Customer Reviews

A.M. & P.M. Yoga - Conditioning For Weight Loss

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

AM/PM Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss provides three short yoga practices (AM, PM, and a bonus practice) that are especially appropriate for someone just starting out with yoga, but more experienced yogis looking for some shorter, basic practices are likely to enjoy these as well. Although the workouts in and of themselves are unlikely to provide weight loss, instructor Suzanne Deason makes a point of saying (both on the DVD itself and in the helpful included leaflet) that these practices form just a part of an overall weight loss program that would also include healthy eating and other fitness activities.

All three practices are filmed in beautiful outdoor settings, and for both the AM and the PM workouts, there is a list of poses included in the accompanying leaflet. The AM practice begins and ends in hero's pose (which I believe she calls "seated warrior"). It focuses on gentle opening of all areas of the body through lunges, standing poses, twists, and finally, simple core work and backbends; two yoga bricks are used to allow greater access to the postures. The PM practice also uses props, this time a yoga wedge and strap (substitutions can be made for these). It starts with some nice shoulder openers using the strap and then includes just a few standing postures such as downward dog, lunge, and wide-legged forward bend. However, the focus of this practice is on seated forward bends, which are supposed to be calming, and so you will do a variety of these before ending in relaxation pose. The AM and the PM workouts come in at just under 25 minutes each.

The bonus workout, Breathwork Through Yoga, is a bit shorter (about 22 minutes). This time, Deason does not use any props (although she reminds you of how you can use them as in the other programs if you wish), and she places a greater emphasis on the breath while moving through the postures, with the practice beginning and ending in a seated meditation. She again leads a brief series of standing poses--pyramid pose is included this time, and the wide-legged standing forward bend is especially nice--moves to kneeling for gate pose, and then moves to the floor for both backbends and core work. The most challenging poses included in this practice are probably bow pose and a boat pose variation; therefore, it has a higher difficultly level than the other two practices but would still be very doable for experienced beginners. A final bonus on the DVD is an approximately 7-minute interview with Suzanne Deason during which she explains the rationale behind each of the workouts.

Overall, this DVD provides some excellent practice experiences for those new to yoga as well as offers options for the more experienced yoga practitioner.

It's called conditioning for weight loss, but it's just an all around nice workout. Here are the things I like about this product:

1) The DVD lets you choose from four difficulty levels, or watch them combined. I really liked working my way through the levels so the same workout remained challenging. If I'm having a bad day and am too stiff, I can scale back to a lower level for that day.

2) I am a musician and am picky about background music. The Gaiam series of yoga tapes that I've purchased all have pleasant evocative, well performed music that doesn't annoy or distract me, but supports the ambience I'm wanting.

3.) I appreciate yoga and the culture that developed it, but I prefer to imbue the experience with my own spirituality, so I appreciate a workout that doesn't push any belief system too heavily.

4.) The instructor talks during many of the poses about how the different poses can affect your health. This is interesting and informative.

White waves wrote a great review in 9/22/2005.
The scenery is beautiful, Susan's words are inspirational & on cue, but the pace of speaking is slow. This workout seems to be geared to absolute beginners with limited flexibility & endurance. There are a lot of short breaks between poses. There is heavy use of blocks & straps & many poses are modified. If you have decent flexibilty, just don't use these props.
The AM starts with 5 min of breathing, then child's pose, lunges, standing fwd bend, chair pose w/breathing, mountain pose, modified standing thigh stretch, standing wide legged torso side stretches, triangle, side angle, standing wide legged stretch. Then sitting torso twist, butterfly (no going down), modified boat. Laying down, a simple sustained ab crunch, knee to chest stretch, knee to side spinal twist, bridge pose. Laying on stomach, raising torso on ground with hans still on ground. Then downward dog & sitting in meditation.
PM: Begins with 5 min of scenery & mountain pose with breathing. Using towel, simple shoulder stretch, child's pose, downward dog, lunges, standing wide legged stretch, downward dog, child's pose, staff pose, modified sitting 1 legged fwd bend, sitting wide legged simple torso stretches, sitting 1 leg out to side torso side stretch. Laying down 1 straight leg to sky stretch, straight legs in air (very modified plow), knees to chest, knee to side spinal twist & ends in meditation.
The Bonus 20 min breathwork is a more normal pace, beginners' workout with out props & full poses. Twisted seated position, standing fwd bend, mountain, modified standing 1 legged pose, warrior 1, standing stretch for thighs, wide legged standing fwd bend. Then half kneeling torso side stretch, then lying down: locust, bow & bridge, 1 leg in air stretch & to the side. Then ab work while on elbows & legs raised in various degrees. Then seated twisted sage pose, sitting 1 straight leg stretch, seated wide legged sterch & ends with seated 2 min meditation.

The 5 min trailer is still at gaiam com but not sure how much longer.

Having never done yoga in my life, I decided to give it a try to help reduce my stress levels. I have very little free time so I didn't want to have to commit to an hour at a time knowing I'd never do it. As a result of too much stress I was having trouble with my neck, shoulders, and back. The first week or so the poses were hard but not impossible to preform. I could really tell where the tension was in my body! I've been doing this dvd faithfully for almost three weeks and the difference is amazing. The tension is all but gone, I am much stronger in the poses, I feel much more relaxed and sleep better!

The program itself is put together nicely...soft, unobtrusive music; beautiful scenery; and the instruction is easy to follow with very clear explanations. Suzanne does use yoga blocks which I recommend...they really help in the morning workout when you are less flexible. She also uses a yoga strap and wedge. Obviously, you can't just do this workout and lose weight. As Suzanne says on the dvd, it's part of a healthy lifestyle.

Being a Christian, I hesitated to do yoga because I didn't want to be pressed upon by the belief system behind it but I don't feel that at all with this dvd. It's an excellent workout and I highly recommend it!

This DVD gives two good structured workouts. They are propped but can be done without if you have some experience. I would say this is more intermediate than beginner as the queueing is somewhat basic and may be too quick of you are very new to yoga. I do find that I need a good warm up before I can do the AM workout as opposed to the AM section of the AM/PM yoga for beginners DVD. Still a good additional option.

I really like this product. I've had it for almost 2 years. I like it because it is easily understood, safe and the poses are good for a beginner while still being challening. I like the length of the sessions to as they are easy to fit into a busy day. I use the PM yoga routine religiously after my runs at night to stretch muscles stressed from running, to relieve stress, and maintain flexibility. In fact, I bought this product to help me manage work stress and I highly recommend it for that alone.

I LOVE these practices! They go so well with the longer Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss. The A.M practice is my particular favorite, it really gets me going, I do it almost everyday, in addition to a longer practice later in the afternoon. If I'm particulary rushed, I might repeat the A.M. practice, I like it so much. The P.M is pretty good, too; I get to sleep quicker when I do it.

This DVD has two pleasant and well-balanced yoga routines, but the "weight loss" is just a title and a couple of kind words in the introduction. If you have a limited amount of time and want to maximize pounds lost, this isn't the right choice for you.
Also, be warned that you do need props (blocks and a strap) to do the poses as instructed.

This is short and easy... just what I was looking for. Simple to follow and my 6 and 3 year old do it also.

When life is hectic and schedules are full, we often forget we need balance and health is key. I ordered this DVD on a friend's recommendation and would in turn, recommend it to anyone looking to breathe easier, feel better, achieve greater flexibility, core strengthening, inner peace, in their lives....a few minutes a day am and/or pm, works wonders, and this is the best of DVD's for all levels.