Customer Reviews

Yoga Zone - Yoga for Abs [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This DVD is a nice place to start for those who have no experience with yoga and have not been working out regularly. If you are a fairly consistent exerciser who works your abs frequently, this DVD will be too easy for you. Same goes for those at the intermediate yoga level. This DVD will only appeal to yoga novices and people, like me, who are pretty out of shape. For the pros and cons:

Pros:

1) The outdoor setting is very relaxing. It's a nice change of pace from those bright, fluorescent studios.

2) The instructors, Al and Jen, are friendly and motivational without being overly perky and annoying.

3) Both 20-minute segments provide a nice stretch and gently work your abs. This video is not difficult, so don't shy away if you're just starting yoga or working out again. Some of the poses, like the plank, are more difficult, but they are not held long enough to kill you.

Cons:

1) As the Amazon editorial reviewer says, this DVD will not give you rock hard abs. You will need to find something else if that's your goal.

2) Even for beginners, this will soon become very easy. Though it could provide a nice stretch/warm-up/cool-down for other routines.

3) In the first workout, Al spends a little too much time on instruction which will get annoying after the first few times. I tend to do Jen's segment because she talks less.

A final note: while the instructors encourage you to connect your mind and body and remind you of proper breathing, you don't get much meditation here or Eastern philosophy. This could be a plus or minus depending on what you're looking for.

I absolutely love waking up in the morning to Al (one of the two instructors featured on this DVD, as well as on Intro. to Power Yoga). He's really great fun and takes you through a workout which is ideal, in my opinion, for all levels of practitionner and is much more intense than you first realise. He has an incredible way of making you smile at the way he instructs (not at all cheesey like some Yoga instructors can be with their 'You're doing great' speeches!) and you really feel like you're enjoying the movements which is, after all, part of the experience. Yoga is not meant to be a painful and complicated process, but graceful and fun exercises which make you more aware of your body. The abs exercises are excellent, though a little tiring the first few times! This is a powerful rather than gentle style of Yoga. But the length of the segments are just perfect for a before/after work workout. I highly recommend Yoga Zone (especially Al!). The price is justified in that there isn't really much on these DVDs but shouldn't put anyone off. These are thorough workouts and do work. Plus there's Al...!

This tape consists of two short workouts--the box says that each is 20 minutes, though the actual timing is more like 18 minutes per workout. The first is led by Al Bingham with assistant Jen, and the second is Jennifer with assistant Jeanne. Both programs provide gentle stretching for the abs area. There is a lot of instruction, which is good for beginners, but it also detracts from the intensity of the workout. A few of the moves are held for an extended period of time and thus cause the muscles to work a little harder, but overall, I would classify this video as more of an abs relaxation/stretch rather than abs toning. For a more intense yoga workout for abs, I recommend Rodney Yee's Abs Yoga for Beginners.

I have never ever done yoga before so I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a try.
I was amazed at how differently I felt after just doing it for a few days. I walk with my shoulders straight and am more concious of my breathing already. It felt really good.
As for abs, it too early to tell if it will indeed tone up the muscles, but I am enjoying the relaxing pace of this with the added bonus of feeling like I did indeed workout without all those crunches!

Yoga Zone for abs is a great toning workout. It is excellent for beginners and simple to do. Not only is it easy but it gives you excellent results.

i love yoga zone's studios and most of their videos. unfortunately, this one is below their high standards. it's very short and provides little workout -- even your abs wont feel much. there are 2 workouts and the 1st one is virtually useless whereas the second one does have some effect on the abs. in general, howeverm, the whole concept of this video is flawed and yoga zone should have known better. "yoga" means "union" which is inconsistent with the notion of targeted training. every yoga practise - even one targeted for the abs -- should have elements for your entire body, especially your spine. it should also have meditation. this tape has neither.

There are 2 20 minute workouts on this dvd. The first, led by Al Bingham, is a great short workout. I come away really feeling that I worked out my abs without alot of crunches (which I hate!). The second I don't get as much out of in terms of an abs workout. However, it is a great short yoga workout. I just feel that if you really want to work your abs you should stick with Al's workout and use the second one for a more relaxing ab awareness workout.

I almost didn't buy this DVD because of some of the reviews on here, but I went ahead and did. I'm so glad! This is great for a beginner like me and it does indeed work my abs, while stretching me out at the same time. Also, the 2 sessions can be alternated or done back to back and I couldn't ask for a more convenient workout session--20 minutes is fantastic. This also seems like a program I can grow with--definitely worth the money!

After much thought and research I purchase this video along with another Yoga Zone beginner video and am happy to say that I am very happy with these choices. The settings are very calming, the pace is good for beginner level some of the positions are a little complicated for the beginner level. He goes over some of the breathing techniques and helps you understand what you should feel if you are doing the poses correctly, which is very helpful. The only reason I could rate this a 4 star is because the some of the poses are hurried along and the pace sometimes gets choppy and hard to follow. Overall though I feel its a good buy to get exposed to yoga basics.

Yoga Zone tends to use 2 people, one to demonstrate, one to teach, done outside with very light, old style piano music.
There are two 20 min workouts. This is paced very slow with every pose lasting 1-2 min. each. The poses used are child's pose, plank, warrior 1 & 2, boat (3 diff levels of difficulty), bridge, plank, an easy dolphin, table, cobra, upward facing dog, butterfly, seated spinal twist, 2 hip stretches, 1 legged standing, simple torso side stretching & maybe 1 or 2 others & that's it. The only unusual thing is laying back on your elbows & holding a leg up slightly off the ground for an ab workout.
You get a better ab workout on the first workout if anything. The slow pace kills it. It would be better if they also had a workout that was the same, but faster paced w/only a few cues.
There's no meditation, yoga zone's style is more about alignment & exercise, nothing spiritual.
If you like slow pace, lotsa detail since the one talking isn't doing much work, this is for you.