advice needed concerning yoga

[Joannafit]

i have started to learn yoga....my first tape was denise austin...and for denise..it wasnt that bad.....but i would love to hear from everyone their recommendations on yoga dvds..all levels welcome( for future reference)... and what props are needed for the w/o. i am thinking about buying a yoga prop kit i saw at target. thanks everyone!!

 

[Aquajock]

I personally don't believe Denise Austin is a good person to learn any mode of movement from, let alone a movement mode as precise as yoga.

I have heard a lot of good reviews of Rodney Yee's workouts, as well as Bryan Kest's. I've also seen a lot of ink on Barone Baptiste.

Kathy Smith produced a 3-workout beginner-intermediate-advanced yoga series a few years ago, which she team-led with Rod Stryker, who is highly regarded. In fact, Stryker is more the leader and Smith the follower in this series. I've seen each of these workouts and there is a good progression from beginner to advanced, and there is a real emphasis on safety.

I'm sure you can find the above at Collage Video (www.collagevideo.com).

A-JOck

 

[KimDW]

The best yoga teacher I think is Steve Ross. He teaches a class in California and they tape it and play it on the Oxygen channel. I live in Illinois and it comes on at 5:00am during the week. I've taped them because I don't have the time in the morning to workout. The only drawback is the commercials. He doesn't have any dvd's out yet but I think he's working on it because alot of people have requested it. His style is so laid back and fun. Great music on the show also. I only do yoga once in awhile so I'm not that great at it and he makes me feel very sure of myself. He has a website too I think.

I've also got the Rodney Yee AM/PM Yoga and a Baron Baptiste tape. The first one I ever got was Kathy Smith's Basic Yoga and she really focuses on the proper breathing.

Good Luck,
Kimbra

 

[bambi02]

>i have started to learn yoga....my first tape was denise
>austin...and for denise..it wasnt that bad.....but i would
>love to hear from everyone their recommendations on yoga
>dvds..all levels welcome( for future reference)... and what
>props are needed for the w/o. i am thinking about buying a
>yoga prop kit i saw at target. thanks everyone!!


Hi yes I use Rodney Yee's Power Yoga also and that is a great workout! Also Suzanne Deason I have 2 dvd's and she is very good. They sell them in health food stores, vitamin shops etc. Or the web. Hope that helps, Lisa

 

[FiddleFit]

I like the YogaZone series. They're beginner/intermediate, and use few props. Maybe a belt in a couple of places (I subbed a small towel until I no longer needed it), a mat, and a blanket to put under your knees until you increase your flexibility.

Cheers,
Sandra

 

[kathryn]

Sarah Ivanhoe's Cruch Yoga DVD's are good for yoga beginners.
I'm not into Rodney Yee (he sometimes says odd things, and keeps talking about "groins"). Patricia Walden is even worse ("Let your brain soften" took me completely out of the moment and I couldn't do that workout agaiin).

I also like Baron Baptiste (Soul of Strength, for example).
For a short practce, the Quick Fix DVD has 3,10-minute practices that you can do separately or together. The instruction is very good.

I also like Living Arts "Yoga For Athletes." When I first got it and previewed, I wasn't impressed because it seemed dull: one guy doing moves on a very bare set. But once I tried it (just before getting rid of it!), I was hooked. The moves are held longer than in many yoga videos (though not excessively), and the instructor's instructions are very precise (without any "woo woo" like letting your brain soften). The DVD is set up with what would be the equivalent of Cathe's premixes. You choose a sport (weight trainig, for exxample), then you have about 12 different workouts to choose from in that sport, ranging from 15 to 50 minutes. The moves are repeated from workout to workout, but in a different order.

Karen Voight also has a couple of "yoga-based" workouts that also incorporate some pilates moves and other stretches. These were the only yoga workouts I liked before I got into yoga with P90X.

 

[elsie3]

I got some fabulous suggestions on this Forum. My special thanks to Soosan.

I tried the Kathy Smith advanced one with Rod Stryker--got it from the library. I really liked it. I just wish he made some on his own. A-Jock is right, and I think Collage still has it.

As was already recommended, Suzanne Deason (sp?) is also good for beginners. Her 'Yoga for Weight Loss' has many options and levels. I like her 'Stress Relief Yoga,' too.

The Power Yoga series (Energize, Tone, Sweat) by Bryan Kest is fabulous. I just got 'Energize' somewhat down and am starting on 'Tone'. I haven't even looked at 'Sweat.' I'm not quite into the Tarzan look, but when you're hanging upside down, it doesn't matter anyway. And I LOVE, love, love 'Power Yoga for Happiness' by Eoin Finn. It's a 90 minute program divided into 5 different length practices. It's for all levels, and the instruction is exceptional. I also purchased Ali MacGraw's Yoga Mind & Body led by Erich Schiffman. It has some different poses than the others, and is more of a relaxing, stretching one.

If I had to choose just one, it would be a toss-up between Bryan Kest and Eoin Finn. Power Yoga for Happiness is by far the most versatile. And the hip stretches are fabulous!!!!!! Just what one needs after Cathe. Plus, you have plenty of room to grow--it won't ever get too easy (I can only marvel at his "black diamond" poses)!

I haven't tried Rodney Yee yet, but he comes highly recommended. I'd also like to try Baron Baptiste (if I can get past the bandana-head thing).

I'm thrilled with the suggestions I received.

Carol F

P.S. I got my workouts at Amazon.com. They have free shipping with a $25 Amazon order. Or some of the workouts are available from Marketplace Sellers at a reduced price.