Customer Reviews

Yoga to the Rescue - Feel Good from Head to Toe

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Desiree Rumbaugh, Yoga to the Rescue

This is anusara teacher-extraordinaire Desiree Rumbaugh's first video offering. Workshops with Desiree are always fun and challenging. Even though she's good at giving everyone a door into the practice, the sessions I've had with her have been somewhat yoga-goes-to-the-circus. In any event it was a bit of a surprise for me to see that her first video is therapeutic in approach and is such a good one too. Desiree illustrates very clearly how the home practitioner can build strength and increase flexibility safely, as well as work toward healing injuries, physical imbalances etc..

Yoga to the Rescue is definitely geared toward the beginning practitioner, but I'm a long-time practitioner who has completed teacher training and have still been using parts of this vid in my home practice. She reminds me to do stuff I don't like to do but should, like toe-breaker (although I wish she had spent more time in this one) and she has interesting ways of doing some standard poses. I have to say her way of presenting reclining twist, as more of a shoulder stretch than a core strengthening completely changed the way I approach that pose. Isn't it strange how a simple thing can make such a big difference.

There's some really nice forward bend stuff. She shows it done with toes elevated (that anusara/Iyengar stand by) to help PF and then with hands clasped behind you to open the shoulders. You don't often find really detailed instruction in forward bend and it's nice to see it here.

Again, if you're looking for fast flow you won't find it in Rescue.. You won't find dancey. It's just solid foundation stuff -- even to the natural curve of the lumbar spine. If you've taken a lot of anusara classes, as I have, you'll be familiar with most of this material -- but I still found some surprises.

I like that it really does start with the head and end with the feet by the way - a real change of yoga pace.

I realize not everyone uses videos like I do. I get most of my non-self-generated yoga from my regular classes. I use media in pieces, worked into my own home practices. I often deviate from the video instruction or pose and I often stop the player so I can insert an inversion practice, or some arm balances or some wheels...or whatever. And I'm not into flow, except the one I follow in my own head. Rescue is well-chaptered so it's ideal for adjusting to individual needs. However, I've done it a couple of times as designed and it works fine that way too.

The production is attractive. Desiree appears a little stiff at times, but no big deal. The music sucks - wish there were a music-off option (something I think all yoga, pilates etc vids should have) so I could play my own. The video contains about 50 yoga minutes. Desiree's solid base of training and experience (anusara and Iyengar) inform her practice and her teaching.

As a newbie to the world of yoga, and a person who has already had back surgery, I am thrilled to have found Desiree Rumbaugh's Yoga to the Rescue. Though I do attend yoga classes, Desiree's calm and encouraging nature helps me practice at home and allows me to more fully understand how yoga can help me maintain a strong back for my lifetime. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who is hesitant to try yoga because of previous injury. I feel certain Desiree will help you feel better than you have in years--Desiree to the Rescue!

I bought this DVD on the strength of Sharon's review, as I always respect her views. I tried it last night, and found it very good but also very spotty. I do't think it's really aimed at most beginners. To be honest, her language would probably throw most yoga beginners. How many of us know how to interpret "Raise and widen your groins"? there's a lot of this type of language, which sometimes baffles me a little - and I've been practising different types of yoga for many years now and have a huge library of books and DVDs....
Something I really don't like is the unevenness of timing. The inner shoulder stretch for instance is held for a very short time on the first side and then a relatively long time on the other side. This happens in other segments, to the extent that I would replay a segment and work opposing sides. And the long explanations/introductions re benefits etc of the upcoming poses eat into pose time and could have been integrated into the actualy posture segments - this is done a few times, but not enough.

Anyway, I see this as a great dvd for someone who's practised a while, and can take what they need from it and adapt to their own practise. I shan't be using this as a whole again, but I will integrate things I've picked up into my own sessions. Beginners would need to watch this a couple of times before trying it, because there are times when it would be difficult and harmful to watch the DVD.

This is a beautifully produced DVD with simple yoga postures you can do at any time. I work at the computer a great deal and some of the poses and stretches really alleviate the aches and pains that creep up after a long day. If you've ever attended a workshop with Desiree Rumbaugh, you most likely have been inspired by her enthusiasm, knowledge and spirit, which can now be accessed in your home practice every time you watch it.

Good video for the price. Pose sequence is easy to follow. A newcomer will benefit from the explainations for each pose; but it would be good if a more experienced user could skip through those.

Yoga teacher Desiree Rumbaugh has created a DVD that is designed for both new and seasoned yoga practioners. Its aim is not to provide us with a practice to follow, but rather it offers a discreet series of yoga poses that can help with typical and specific body problems. There are eleven poses that are divided into "chapters", so the viewer can work with any or all of the poses as needed. These can easily be integrated into a regular practice, or can be used to help those new to yoga begin to refine their practice.

