Customer Reviews

The Method - Baby & Mom Pre-Natal Yoga [VHS]

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(46)

 

 

I love this video! The class of women on the tape are in all stages of pregnancy, and they are not the usual models and actresses we often see on exercise videos, but instead, real people. The female yogi(also noticeably pregnant) leads a very relaxing series of movements with some spiritual visualization and a small amount of yoga chanting--which is all nice without being too much. The accompanying music is played live in the back of the class (flutes and strings) and many of the movements are extrememly natural, not difficult at all. You can do this tape right up to labor because the movements are geared towards opening up the body and joints with torso stretching and lots of arm reaches, plus repetitive squating to train the legs and pelvis to open up easily in preparation for birth. I was completely out of shape when I started, but I could finish the video with a little bit of effort and didn't feel overwhelmed. There's also some small isometric squeezes to strengthen the legs and arms and a small amount of semi-aerobic movements that are so gentle they get your heart moving ever so easily. Plus, the yogi uses the calming sound of her voice to get you to imagine wonderful things about having your baby and calming images about the labor process. All this is done without too much syrup or new-age religious connotations, which I appreciate very much. I'd highly recommend this to any pregnant woman, especially one who can't get herself going in more traditional types of exercise and wants to do a minimalist physical program to get her body warmed and loose and feeling great.

I read an article about the instructor that lead me to search out this yoga video. I then read reviews by other Amazon customers and found them mixed. I purchased the video and have been using it over the last five months. As a large women (before pregnancy), I found the routine easy to follow and challenging in an energizing way. Someone without any yoga experience (I had some) can join right in and reap the benefits. You don't need any special clothing or equipment, although an exercise mat is helpful.

Regarding the chanting, I didn't participate in it but I didn't find it distracting. I either used the time to set up my exercise area, sit quietly thinking about the day ahead until the actual exercise started, or if my time was limited I would forward the tape to the exercise portion. I wouldn't let reviews of the chanting or the instructor's dress discourage you from buying and using this video. It does what it's advertised to do -- work you and your pregnant self out! If the type of spirituality that the instructor practices is not your bag, you can still gain flexibility and a cardio workout from this tape, leaving you to workout your spiritual matters wherever else you'd prefer. I'm still using the tape to coax my first child, who is now nearly eight days post-date (past due, if you have a negative slant), from my body. I received the post-natal version for Christmas, and should my child decide to make an appearance before s/he is 12 y.o., I plan to keep practicing yoga using this series of videos from The Method! Regards.

I've been doing yoga for over 5 years now and I've found it to be really helpful for strength, toning, and relaxation. When I suddenly found myself pregnant (at 39), I wanted to continue with my yoga practice, but wanted to be sure the poses were compatible to pregnancy. So, I bought this video, hoping for guidance since I don't have a teacher right now. While the philosophy of yoga has always interested me, I was hoping for more work with postures and less talk about how wonderful yoga is for me and for my baby. At this point, I'm hoping to find either another video with more poses or a teacher who can give me a safe program. I'm really disappointed with this video.

The first 15 minutes of the tape contains a lengthy monologue from the new-age yoga instructor. I immediately fast-forwarded the tape until I saw a bunch of pregnant women rotating their torsos in circles. The lesson begins soon after that, but the instructor keeps talking...throughout the entire tape, and 2/3rds of her monologue is pregnancy-related banter drowned in new age speak. The other third consists of chanting (which I personally declined to follow) and actual instructions. I have to admit that the workout itself was rather decent, and I could tell that it was derived from actual yoga techniques, with one exception. There was a long primal dance section in the workout that made me feel downright silly to try, so instead I watched the women in the video writhe to new age music and the instructor's commentary. Overall, I would recommend the tape for its workout, but warn others of its over-the-top new age feel. It will be a better workout once I've learned the routine and can mute the tape while playing it to my choice of music.

