Customer Reviews

Yoga Journal's Yoga Step By Step

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

 

 

This series is exactly what you would expect from Yoga Journal. Clear and concise instructions. Fantastic photography. Soothing music. Each practice runs 20 minutes and covers all the bases. Vol. 1 is the most beginner friendly, focusing on standing poses and sun salutations. Vol. 2 focuses on forward bends. VOl. 3 focuses on balncing poses, i.e. handstand, headstand. These are excellent if you don't have much time for your practice. Typically during the week I choose a 20-30 min. program and an hour or so on the weekends. These are a great addition to any collection.

I just became interested in Yoga. However there are thousands of videos out there. I am so happy that I picked this one. First there is an instruction option. The instructor explains the proper way to do all poses and shows you a beginner option. you can also view a picture of all poses if you need to better understand the poses. She also takes the time to explain the name and meaning all poses and small tips about the exercise flash on the screen. once you have mastered all the poses. There is an non stop yoga workout that includes all the poses you have already learned..once you have mastered the beginner DVD you can progress to the more advanced dvd. I purchased the pack because you end up saving more than if you bought each DVD separately. I am very pleased with this choice and you will be too.

Natasha Rizopoulos' instructions are clear and easy to follow for the beginner as well as the advanced beginner. She provides great tips for common alignment errors and the best way to avoid them. Absolutely by far the best set of yoga DVDs I have ever viewed. I have greatly improved my knowledge of the basic poses and asanas. Definitely a must have set!!!

I take yoga as a P.E. class at my high school, and for the first few introduction weeks of the class we used the sitting and standing routines. This video is fantastic! After just two weeks of the standing poses, I noticed an increase in the firmness of my muscles and my ability to hold myself up longer. I also enjoyed this series because with each pose, Natasha says both the Indian name for the pose along with the English translation, allowing one to know the poses whether in a traditional yoga class or a more modern one. I would recommend this to beginner and intermediate students.

Excellent!! Fantastic!! I have tried several yoga classes but always felt unsatisfied with my progress. Then I found this 'STEP by STEP' dvd by Yoga Journal and it's perfect as it allows you to continue to practice at home as well as your classes. It's so good that you could even start as a beginner using this dvd without going to an outside classes. (I do however suggest you find an instructer as it helps you perfect your poses and ask questions on your technique). But I still highly recommend this dvd since you can start working on you stamina, strength and flexability in the comfort of your own home!!

I've seen many other yoga videos and this trilogy is the best by far. Professionally produced and directed, well-choreographed, Yoga Step-by-Step takes the beginner through the basics, first with a lesson, then progresses to a flowing practice that is just right for someone starting yoga. I found the chalk-talk section of the DVD's particularly helpful in perfecting my form for specific poses; the DVD is even programmed to link the chalk-talk back to the lesson. Also included in the DVD's are medical explanations of yoga poses and how they benefit the body. The array of options are impressive. You can watch the practice with or without music; you can watch just Jason, the poor guy who has to do all the poses as a true beginner, using blocks, straps and modified poses. The trilogy is also produced to focus on particular aspects of yoga--Strength & Stamina (vol 1), Bending & Twisting (vol 2) and Balancing Poses (vol 3). After viewing numerous videos and DVD's on yoga, my wife bought the entire set of three. We're no longer beginners, but we find that Natasha's sense of breath and timing is superior to other gurus. To make the workouts more challenging, we'll do the practice sessions back to back. I give Yoga Step-by-Step our highest recommendation. 5 Stars.

I became an instant devotee when I first saw Natasha in action. I'm usually not one for fitness videos, but when a friend insisted on having me watch Step by Step, I was instantly hooked and bought it for myself.

I've attended yoga classes for years, but I didn't realize how much I still had to learn about the basic poses until I saw and heard Natasha's instruction. I've been recommending this video to all my family members and friends - especially the ones who have never before practiced yoga. To me, the Step by Step series seems like the perfect way for a beginner to precisely learn the basic poses, and at home with privacy.

Not only is Natasha supportive and graceful to watch, but you can watch her assistant modify each pose - a huge benefit for someone like me with shoulder pain and tight hamstrings. In fact, everyone who thinks they can't practice yoga because of body pain will be thrilled to learn they can modify the poses and still get huge benefit from it. And, there's tons of other helpful content on the DVD. In one section, a doctor talks about the medical benefits we derive from doing each pose as Natasha is demonstrating the poses. I knew yoga was good for me, but now I know WHY it's good for me!

If you couldn't tell, I'm really excited about these DVDs -- series 2 & 3 are equally excellent! Yoga Journal puts out the series and, if you've seen the magazine (it's been around for umpteen years), you know you can trust them with all your yoga needs. Enjoy!

This set is a wonderful video collection for people who are in decent shape and are familiar with Asana practice and yoga in general. It has some great DVD features that the other sets don't have But I bought it as a roll off the couch out of shape couch potato convert! Starting with Yoga from scratch huffing and puffing after making the bed. :)

Thank goodness I also purchased "Yoga Zone - Premiere Collection (Beginners)" this set is a MUST for those of us who are starting from yoga baby steps. I will definately keep this set and use it after a year of building my practice and some strength building!

I'm amazed that Yoga Journal would produce a video series for beginners using poses such as up dog, down dog, upward facing bow, and sun salutes A&B. Although these poses are well known they are amongst the most difficult poses to do correctly. Most beginners are too weak and/or too tight to do these poses properly, even with the recommended modifications. I'm a yoga studio owner and I've taught beginners for years. It's the rare beginner that can properly do these poses.

It's important that instructors understand the concept of "beginner mind". Whoever produced this video simply doesn't get it! Most of the languaging is decent enough but some if it is very high level and would only make sense to someone that's been practicing asana for a while. Additionally, in the opening clip of each DVD, Natasha is shown doing poses completely inaccessible to the vast majority of intermediate students, let alone beginners. I suppose watching Natasha perform perfect asana is meant to inspire. However, "beginner mind" rarely goes there. "Beginner mind" usually hides do to fear and doubt when witnessing poses they can't possibly do. Oh, and one last thing...Jason, the yogi doing the modifications is no doubt a highly advanced practitioner and in no way is using the props in the same way a beginner would use them. Hmmm....nice going Yoga Journal!

By the way, a yoga therapist might be able to help Natasha stabilize her elbows. She practices asana with amongst the greatest degree of hyperextension I've seen.

Beginners, I highly recommend you consider Sara Ivanhoe's excellent 20-Minute Makeover series. She's knowledgeable, refreshing, and ego-less in her approach. And no....I'm not Sara Ivanhoe, her mother, or her agent!

I have been doing this particular practice 2-3 times a week at home for over a year. I have been a yogi for 30 years and this is one of the best CD/DVD yoga practices I have ever encountered. It is safe yet challenging. Natasha's verbal guidance for each pose is enlightening and provides excellent support for consistently good practice. I have developed upper and lower body strength/musculature, and balance that I never thought possible. Natasha's voice is soothing and uplifting to listen to and I have yet to tire of it. I use the CD version, but the video version is excellent also.

This series will be a worthwhile challenge for beginners and a welcome approach for intermediate and advanced practitioners. As an experienced yogi, I highly recommend this to anyone interested in engaging in a balanced, safe, challenging, and enlightening practice.