Customer Reviews

Yummy Yoga: Gentle Stress Relief for the Hips, Back and Neck

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have found more levels of release working with this video than with other forms of Yoga (either video, or group instruction format) I have tried in the past. The video "Yummy Yoga" demonstrates the individual exercises clearly, when necessary shows nice graphics clarifying which muscles to use, and provides just the right pacing for me to exercise with the presentation.

Now, after some weeks of working with the video, I have found new ease in breathing, moving, and relaxing.

I have found subtlety and lightness and a pleasure in being. . . obviously so in the physical world of my passion sculling . . . rowing is now waves of relaxation, breath and work. Oh how my whole body loves to move that boat! thank you, yummy yoga.

and more, less obvious . . . my relationships are transformed, softer, more subtle, more informed by awareness.

The joy and fluidity in breathing and moving which i have experienced as a result of actually working with this presentation is most definitely, 'yummy'.

... unless you cound the emphasis on the use of the breathe, that is. I found it helped my tight shoulder muscles, and relaxed me enourmously. can't really say the same about my back yet, I find more relief doing a regular yoga workout to stretch out my tight back. Just to clarify and so noone will feel ripped off, this is not yoga. It's a series of gentle contraction/extension movements that teach one how to relax tight muscles. And it does work, my trapezius is more relaxed right now after doing some simple movements at my desk. So it was worth it just for that. There's also a great relaxation session at the end.

The other good thing about this video - from a purely pragmatic p.o.v. - is that you can probably do it soon after eating (unless you've really pigged out, that is) unlike yoga where you have to wait a couple of hours at least.

AKA Somatic Yoga. It is a slow moving yoga (see "Somatics" by Thomas Hanna). In this practice you contract your muscles and then release. The emphasis is on the release and letting go of muscular tension. You do not hold the postures and stretch the muscles like in traditional hatha yoga practice. It definitely helps with the release of tightness throughout your body and is more of a neurological workout than an aerobic workout.

There are two parts to this practice and both are performed on the floor (no standing postures). One is for the lower body and one for the upper body. I love the upper body work out. Part of this practice is contacting and releasing of your shoulder blades and wringing out from arm to arm. This is absolutely yummy! Christa Rypins has a very pleasant voice and at the end leads you though a body awareness relaxation. The whole practice is about an hour long. There is pleasant light music in the background.

The students are in a circular pattern and a lot of the filming is from straight above, so it is quite beautiful to watch. It is true as the other reviewer mentioned that you need to look up quite a bit to learn the movements. I think once you practice several times you'll get the hang of it (it's quite different than traditional yoga) and you'll be able to follow her queues quite easily.

I would highly recommend this DVD to people with chronic pain, muscle tightness and stress, recovering from surgery or an accident, carpel tunnel syndrome, or anyone looking to improve their body/mind connection. This practice will help to reeducate your neuromuscular system.

I would recommend this as an early morning practice to get your body moving or end of the day to release tension. I am using the DVD after breast cancer surgery and it is very therapeutic since I am not able to do my regular yoga practice. I think even intermediate yogis would benefit from this practice to add some variation and complement their invigorating yoga practice.

Please check my multitude of other yoga DVD reviews on Amazon. Nameste'

Yummy Yoga is not exactly yoga, nor is it traditional stretching; rather, it is based on a technique called Somatics, which involves increasing your neuromuscular awareness through contracting and releasing muscles throughout your entire body. This is an excellent method for targeting chronically tight areas of the body and retraining the muscles to relax. Yummy Yoga is led by Christa Rypins, who instructs via voiceover with a small group of participants who are lying in a circle. The entire practice is performed on the floor, mostly lying, but with some seated segments as well. Although it is broken up into two 20-minute sessions, Lower Body and Upper Body, the segments flow into each other without interruption, and each includes full body stretches in addition to targeting the lower or upper body. Christa leads you slowly and gently through each movement, often having you move your body in opposition (eg, stretching your right arm and left leg, twisting your head in one direction while your torso moves in the other, etc.). I found one of the moves for the shoulders and upper back area to be particularly unique, where she has you stretch the back of your head to your shoulder.

