 4 minute warm up, a 14 minute active workout (ACTIVE being the operative word!), and finally a 2 minute deep relaxation. She performs the workout with remarkable control and strong, fluid movements on the crater of the Haleakala volcano on Maui - truely inspiring! The one great thing about these tapes is always the scenery!

Things about this tape I found to be slightly different from the other Living Yoga series I've seen so far:

- The pace is a little faster than I expected. You certainly work up a sweat performing these movements, but for whatever reason I seem to maintain a good level of relaxation and concentration.

- The modifications for beginners and those who are less flexible are at the END of the tape, as opposed to being demonstrated DURING the specific movements. It could pose a problem to those who are totally unfamiliar with possible yoga modifications, but once you see them they are pretty simple to remember.

- Although this tape is for the lower body, you need some pretty decent abdominal stregnth, balance (some of the moves involve balancing on one foot), and concentration. It's not something that will make the whole workout too challenging for a beginner, but it may not be for everyone. With time, however, these elements will become easier and just eventually end up a routine part of the workout. I would suggest to those a little discouraged by these elements to keep at it, once you get there the results are really quite amazing!

All in all this tape most definately provides results, and FAST! As always, Living Yoga suggests that you view the entire tape before getting down onto the yoga mat and working out. The pace of this tape, upon first viewing, may seem too challenging for most beginners, and I must admit that I too was intimidated upon watching it the first time. In fact I tossed it on my shelf for a few days, gathered up my courage, and THEN gave it a try. It's not HALF as intimidating as it looks, and although fast-paced, I manage to maintain a good level of relaxation and inner peace.

Over all, I would reccommend this to anyone interested in yoga, or anyone who wants to elaborate on their lower body workouts. Unlike the A.M. / P.M. series, which I would reccommend to just about everyone I know, this is more for someone a little more 'hard core on the yoga-train', or possibly someone who's into working out on a regular basis.

This routine is an excellent workout for the lower body. When I first viewed the tape, I wondered how I would ever get into some of the poses even though I've been doing yoga for over a year. However, try them all, you will be surprised what you can do if you try and go only as far as you are able. I felt it was a wonderful workout after I completed the routine once myself.

However, like many have mentioned, this is not a true beginner's tape! You need to be quite familiar with yoga postures and modifications of the postures so as not to hurt yourself. Some modifications are given at the end of the tape, but I don't feel that they are thoroughly detailed. I feel that I only knew how to modify correctly because I have viewed Yoga Journal's Yoga for Beginners (a tape that simple explains the poses) and many of the other Living Yoga and Yoga Journal tapes (they all have the same instructors).

Another minus for beginners (including myself) is the pace of the routine. As with the Upper Body Yoga and Abs Yoga in the same series, I find myself often pausing the tape during the routine to get into correct form. Then I'm able to move on with the routine.

But I still have to say, it is a great workout!

I don't know how anyone would NOT benefit from this tape. This is the first tape I have ever done and the first time I have done Yoga. I found it challenging, but that is the only way to really learn the poses and to get results. After only two weeks of using this tape I was able to fit into clothes I wasn't able to wear previously. I was able to tone and get rid of some cottage cheese on the backs of my legs!! I wish she would stay in poses a bit longer, but as you do it more and more you become familiar and know what she will do next. I use this tape for when I want a quickie yoga session and her weight loss video for a longer session.

If you are looking for a tape for beginners, don't look here. This program puts much strain on your back and shoulders, and you have to be EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE to do most of the moves. It is definately a waste of money.

These yoga exercises are so fast moving that one would have to just watch the video 2 or 3 times to get a handle on what is going on before being able to do all the poses with any expertise. I also found the moves done so quickly that I wasn't able to get my mind at the level of serenity I enjoy when doing yoga.
Some of the poses are very difficult, and even Suzanne Deason looks a little wobbly in one of the "Triangle" variations, so you know it must be hard, because Deason is like a cross between stretchy elastic and strong iron.

There is a cautionary notice at the beginning that says "not all exercises are suitable for everyone", and that might include anyone with creaky knees, for doing the lunges for instance, and those little "jump" movements Deason does with ease.
If you are in marvelous condition, and like your yoga done in sequences that move like a rapidly flowing stream, you will like this tape, and I'm sure it will develop the strength and flexibility it claims to produce.
Beginners should not purchase this tape...it will be very discouraging, and there will be few poses that they will be able to do with confidence and competence.

I'm giving this a lower rating for being what I consider mislabeled; with my knees, I would never attempt yoga beyond the beginner level, and would not have bought this had it been labeled Intermediate, which it is, at the very least.
The scenery is marvelous, of a volcanic landscape of Maui, and the end of the tape includes "modifications" to make the poses easier, by using a block or strap to make the stretches less of a stretch, but I can't imagine how one would deal with the accessories considering the poses are done so quickly.

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, especially since there are modifications at the end of the tape.

I consider myself a yoga beginner with limited flexibility, yet with modifications, I was able to perform all of the poses on this tape. Some of the poses which require balance are pretty tough, but you can always support yourself if needed. Although this tape focuses on lower body through mainly standing, kneeling, and seated forward bend poses, I feel it gives me a fairly good upper body workout as well given the many upward dog repetitions.

I appreciate Suzanne Deason's calm, supportive manner and her supple, yet not overly-unrealistic body. Her style is warm and engaging, and there are no "new-agey" aspects to the video. The scenery is attractive and soothing as well. Overall, I really enjoy this video and love that I can do it in a short time frame.

NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!! I have been doing yoga on and off for 20 years... I found this tape to be too fast paced... It's like "speed yoga"... yoga is a beautiful, calm experience...This tape speeds though the asanas like it's a "race"... a beginner can not keep up... the postures are not described fully , as the routine is practiced... If you don't know yoga ,quite well, don't buy this tape...You will be discouraged...I did not feel the tape helped me...

I was a beginner, and started yoga with this video 8 months ago. I find it gives me more energy for the rest of the day, and takes less than 25 minutes. It was difficult at first to hold some of the positions, but with repetition I got much better. I have tried 4 other yoga videos, and none are as good for me as this one.

I am new to yoga and I thought that this was good for beginners. Of course I was not able to move as much as Ms. Deason but I know that it will take some time to be just as good. I felt very relaxed at the end of the tape and I have noticed that I am more flexable. Some of the camera angles were not all that great. Sometimes her back was toward the camera so you really don't get to see the move correctly and that's the only flaw. The modifications at the end were also very helpful, for a beginner.