The main idea here is that "yoga shouldn't hurt", and the directions and language guides us to go to challenging, but not hurtful places in our practice. I like that she is very clear that many of the benefits of yoga occur over time and indeed, progress takes time. Modifications for most poses are included, making them accessible to just about anyone. A unique and helpful DVD!

Beautifully filmed/produced by the same people who did "Duncan Wong Yogic Arts - Awakening Level" which I love.
Menu: Into, Play, Chapters/Poses, Bonus Pose, Music only Music & Instruction, Trailers
Poses: Neck strengthening (very modified fish pose), Shoulder stretches (pulling one arm back using wall), Clasped Hands behind back (standing fwd bend with arms behind), Side to side leg lifts (popular reclined spinal twist w/straight or bent knees), Bridge pose (full & modified), Wrist stretches (massage, table pose & child's pose stretching wrists), Yoga push ups (on knees or straight legs, keep elbows in), Relieving back pain (standing posture w/butt/thighs back w/more curve in lower spine), Hamstring stretch (modified knee to chest stretch), Thigh stretches & inchworm (prep for bow & reclined raise butt up a lot pose & vice versa), Bow pose (full & modified), Outer hip stretch & windshield wipers (reclined knee to chest stretch full & reclined spinal twists w/bent knees & arms raised overhead), Standing thigh stretch (simple knee to butt popular stretch), Relief for tight kness & hip openers (sitting on heels with blanket behind knees & seated spinal twist pose), Warrior 2 pose (full), Toe stretches (massage tose, sitting on heels with toes bent to stretch them, hero's pose), Standing Fwd bend, Triangle, Warrior I, Wide Leg Fwd bend, Savasana/lying down relaxation
Bonus Pose - 2 min - laying w/legs against the wall for calming, also great for general circulation, leg circulation, youthfulness, etc.

Desiree Rumbaugh seems friendly to me, not stiff, but perhaps nervous about the camera which is normal. Her voice over is soothing to me. She does very well with details, she knows how stretches work on the anatomy of the body & the planes of movement & rotation of muscles & bones. She uses both western/medical/anatomy teaching/cues as well as spiritual "lift the heart up" (just mean to raise the chest) cues which made it very easy to follow. This is the greatest part besides the beautiful production. Since I haven't done yoga in over a week or so, I was tighter then normal so this was a great time to try something light. I did not like the order of the poses/stretches. They felt odd to me & I would do other stretches instead while pausing. There were two forward bends & two of the same reclined spinal twists. Though she gives great details, even in a popular seated spinal twist, she didn't remind that the twist should be focused in the waist/stomach area, not the neck/shoulders to avoid injury & get a greater stretch.
Though this is geared to beginners & those with limitations, seeing a full bow & bridge surprised me as those would be the hardest for those with limitations. Some of the poses she did are innovative & I enjoyed, but if she's trying to open up the hips, I'm surprised there were no butterfly, sitting fwd bends, cobra for the back, etc. I'm not sure if she was trying to be different by not including those since they are in almost all yoga dvds, if she was, then she should have made it 2 or 3 shorter workouts & incorporate those to really great full opening of the hips.
I would love to see her doing an intermediate yoga dvd workout.

You can see the trailer above or also see home videos of her teaching an advanced anusara yoga class.

Yoga to the Rescue, is like a collection of several moves and tips one ...should know. For the days you are not in the mood for a strong practice, but you would like to coach yourself. A good suggestion for teachers as well. There are important points that are not often brought to the surface, such as retaining the curves, or keep bringing life to painful ares. Desirée Rumbaugh sounds sometimes like advertising something, but I overcome it easily and I like her. Her body conveys the instructions in a very clear way.

I love Desiree Rumbaugh for all the reasons that come across when you watch her DVD. She cares about her students and puts a great deal of energy into finding the right balance in each pose between strength and flexibility - and the right mental balance between effort and softening/surrender in each pose. Carefully designed to work with the breath and in proper alignment, her yoga asanas and the exercises she has developed to help in yoga practice are clearly explained and demonstrated by both herself and her partner (who takes modified versions of the asanas). I suggest watching the DVD once through before trying to watch and practice at the same time. Her adjustments are sometimes subtle and her instructions are important, so it's worth taking the time with the DVD and with your practice. I highly recommend both "feel good from head to toe" and "back pain." These are excellent DVD's. Now go out and take a workshop in person from Desiree Rumbaugh as well!

What an amazing DVD. I've done it twice, and both times I've noticed I've felt really great afterwards, like I do after taking an Anusara class.
The footwork segment it especially amazing and has encouraged me to be more mindful and aware of my feet.I'm so happy to have found this.