The problem with quite a few yoga DVDs with "beginner" in the title is that they overfocus on the stretch element. Yoga is not just stretching. It works synergistically on strength, endurance, balance, agility, grace and flexibility. Plus mental focus - for the demands it makes on concentration to achieve the right alignment in each pose.
There are different approaches to yoga. Power yoga / Ashtanga yoga focuses very highly on strength and endurance. "Non-power" vinyasa (yogas that say vinyasa in the title but not power) dont have the "over focus" on strength. All three - power / ashtanga / vinyasa basically are forms where you "flow" from pose to pose. Then there are forms of yoga that entail getting into, holding and getting out of a pose without "flowing" to the next. Bikram yoga and Iyengar yoga are some approaches that dont focus on "flowing". In my opinion this is a better approach for those starting out or those who havent gone to a class because you get to focus on alignment. Yoga isnt about achieving the "full" pose but about maintaining the right form (alignment) and not over-forcing.
This is about yoga dvd recommendations and I've exhausted so many words without naming a single DVD. Jeez!
OK...recommendations:
a. Anything led by Alan Finger of Yoga Zone. He is superb at instructing on alignment and focusing on telling you not to "force".
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Zone-Con..._bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237260383&sr=8-4
b. Rainbeau Mars Sacred Series.
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Yoga-P..._bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237260488&sr=8-2
In the series above any individual DVD (they are available separately) will work well or even the whole set. If you scout around online it may be possible to get each DVD at $5 or so each. I have seen it at this price on the natural ourneys site sometimes. The Sweat and Power work well as intermediate
c. Erich Schiffman - Backyard Beginners (or Ali Mcgraw - Yoga Mind and Body which is led by Erich - she just is one of the students which is beginner or Backyard Backbends which is intermediate)
Erich is a fabulous, gifted teacher. His form cues are superb. The Backyard Begiiners is hard to find. It is often available at Erich's own site - movingintostillness.com
http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Yog...ef=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237261008&sr=1-6
http://www.amazon.com/Ali-MacGraw-Y...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237261008&sr=1-1
d. Shiva Rea - Yoga Flow for Beginners
http://www.amazon.com/Shiva-Rea-Flo...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237260810&sr=1-1
Shiva is the queen of yoga. She is creative, graceful and absolutely wonderful. Her videos are breathtakingly beautifully shot. Her Creative Core + Upper Body and Creative Core + Lower Body are also excellent choices as is Yoga Shakti. Yoga Shakti has some advanced poses but most of the material is achievable at all levels. It has plenty of material. You can grow with it and try any of the premixes or use the matrix menu.
e. Rodney Yee - AM Yoga For Your Week
http://www.amazon.com/M-Yoga-Your-Week/dp/B000YV1L4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237261249&sr=1-2
This is not billed Beginner/Intermediate specifically but it is very accessible. It has five 20 minute routines with superb instruction.
Yee also has a Beginner DVD available at amazon from Giaim, but I havent used it. I love most of his work so I dare say it should be good.
Except Shiva and Yee, my choices are not the most "populist". These are all DVDs that I have found that really try to coach a person as closely as possible to what they would find in a live class.
If you are familiar with alignment or willing to preview and learn Baron Baptiste (any ,. any thing by him) is great. He is very wordy (like me) and also woo-woo (unlike me).
