Customer Reviews

Yoga Journal: Yoga for Well-Being with Jason Crandell

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
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Yoga Journal's Yoga for Well-Being offers three short (20 minutes each) yoga sequences, each with a different area of focus. The practices are led by yoga instructor and Yoga Journal contributing editor Jason Crandell, who provides instruction via voiceover while model Kathryn Budig demonstrates the postures. Each sequence begins with a very brief introduction by Crandell and then flows right into the practice, which features Budig alone in a studio with gentle, non-obtrusive music playing in the background. Although Crandell cues all of the poses in English, both the English and the Sanskrit names appear on screen briefly at the start of each new posture.

The Main Menu of the DVD allows you to select each practice individually or to choose a "Play All" option. I have described each sequence in greater detail below:

Mental Clarity.
Crandell states that the emphasis for this practice is on standing forward bends, balancing postures, and twists. Certainly the practice includes plenty of poses in the first two categories, although few in the last two. The session begins in down dog, moving into standing forward bend and then the first balance posture, tree pose. Next comes a standing series which includes triangle, side angle, and wide-legged standing forward bend; standing forward bend is practiced between each of these postures. This series is followed by the only other balance pose, eagle. The practice then moves to the floor for down dog, child's pose, and the only twisting posture, sage 3 pose. After bridge pose and knees to chest, the practice ends in a very brief (<1 minute savasana)--the only practice on this DVD to end in relaxation pose.

Greater Energy.
The focus for this sequence is supposed to be on standing poses and shoulder openers to revive energy. Crandell begins with sun salutations: first half salutes, then lunge salutes, then sun salutation series A. The initial series of standing postures includes warrior 2, side angle, and triangle pose, first performed all on one side, then repeated on the other side. A second standing series alternates warrior 1 with pyramid pose. There is then one final sun salutation to transition to the floor, where the practice ends in a seated position. Although this was a nice sequence overall, I wasn't sure where the shoulder openers were supposed to be--that is, unless Crandell was considering the arm movements in the standing postures to be shoulder-opening work.

Restful Sleep.
In his introduction, Crandell states that this practice features hip openers, forward bends, and gentle twists (the DVD case also notes the inclusion of restorative postures, but as you will see from my description below, there are no restorative posses included in this sequence). The practice opens with a series of a seated shoulder openers which includes eagle arms. A series of hip-opening forward-bending postures follows, with cross-legged forward bend (also performed to each side), cobbler's pose, and wide-legged seated forward bend. Next comes a lunge series which includes low lunge, lizard pose, and pigeon. There are also a couple of standing forward bends (traditional and wide-legged), and then another series of seated forward bends featuring forward bending in cobbler's pose and in a wide-legged twisting position. This practice ends in child's pose with the suggestion to continue in savasana if desired.

Overall, these are three well-done, well-designed practices, although I didn't quite feel that the sequences matched their stated goals (e.g., I would've liked to see restorative postures in the sleep practice). Crandell does a nice job with the voiceover instruction, providing good cueing and alignment pointers and generally allowing enough time for transitions between the postures (although the start of the sleep practice felt a bit rushed to me). As stated on the DVD case, these practices would be appropriate for beginning and intermediate students; I would actually recommend these sequences to all but those brand-new to yoga, as Crandell assumes a basic prior familiarity with the postures. The DVD offers a short (3-minute) bonus interview in which Crandell describes his own history with back injury, anxiety, and insomnia. He makes the case that while 60-90 minutes of yoga per day is ideal, not everyone has time for this, and so he emphasizes that even 10-20 minutes of yoga per day can provide excellent benefits. This is a valid point, and so for those who are looking to fit shorter sessions of yoga into their day, this DVD might be a great place to start.

This is the second of Jason Crandell's yoga dvd's that I have tried. As with his other dvd, Mr.Crandell's pose and sequence descriptions are very detailed, but concise and efficient so your practice can flow nicely. The sessions work great individually but also work well combined, which makes this a very versatile dvd. I highly recommend both this dvd and Jason Crandell's other dvd, Yoga for Morning, Noon and Night.

I bought both of these new Yoga Journal DVDs mainly because I know Jason Crandell to be an excellent teacher, though I did expect that the sequences in the two DVDs (Yoga for Well-Being and Yoga for Morning, Noon and Night) to be somewhat similar. But I've used the night-time sequence from the second one as well as the restful-sleep one from the first one, and they're definitely not the same... though both left me ready for bed (in a good way!).

I found the DVD to have fun routines. I appreciate their brevity. I agree with the one reviewer that the restful sleep routine could have benefitted from a corpse pose. I think Jason does a great voice over. The model is easy on the eyes. She looks and moves like a real person, not some rubber pretzel in human form. The pace of the DVD fits my style, slow enough to appreciate the pose, but fast enough that you don't feel like you are waiting like some beginner discs. I appreciate that the DVD keeps to the asanas and physical/mental techniques and does not stray into areas of yoga I don't want to go.

I have found that the 20 minute format for the routines along with the excellent flow and presentation of the routines to be just what I need to stay disciplined to do any given routine regularly (six days per week). I have been doing yoga for over a year. I have noticed much improved flexibility in my hips and lumbar region and lost an inch off of my waistline since the 2 months I have used the DVD. (Primarily the Restful Sleep routine). My kids wake me up at any hour of the night, so I can't say it has improved my sleep! ;) So, I am getting satisfying results and find it easy to stay motivated with the DVD. 5 stars for me and my lifestyle.

I'll be purchasing more of the Yoga Journal DVDs, especially those by Jason.

Excellent video for us 50+ gals. Smooth transitions between poses. No nonsense voice-over by Jason. Perfect variety of poses. One of my weekly yoga video staples.

Perfect for short practices and fun to do. Not over the top like most. Enjoy it a few times a week now.

I like this video mainly because I am a beginner. I can see how I can outgrow this video as I move forward in my practice. I like the 3 short 20 minute segments. I like the option of mixing and matching or doing all 3 segments.

I have found some Yoga DVDs too vigorous for me and some too unchallenging. This DVD is perfect for me. I have been practicing Yoga for over 8 years and am 69 years if age. However I think it is suitable for younger ages too.