Product Details

• Actors: Sara Ivanhoe
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: November 4, 2003
• Run Time: 140 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000CABIS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #73,944 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Movies & TV > Fitness & Yoga > Series > Fitness For Dummies
  #93 in	Movies & TV > Fitness & Yoga > Yoga > For Beginners

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies
A workout that balances both the body and the mind can be found in Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies. Fundamental postures are explained and demonstrated slowly with an emphasis on breathing and motion. Sara Ivanhoe teaches 12 basic poses that are termed the "daily dozen" and offers challenges and modifications to each of these moves. Ivanhoe presents these concepts in an approachable and calming manner that adds to the overall relaxed feeling that this session exudes. Newcomers to the practice of yoga will learn jargon, essential postures, and focusing techniques. Experienced participants may find some information redundant, but Ivanhoe offers such thorough explanations about each posture that you can't help but expand your existing knowledge of yoga. As the mountain pose, standing forward bend, and downward facing dog are explained (not to mention the nine other poses within the "daily dozen"), proper body alignment becomes the focus. Meticulous attention is given to the connection between breathing and body movement with several reminders to keep the spine in "neutral alignment." This session ranks great for safety and content and makes yoga accessible to anyone who "always wanted to, but never did." This is a substantial program that can introduce the basics and build your understanding of yoga. --Olivia Voigts

Beyond Basic Yoga for Dummies
Beyond Basic Yoga for Dummies presents 12 yoga poses that skilled instructor Sara Ivanhoe calls the "daily dozen." Ivanhoe is calm, clear, warm, and patient, demonstrating each pose as the screen flashes easier and more challenging modifications. The too-frequent voiceover "tips," "mythbusters," and "warnings"--announced by sound effects--are louder than Ivanhoe's voice and become disconcerting interruptions. Since they also appear in print on the screen, the jarring voice is unnecessary. Ivanhoe herself could give any tips needed for safety and effectiveness. Ivanhoe's careful, detailed instructions for each pose keep the progression slow, and an experienced yoga practitioner could get bored. However, a beginning exerciser who has mastered a basic workout will find this program a helpful next step before going to an intermediate level. The 70-minute DVD edition also includes a 15-minute guided meditation and the option to eliminate the music--you still hear instructor cueing and voiceover tips, but you can play your own music. --Joan Price

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest!, December 13, 2003

By	Keiko Schneider (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews

I am a non-athlete (and overweight) all my life, but came to yoga with spritual needs about five months ago. I am not a spring chicken either, so you can imagine how out-of-shape I was... I thought I should start with Dummies series. I bought them separately, but now I see them as a 2-pack and I think this should be great for somebody who really want to start from the beginning. Now I own several yoga DVD's and go to yoga classes regularly, but I still consider Sara Ivanhoe one of the greatest instructors. She has a non-judgemental, yet encouraging and thorough way to introduce you to the world of yoga. Too often in classes, instructors throw names of poses at you (sometimes in sanskrit) without giving you enough explanations. I still go back to these DVD's once in a while and understand the explanation even more each time! Overall I think the DVD's deliver what they claim.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love It, February 22, 2004

By	"jdailey28" (Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews

I Love this DVD set. Sarah Ivanhoe is one of the best video instructors I've ever had. She goes slow enough for everybody to get it, but not too slow. She's very encouraging throughout it all. I'm not athletic at all and I am certainly not flexible, but she makes it fun and reassure me that it's ok. The Dummies tips and icons let you learn a bit about yoga and it's just a lot of fun. I would recommend this to anyone, but especially those of us that aren't very athletic or flexible.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for those of us absolutely new to Yoga, December 31, 2003

By A Customer

Before doing any exercise program on tape, I would always review them, and in looking at this DVD by Susam Ivanhoe I found her introduction to Yoga very insightful and great. I've been to Yoga classes before so I was not completely unfamiliar to the routines, but I found her explanations to each routine, and the way she thoroughly explained the breathing methods extremelly well done. The DVD itself also helped to bust some of my myths about Yoga. Now I can Yoga with the correct breathing methods, and the correct posture to achieve maximum results.