Customer Reviews

Yoga Journal's Yoga for Flexibility (Beginner's Practice) [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I found this tape particularly frustrating. It emphasizes backbends and nothing else. If you're trying to get overall flexibility(including your arms and legs), it's inadequate. Worse yet, if you've never been able to do a backbend, even as a child, you'll feel incompetant in no time.

If you want a good series (a) for more overall flexibility, and (b) with less intimidation, check out the Linda Arkin series.

This tape was a wise investment for me. I am 47 and although the poses are challenging, they are all achievable. I have been doing some of them in a YMCA yoga class for about a year, but have found my attendance dropping off as it didn't fit my schedule too well. Having that small amount of practice was enough to encourage me to try Patricia Walden's workouts on Yoga Practice for Flexibility, and I have found them to be very beneficial. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in maintaining and/or increasing flexibility.

This is definitely a challanging video (and only the second session seems like a beginners practise to me)- but, it has become one of my favorites. I was a cheerleader in highschool and very flexible, but, hadn't done any flexibility exercises in *years*.

Poses you learn and do:

Downward facing dog, Standing forward bend, Mountain pose, Warrior pose, Triangle pose, Revolved Triangle pose, Side angle stretch, Wide angle forward bend, Camel pose, Cobra Pose, Upward Bow pose, Staff pose, Heros forward bend, Heron pose, Head to knee pose, Seated forward bend, and Seated wide angle forward bend.

I still find the first segment challanging, but after doing it for a few months (no more than once a every other week- its so challanging that I *dread* it) and practising some of the poses on my own, I can now do the first segment well. I would warn those though- the last segment in the first series is very challanging. Although it is not too difficult to do camel several times, it is *very* difficult to do an upward bow pose 5 times (once supported)! Each time focusing on a different feeling from the practise. When I first got this video, I found the first practise hurt my wrists. Also, be sure to really release the lower back. If you are weak in the lower back, the series of upward bow poses is very hard. The rewarding part of the first session is she does go into a detailed explanation of the primary yoga poses- like downward facing dog, warrior, triangle pose, etc.

As far as the second segment "forward bends"- this is one of my very favorite yoga practises. This is why I gave this tape 4 stars. I do this one every week, and do some of the stretches after I do aerobics, too. I found this practise easy to learn, and feel very relaxed afterward (compared to feeling just plain exhuasted after the first one!). The props used in this practise make it easier for beginners than the first practise, and I believe you see and feel results quicker. After doing this practise for three months, I was doing side splits like in high school. Also, I feel like doing this practise also helped me ease into Pilates. I have been doing this practise once a week for almost 8 months. I just love it!

So, if you want to learn some yoga poses, and get your legs more flexible, you will enjoy this tape... but, if you are buying it as a total yoga beginner, you are going to feel really really challanged.

I rank the first segment a 2, and the second a 5.

I am glad to see that the dvd is not touted as a beginners workout like the vhs was. I also really do not recommend practicing yoga without taking classes, if classes are not available to you then read as many books as you can on the subject particulary paying attention to alignment principles. You will eventually injure yourself if you do not fully understand how to do the asanas. Look for an Iyengar teacher as they are excellent in teaching alignment. Use this dvd as a complement to your classes.
This workout has two sections, forward bending and backbends, as they are complementary to each other. The forward bending workout is more attainable for beginners, and Patricia Walden provides excellent instruction. The backbending workout is more challenging and if you do not have sufficient strength it will be impossible. I would recommend doing bridge pose instead of upward bow until your strength is improved. Also Patricia instructs you to "step your feet in" Once you are up in upward bow to shorten the distance between hands and feet to intensify the backbend. This is pretty advanced and most people won't be able to do this. My yoga instructor has not taught us to do this yet as a lot of people in my class just have a hard time getting into the pose. So don't do this until you are totally comfortable in the original position!
Another reviewer said that the workout didn't provide enough warm-up before the difficult part and I like to do some sun salutations from Shiva Rea's excellent dvd Yoga Shakti before doing this workout. I still do build a lot of heat by really focusing on the preliminary poses in this dvd though.
I would give this dvd five stars, but because it is not stated as a more advanced workout and could be misleading, I gave it four. I really love this dvd, I believe I get the best workout in the shortest amount of time of any dvd I own. I love the instruction, and the length of time the poses are held. You really get acqainted with the asana! For me, this is the next best thing to my classes.

I agree with some of the other reviews that this tape is for more advanced yoga students. It takes a lot of arm and leg strength, not to mention flexibility going in to repeat and hold backbends like she does. But if you are already on the road to being limber or have some good yoga time behind you, this is a tape with 2 very tough sessions that address flexibility as well as spinal health.

I am a long-distance runner, so use yoga as a relaxation/stretching technique. I purchased this video with the hopes that it would provide an overall stretching workout, increasing my flexibility. INDEED, flexibility is the focus, however, it is for HIGHLY ADVANCED yoga enthusiasts only. The stretches were repetitive and the first video only focuses on BACKBENDS while the second only focuses on FORWARD BENDS. If you're looking for a comprehensive stretching video to relax you, THIS IS NOT THE ONE FOR YOU!

This video contains two 35 minute yoga sessions. One focused on forward bends & the other on back bends. I normally find videos to be too elementary; this one is for people who go to classes regularly and want to develop a home practice but need a little direction. It will take a long time to "grow out" of the practice in this video.

I got this tape out of the library last week, and liked it so much I'm buying it! This is the perfect tape if you're already in very good shape (have a strong back and are flexible) and want to push yourself to the next level. For the past year I've been doing Pilates (on DVD) and light acrobatics, but now that I don't have access to a rink I needed something to keep up, and increase, my strength and flexibility. If you're taking a skating, dancing, or acrobatics class on Saturday, the first section of this video is just the thing to do Wednesday! You can do the easier (forward bends) section on the other days. Also, I like the way Patricia Walden talks you through the workout; it's calming yet energizing. There are also modifications of any moves that are too difficult.

I'm a Yoga beginner and found this tape surprisingly good. Ms. Walden provides modifications to exercises for less flexible individuals. When the repetitions are too much or the pose too difficult I fast forward or just sit quietly until she moves on. As a person with chronic back problems, I've found this video very helpful in keeping my back loose and free from spasms. However, the Upward Bow (backbends) seem excessive. Yoga Journal publishers - STOP PUTTING THOSE LONG ADS ON EVERY VIDEO!

I've had this video for like the last 9 years and it has now become the only yoga video I use after trying 5 other videos that were lame. The pacing, the challenge level and Patricia's soothing voice and non obnoxious music make for the perfect Yoga video for me and somehow its not that dated, its just very straightfoward.
Even when you are not looking at the screen she talks you through the exact movements to make.
In fact I had a vhs that I used so much, now after 9 years I wore it out! yes the audio track started fading I played that thing so much. So now I'm upgrading to the dvd and its well worth the $.
Highly recommended for those who want a challenge. I haven't outgrown this Yoga workout in 9 years. It was really challenging at first but gently conditions your spine to learn to bend backward with ease, and you feel amazing afterwards.