Not only is this a great yoga workout it is all around fabulous! The chanting at first, (which only lasts the first 2 minutes and very little in between) can strike you funny, but can be very releasing. I tried and sure I laughed the first time but before I knew it I was chanting right along with the group. We are just not used to this in our culture. With an open mind and open spirit the chanting can be very soothing once you accept it. I found the instructor to be wonderful. I loved all the talking she does and the affirmations she has to say about pregnancy. She really made me feel very femine, in touch with my baby and in touch with my own feelings about pregnancy. Since this is my first pregnancy I found her guidance to be very helpful and loving. I actually felt great about my body as I was doing the poses. There was also a chance to release fears through breathing to a one word chant that really released me. I am also a very active person and have a hard time finding exercise video's challenging enough for me and this one was. Not difficult in the content but difficult because I am not used to stretching my hips and pelvis the way she guides you. By the way, the hip and pelvis poses took away my lower back ache. I was invigorating after this video. This video may not be for everyone because of the chanting as some reveiws before me have stated. If you have an open mind and are looking for a video that will get you in touch with your ever changing pregnant body while doing something good for it this is for you. I highly recommend it! The breathing techniques and endurance exercise she has in there I plan on taking to the delivery room with me. Please try this video even if you are skeptical. I was skeptical because of the reviews before mine and bought it anyway and I am so glad I did! This is truly a video I will treasure throughout my pregnancy. By the way, do not be intimidated by her turbon. She is a beautiful women that has her own style. There are days I would rather wear a turbon on my head instead of dealing with it. Plus it keeps me curious as to what her hair looks like under that thing. If you want to do something nice for yourself during pregnancy, wait no more and get this video! Happy chanting, posing and relaxing to all!

This is a great workout to prepare a pregnant mom for delivery and to relieve some of the aches and pains of pregnancy. I am *really* enjoying doing it every day, and I could tell a difference in my flexibility within a few days. I also feel GREAT after I do this workout - it helps relieve some of the exhaustion I get with my pregnancies, as well as the backache. I really wish I'd had this video with my first pregnancy - I used another prenatal yoga video which was pretty good, but this one is much better. [I am also a Lamaze Instructor and I would whole-heartedly recommend this to my students to get the ready for labor and delivery].

One warning though - the Instructor is very "new-agey". This could be annoying, depending on the kind of person you are. I pretty much fast forward through the parts that aren't working for me though, and the workout itself is awesome! The Instructor does say some things that I found very motivating [such as "women were giving birth thousands of years before anyone wrote a book on giving birth"]. I highly recommend this video - just be prepared to skip the parts you don't like!

This is a fabulous workout that stretches one both physically and mentally. Kundalini yoga is much more aerobic than Hatha- anyone who claims you can't break a sweat practicing yoga is wrong! This is a true workout- your whole body feels stretched and more limber after this 45 minute session. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found the instructor to have a calming and soothing presence. Her philosophy of staying calm, stress-free and treating birth as a natural process is sound and something I'm trying to focus on throughout these exciting nine months. This is an excellent tape for people who have never practiced yoga, as well as those who already practice, but are used to another form- such as Hatha. Kundalini is in some ways a more relaxed, yet more intense form of yoga. I liked the fact that I exerted myself. Another plus- the instructor concentrates on endurance exercises meant to strengthen one for labor and delivery.

I'll admit that the instructor was a little airy, but I'm into new things, so I gave it a try. I would be embarassed to "get caught" by my husband with the video on, but I am that way with any exercise video. The visualization and dancing really did help me feel strong, which as she said, did help me feel able to survive labor. When I felt tired and achy working with the video RENEWED me, taking away the pains, and making me smile, smile at everyone. Really! I had energy, if I did it in the a.m. I could work a full day. Anyone who thought it "too goofy" just didn't have an open mind. Try it for a few days, you'll see. I just wish all of my friends were as open minded as me. The program could have made preg & labor much easier for them.

I am three months pregnant with twins, and have found the kundalini yoga postures in this video to be extremely helpful in dealing with any cramping or discomfort that have come up with my pregnancy. The exercises work on both stretching and strengthening the body. It's not overly strenuous, but is a good workout. This would be a great video for someone with no yoga experience, as the postures are easy to understand. Like other reviewers, I did find the chanting and visualization exercises to be annoying, and increasingly annoying with repeated viewing. Unless you find chanting helpful, I would recommend fast-forwarding through the chanting at both the beginning and end of the tape, and just quietly meditating on your own at the end of your workout.

I admit, after reading a bit about this video, I was a little skeptical. I have NEVER tried yoga before and didn't really know exactly what to expect. I found this video to be very easy to follow and the exercises were really comfortable. The chanting was a bit strange at first, but after a while, I found it to be relaxing. The stretching is absolutely wonderful for all the aches and pains of pregnancy. All the exercises are designed to be safe pre-natally, and they feel fantastic. I've never felt better, or more relaxed than I do now. It's really a wonderful thing to do for yourself during pregnancy.