The upper body segment is a little shorter overall than the lower, as Christa spends the last 6.5 minutes leading you through a guided relaxation: she has you focus on and release each individual muscle of the body in turn. Although this was definitely relaxing, it also felt a bit repetitive, as Christa says the exact same thing over and over ("I am relaxing my ____, my _____ is relaxing" for each body part); a brief final stretch follows the relaxation. After the practice ends, Christa spends a final 2 minutes reviewing some of the principles of Somatics. This video is probably best-suited to those who have chronically tight muscles and thus are unable to engage in traditional stretching. For those (like myself) who already are participating in regular activities to increase flexibility, such as yoga, this video might feel a bit too gentle and slow-moving, although it is still likely to foster relaxation.

This is a really wonderfully gentle stretch tape. As a previous reviewer mentioned, Yummy Yoga isn't technically yoga but it sure feels great if you're really tight in the muscles.

The lower body section is about 22 minutes. It really opens up the hips. The upper body section is about 15 minutes and is very gentle on the neck and shoulder areas. There is a 7 minute relaxation mini-meditation at the end, which is quite nice.

The reason that I gave this workout 4 stars instead of 5 is because it's quite difficult to do this tape without looking at the tv screen. The verbal directions are at times quite complex and I don't understand what I'm supposed to do (or feel) unless I look at the tv. I suppose that the more I do this tape I will be able to follow just the verbal cueing, however.

Yummy Yoga felt wonderful to do on a day that I felt lethargic and unmotivated. I teach Yoga and was so impressed with how good I felt during and after doing Yummy Yoga that I shared it with my students over the next week. They enjoyed Yummy Yoga so much that many of them have decided to purchase it also. It really is Yummy - I recommend it for anyone and everyone that wants to feel good doing an activity that is good for you.

I have sciatica on the right side, and upper body back issues. I've been doing this dvd daily for about a week or so. I think things are getting better.

The lower area exercises have exercises directly for the psoas muscle, which is one of the muscles that get very tight, can cause sciatica, and also trigger bursitis, which I also have on the right side.

The upper area exercises do absolutely wonderful wringing-towel-like exercises you do with your arms. I've never seen these anywhere and they feel so good!

The one slight drawback is Ms. Rypins voice which is not exactly smooth and relaxing like other yoga dvds. However, don't let that deter you as you'll get used to it. This is a fantastic dvd. The exercises are top notch!

Finally, search the internet for Somatic Yoga, which is what this is. It's a bit of a different form of yoga, but very very "yummy" and therapeutic, as taught in this dvd! Ms. Rypins has an athletic background and I believe came to Somatic Yoga due to injuries playing professional sports.

I highly recommend this for everyone, but especially those who suffer from any aches and pains in their bodies.

I have followed this DVD many times, which is wonderfully different from any other yoga or exercise tape I've tried. The production is visually lovely, with participants on a circular raised platform, and overall production quality is excellent. The "somatic movements" are so effective, one of my favorites is "seaweed legs". The neck movements make a tremendous difference in my arthritis pain. I start many days by following this DVD, and am consistantly amazed at the profound sense of relaxation when the video ends.

Thank you, Christa, for a terrific video!

Oddly enough, a few days after I purchased this DVD, I found the book "Somatics" by Dr. Hanna in a used book store.

Viewer: Thalia del Fuego, belly dance teacher

This DVD is indispensible for anyone who wants to attain good body alignment and release from chronic tension. Not only will you feel better the next day, but you will have the added benefit of improved body awareness. Performing the exercises will help you become more conscious of your postural habits and the ways in which you hold tension in your body, so that you can change those habits.

Despite many years of experience in the dance/fitness field, I have never seen a DVD of this kind. I was amazed to find that the exercises were completely unlike anything I have ever seen in other yoga, dance or stretch videos/DVD's. It is truly one of a kind.

This is a wonderful DVD of gentle yet productive movement that actually based on Somatics, by Thomas Hanna. If I had know about it I would have bought this a long time ago. The teacher is lovely, and so is the production. This is not an "exercise" video, it's a stress relief and gentle stretch, and most of all, a neuromuscular retraining DVD. However, it's extremely effective and produces results. It's done laying on the floor so if you're a senior or out of shape, it's a great way to get started. I recommend it highly.