Customer Reviews

Yoga Zone: Conditioning & Stress Release [VHS]

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm new to Yoga. My daily workout takes place in a small, converted bedroom that doubles as a storage facility. I'm not terribly flexible, not good about remembering to breathe, and don't look like the attractive women in this tape (and never will...yoga or no yoga). I also don't have the room to store, nor budget to purchase special Yoga chairs, mats, pillows, or clothing.

Alan Finger's teaching style is perfect for me. His delivery is deliberate and well paced, and his reminders to breathe and to release muscle tension are consistently timed for beginners like myself who are often so focused on twisting and balancing into an unfamiliar posture that they forget to breathe. Unlike other Yoga tapes I've tried that pulled and pushed me through their exercise regimens, Finger's tape - in figurative terms - transports me from one pose to another, giving me the time I need to orient myself and my blood pressure to each new posture. And, unlike the exercises contained in other Yoga tapes (such as the Rodney Yee series), Finger's exercises do not require the use of special equipment -- which means a lot to me in my space-starved exercise area.

To say that this tape focuses on conditioning and stress relief does it an injustice. It also serves as a great introduction to Yoga for folks who aren't flexible, aren't health-nuts, aren't budding-Buddhists, and who are easily discouraged from taking the time to take care of themselves. Finger has come up with a teaching method and series of postures that are effective, encouraging, relaxing, and immediately achievable. I'm looking forward to purchasing other tape in the Yoga Zone series.

this is a very fine yoga instruction tape. the greatest emphasis is placed on stretching your entire body. however the many static positions means you're getting more strengthening benefit than you realize. it's absolutely essential for beginners to start out with a tape like this because it will help them to stretch out difficult areas like hips, hamstrings and shoulders that so often limit yogis from making it to the more advanced levels. and more advanced types should relish the chance to hone in on the stretching aspects of yoga that tend to get lost in the more advanced power yoga workouts.

dare i say a must for any yoga collection?

I am a 46-year-old woman who began practicing yoga--off and on, and with several different teachers--since I was 18 years old. I cannot say enough great things about Alan Finger. He is truly the best yoga teacher I have ever learned from. For years, I have done these postures without clear directions about exactly how every muscle should be held and positioned. Believe me, doing the poses with the muscles engaged properly makes a huge difference! I agree with the others who have written here that the best part about this tape is that I really enjoy doing it. I am not a person who normally enjoys exercise, but this tape makes me feel as if I am pampering myself.

I have neck and back problems, and the minute I feel my neck getting tense, I know it's time to do this tape. Alan Finger has the best series of neck-tension-releasing exercies I have ever done. I feel the difference immediately. I have been to many chiropractors for my neck over the years and none have helped me any more than the exercises on this tape. The best part is that I have learned that I can stop a bad neck from ever happening because I have learned to listen to my body and help those muscles relax before I am in a crisis.

This may not be the most challenging workout, but for a person who wants to be gently guided into the beautiful, healing art of yoga, I can't think of a better place to start.

I have been doing yoga on and off for almost 30 years. I started with Lilias yoga and you as a young gymnastic student and found the practices very relaxing. Now, as I get older I have returned to yoga for its healing benefits. When I am stressed with a problem or worry, or just sore and stiff from computing this is the workout I most often turn to. And yes, like others have stated, many times I too have fallen asleep at the end. I have suffered with chronic fatigue and insomia for the last 8 years so this is a wonder and a great thing. If you want a vigorous exercise look elsewhere. If you want to reshape your bad posture and get pain relief, look no further. I have had many professional massages and none have ever given me the overall benefits and a feeling of relief like the yoga practice I enjoy from this tape. I have many other yoga tapes and dvds but I always return to this one. Others are too rushed through the poses. Here you always breathe through until the stress diminishes.

I agree with the other reviewers that this isn't the most challenging yoga tape--any conditioning is sort of incidental. However, I do this tape more often than any other fitness video I own. I used to get so stiff in the neck and shoulders that I could hardly move my neck--this works even better than getting a massage! Anybody who comes home from work tense or angry would really benefit from this, the focus on breathing and the relaxation at the end will leave you feeling like a warm ball of goo.

This is the best beginner's yoga video out there, period. Alan Finger's soothing voice and detailed instruction guides the student through a 60 min. practice of gentle stretches followed by the best guided relaxation I've found on any yoga video. The background music is pleasant and unobtrusive. Two women demostrate the poses to Alan's narration, one doing modifications you can follow if you're not up to the full form of the pose yet. I've culled many of the beginner videos out of my collection, but this is one I'll never get rid of; it's perfect for low energy days when I know yoga will make me feel better, but I'm not up to a more vigorous session.

I own all of the Yoga Zone series videos, and of the main ones (Postures for Pregnancy and Meditation excluded), I think this is the easiest one. A few of the poses are more challenging, but as the video's title suggests, the goal is Stress Release, which means not over-exerting yourself. If you want relaxation, you'll love this video. If you want more intensity, or more flexibility and strength, look to the other video in the series- Flexibility and Tone, which is more challenging.

This was my first yoga zone video. The instruction is very good. Alan Finger is soft spoken, encouraging, and thorough in his instruction. He emphasises that there is benefit at whatever level you may be at. I found this video to be great for me as a beginner. It has given me a love of yoga. I highly recommend it, especially if you are a beginner.

I absolutely love this video. I have been practicing yoga for about four years. I own several videos from intermediate to advanced levels and I still find this beginning level video very enjoyable. Alan Finger's instructions are easy to follow. The background music is very soft. And the two yoga participants have a very relaxing and friendly presence. All of the poses can be easily modified to meet your level of fitness, flexibility, and knowledge of yoga. I often times have fallen asleep during the relaxation portion of the tape at the very end. If you need to relax after a tough workout or a stressful day, or you just need quiet time away from your family, this the yoga video for you. Enjoy. Namaste.

This is a wonderful beginning yoga program, with poses that are do-able by beginners yet some challenging ones. It took me a while to learn the program, and if there is one downside, it is that Alan Finger (the instructor) goes thru the poses faster than I would at a normal pace. The video is about an hour, but when I do it on my own from memory, it takes an hour and a half. But as you learn the program, it is easier to keep up the pace and still feel the benefit of the poses. He starts with a breathing exercise and warm up exercises on the floor, continues with standing poses, and ends with floor poses and a meditation. My last comment is that there are two female instructors who demo the poses on the tapes, and it was a bit off-putting or intimidating to see their infinite flexibility in the poses. However, it doesn't matter if you can't come close to their flexibility -- I still feel wonderful after doing the video. I hope others will enjoy this as I have.