Customer Reviews

Yoga Back Care [VHS]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Excellent yoga instructor Rodney Yee offers this 3-part workout focused on strengthening back muscles to maintain a healthy back. He utilizes props (blanket, bolster, chair, brick, strap) to make the poses more gentle and accessible to those at all levels of fitness (although absolute beginners should stick to his previous video, Back Care Yoga for Beginners).

The first 16-minute section concentrates on simple stretches to warm up your back muscles. Poses are done either while lying on the floor or in a seated position, and Rodney uses a blanket to increase range of motion. The second workout is a bit longer (around 18 minutes) and places greater emphasis on strength moves. It begins with simple backbends (eg, cat pose) and moves on to standing poses modified by use of a chair; it ends with a series of lying stretches. In the final workout, Rodney uses a wider variety of props, including TWO chairs and both the blanket AND the bolster. This is a slow-moving, approximately 16-minute practice which focuses on relaxation through practicing a small number of poses for a longer period of time.

At times, Rodney's reliance on props is a bit distracting, particularly while you are trying to relax during the final section. However, he always allows ample time to relocate the props inbetween poses, and his use of the props is definitely beneficial at some points, such as during the second practice. Rodney's manner is extremely calm and relaxing, and his voiceover is always perfectly in sync with his on-screen performance. One minor criticism is that he doesn't offer mirrored instruction, but this is easily ignored given his otherwise excellent cuing. Overall, this is a very good workout by a master yoga instructor.

I checked here for reviews before buying this. There weren't any, so I took a chance. I'm glad I did. And since no one else has posted a review, I finally decided to in case anyone else would like a user's opinion. When I first tried this routine, I didn't think it was going to do much. It is very conservative. But it is also very safe. It avoids some of the front bending and stretching postures that can be dangerous for low back problems. Yoga Journal's routines often go in and out of postures faster than I like, and at first I wasn't sure I liked that aspect of the routine either. Ater doing this routine for about a month, though, I can say that my low back discomfort has eased off greatly. This DVD gets the credit. It is an excellent combination of equalized stretching on both sides of your body, plus relaxation for your upper and low back. The entire workout runs nearly an hour, which I don't always have time for. But it is broken into three segments, so you can do one or two only. Still, make the time for the full routine if you can. It's worth it. You don't need to do it every day. A few times a week has been enough for me to feel the benefit. Finally, the setting is beautiful, the production quality is high, and Rodney Yee is a pleasant presence (important for something you listen to over and over again). I highly recommend the DVD for anyone looking for back-related flexibility, relaxation, and restoration.

I was disappointed in this DVD. I also own Rodney Yee's first back care workout "Back Care Yoga for Beginners" (1998, VHS), which is much better. "Yoga for Back Care" relies too heavily on props, moves very slowly, and doesn't cover enough poses. If you're looking for a good back care workout, go back to the original tape.

I like the 20 minute chapter where Mr. Yee takes you through some strengthening and stretching exercises. However, the first and last 20-minute segments are largely unproductive. The first time you use it, the first segment ("exploration") does give you some insight into how your back works. As it has very little in the way of conditioning, you'll most likely skip right to the second (real) segment on a daily basis. The third segment (restoration) seems to be Gaiam's way of pushing yoga-specific merchandise (bolster, blanket, blocks, etc). Again, there is no conditioning here. I do think the "strength and flexibiity" 20-minute segment is very nice, and has helped a lot with my posture and given me better flexibility and relief from my herniated disk pain. So I personally think I'd buy it again, but cost aside there was a chance to make this a really nice 3-segment dvd and they instead made a decent 1-segment dvd.

This workout does a good job of targeting the back and helping build strength in the back. Some sections are very challenging while others, such as the cool down, are more easy going and are suitable for those with more severe back issues. There are also alternative poses for those that might be too aggressive for some people. I absolutely recommend this to those who want to build a stronger back.

This DVD has really helped me with my back problems. The excercises shown are gentle and useful. I have chronic back pain, and in order to avoid, and not take pain killers, I do yoga. I have used this DVD, and as soon as I finish one of the three routines, my pain is gone. The only thing that I don't like about Rodney's approach on this DVD is that he shows some very weird excercises, and sometimes you feel like you aren't doing anything. The first routine feels like you didn't do a thing. The second routine is great. The third one has a lot of akward positions, for which you need a chair and a king size pillow. I have never been to a yoga class where you need such items, so I find it weird, and not too effective. However, overall, it is a good DVD (but he has a better DVD, try the Yoga for Athletes, also from Rodney. It is excellent.)

Some of the other DVDs I've tried (like the Yoga Zone one) aren't vigorous enough for me. If you have more serious back problems, maybe they're what you need. Rodney Yee explains that after you get to know the video you can take those sections that are the most useful for you, and that's what I've done. A lot of the other reviewers have dissed the first section ("Exploration") for being boring or not challenging enough, but it's just what I need. My backaches are caused in part by contracted muscles in the lower back, and section 1 is really excellent at helping you stretch and relax those muscles. Section 2 is for strengthening and is also very necessary.

As to the props: Well, we use a strap in my yoga class. You can get two yards of grosgrain ribbon at a fabric store for about $1 and you've got a strap. I use a rolled up beach towel for the blanket, a folding chair, and skip the brick. I used to use a large pillow for the bolster, but stopped using that as well. I also occasionally add some poses from my yoga class when I feel like it to vary the routine and get an extra stretch. It also keeps a taaped routine from getting too boring.

This workout could indeed be more challenging, but it does what it promises. I got into yoga three years ago to relieve pain from a slipped disk. The workout stretches out my back and relieves tightness/pain, and in a short period of time. With a little commentary on breathing technique, I think that it would be excellent for people who are new to yoga. Those of us who are familiar with yoga can always adapt the exercises that we find too easy, taking it to the next level ourselves.

What I find most annoying is the series of "commercials" for Gaiam products--there are far too many.

I was introduced to yoga a few years ago by a friend, but after being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome I was in too much pain for "normal" yoga. So I went in search of something more back friendly and this was the dvd I found. I have to say that after weeks of medication on top of medication to control the symptoms of this condition that this dvd has been more effective than any of the conventional treatments I've tried.

Unlike some of the other dvds I have seen, this one is not filled with complex moves that only the uber-limber can do. Rodney Yee's methods are easy to follow and very easy on the body. One small word of caution-you do need to follow either his words or his actions in some spots as he seems to reverse right and left at times. Aside from that, I could not be happier with this dvd.

This is a good beginning yoga tape. As I have severe damage to my spinal column, I was hoping for something with more modified poses. The routine is broken up in 3 sections: stretching, strengthening, and restoration. Overall, they are all good though, I think, a little short. I would not recommend this to anyone else with severe, cronic back problems-I cannot do many of the poses and someone who is not aware of their limits could aggravate their condition.