Customer Reviews

Shiva Rea: Postnatal Yoga

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have three kids and have used this program (on VHS, so I never had the DVD problem discussed by other reviewers) in the first six weeks after birth every time. I have tried at least six other tapes/DVDs and found them not as effective. Shiva Rea gives very useful cues in an even, down-to-earth vocal style. I found her program to be very effective in regaining flexibility, muscle tone and alignment. I found my further normal yoga practice to have greatly benefited from my having "started over" using this program.

Shiva Rea is, in my opinion, the best yoga instructor out there. Her voice is very relaxing and practicing with her really makes you feel better. I used her Prenatal Yoga workout my whole pregnancy and this is the next step. It is somewhat slower paced, but right after having my son I felt like my abdomen was made of jello and slow paced exercise was as much as I could do! It focuses on recouping your pelvic floor muscles and abdominals and stretching out your shoulders and back. The workout is divided into three parts, to be done one by one as you can or consecutively--the first is very short for dipping back into exercise, the next slightly longer and more involved, and the third focusing on standing poses with the aim of easing back into a yoga practice. There are also 2 modifiers just as there were in her prenatal yoga workout. Overall, it is a good yoga workout focused on regaining your abdominal strength and keeping your back strong and ache-free. The infant massage is also excellent, a nice bonus to a good workout.

This is not a challenging workout, but if you want to be challenged, congratulations! - you are ready for regular workouts and not ones geared to postnatal women. I used to do power yoga prior to my pregnancy, but stopped exercising almost entirely during my pregnancy. Plus, I had a c-section. So, after months of not really exercising, I find this workout to be nice for my postnatal body. This workout should gradually strengthen my body and then I hope to return to my regular exercise.

I used Shiva Rea's Prenatal Yoga DVD throughout my pregnancy and was very happy. I just received the Postnatal DVD and watched it today and was disappointed. The workout is very slow and is not challenging. I don't think it will be useful to me.
The best part of the DVD is the bonus Infant Massage segment which I found extremely informative. I would have actually bought the massage video on its own it was so good.

If you are new to yoga and you are looking for something to ease you into it after pregnancy this is a good DVD. Very easy/beginner level stuff for getting back the "Pre" baby body.

Might be a bit too easy for those who are already familiar with practicing yoga.

Another thing, the intro to the DVD has the women doing the yoga with their babies but in the DVD itself, there is none of that. The women are without babies in the sessions. I bought the DVD expecting that it would incorporate "with the baby" moves.

I read another review and it said that there is a baby massage section to the DVD... uh... I don't think so. There is nothing like that either.

Overall, very easy... would recommend for those new to yoga.

I like this video, but it is very, very easy. If you are experienced, you might not find it challenging enough. But it is a nice re-introduction to yoga if you've taken a bit of time off after birth.

I don't think there's anything wrong wtih this exercise DVD, but it wasn't what i was looking for. I thought I'd share my experience. I am an experienced dancer and athlete, so I admit I expected the program to be non-strenuous. It was. However, I think that it is relaxing and enjoyable, particularly for moms who have very recently given birth (I started the exercise DVD four months later, by which time my body was ready for more of a challenge). What I had hoped for though was a yoga program that would facilitate interaction between myself and baby, and perhaps would even show me how to incorporate my baby into a pose. This is certainly not the case. Babies are not even shown in the workout; its just three women doing the movements. They tell you to keep your baby nearby, playing. On a slightly more positive note I thoroughly enjoyed the infant massage portion of the DVD, which I hadn't anticipated (I oredered the DVD for the yoga, not the infant massage). Just that section made the purchase worthwhile, and I've watched it several times--though I have only watched/participated inthe yoga portion twice.

I am a former dancer, have scoliosis and herniated discs. Needless to say my body feels like a crumpled piece of paper after a day of lifting baby. This was a great routine and the sequence of the movements create a fluidity - one unlocks the next set of muscles. Helps me tremendously. NOTE - There are no movements WITH baby. This was a little misleading.

Well, my baby is 10 mos. old and I still find myself using this DVD on a daily basis and probably will continue to do so for a long time. I wouldn't look at this DVD as a workout, as much as it is essential daily poses to keep yourself relaxed, flexible, and strong. I absolutely LOVE this DVD. Shiva picks all the right poses to work the pelvic floor, abs, lower back, and esp. hips and shoulders. Wonderful! Thank you Shiva! I would recommend this DVD to ANYone, postnatal or not.

I feel quite mislead. The picture on the cover as well as "snapshots" shown before each section suggest that this dvd will allow you to engage with your new baby while doing yoga together. Yeah, right. Actually, you are doing yoga while your baby "sleeps, or plays, near you." I hoped to at least find suggestions of how to incorporate baby into the work but there was no such information included with the dvd. I wish I had gotten a different yoga DVD. I will admit, the yoga in it is ok... I think I would enjoy it, if I could include my little girl, but as it stands it's too basic for me to rationalize doing this dvd over others since either way I'm not spending time with my baby. Too bad, so sad...

10 Minute Solution: Prenatal Pilates