I purchased this DVD for a friend who is beginning yoga. I have been practicing yoga and pilates for years using home video and DVD instructions. The instructor's movements were too quick and the vocal instructions were muffled and vague. I did not share this with my friend because I thought it would be discouraging for a beginner. Unfortunately, this one will be shelved.
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great yoga instructor
Added 9/24/2009
I have been doing yoga on and off for about 5 years and I have never had such a wonderful yoga instructor. This is my first time using a DVD as my "yoga class" which is not really recommended for beginners since some poses, if done incorrectly, can really hurt someone. I would give this yoga DVD 5 stars, but I don't think it should be considered beginners. I have taken yoga classes easier than this.
If you have taken yoga classes and wish to continue at home on your own time then I recommend this DVD. However, if this is your first time with yoga try to take a beginners class first so you have a better understanding of how the poses should feel and look.
Just remember, the most important aspect of yoga is not how flexible you are but your focus on relaxed breathing and bettering the connection between your mind and body. I like to think of it as active meditation. Namaste
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Good for beginners
Added 8/21/2009
I got this DVD for my spouse. She liked it very much. It takes you through basic movements with a relaxing background music for atmosphere. Nice setting that promotes a no-stress workout.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A good start
Added 7/11/2009
I just tried it for the first time today and was pleased. I think some common sense can come in handy when trying this at first. For example, not every pose is going to look the way it does on the dvd, at first or probably ever for some people (like me). Elena Brower does mention this over and over again during some of the more taxing poses, offering small modifications if you can't do the full pose.
I do think Brower does a great job of explaining the poses. They were confusing at first and I kept having to look up at the screen but I kind of expected that. The first time, I did about 20 minutes of the DVD and was tired so stopped there. The second time, I was able to do most of the 20 minutes without looking at the screen because it seemed to have sunk in. I was able to make it through the rest of the DVD!
If you want total hand holding and lots of explanation about how to modify each pose I wouldn't recommend this DVD. I for one appreciated Brower's example of how each pose should look; it was inspiring and I hope to reach that point. She also offers words of encouragement that don't sound trite and she adds a light spiritual element to the instruction without being overbearing.
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Staycation yoga resort
Added 3/17/2009
Yoga for beginners is really ideal for evening yoga. I turn to on a regular basis to ground me from a stressful day at work. During these hard economics times, its an easy escape. I pop the DVD and my living room is instantly transformed into a serene and peaceful resort.
The instructor is a little late on the cuing - but if you watch it a couple of times - you can get a sense of the timing. But aside from that, I love the element series. The production value is amazing - for such a reasonable price. I would have expected to pay twice the price for such a beautifully made workout DVD.
I also introduced my inflexible boyfriend to this DVD. I started him off with Yoga for Inflexible people but he found the experience to be dull and offputting. Since then, he had the wrong impression of yoga. But with a little coaxing, he tried Element's yoga for beginners. With a little modification, he was able to perform most of the asanas. He said that he liked it and is willing to practice with me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Exactly what I was looking for
Added 11/9/2009
Wasn't sure what type of experience this was going to be but I really enjoyed the yoga. It was not confusing or complicated. Very calming and relaxing (particularly the PM yoga) and the perfect amount of time. Didn't need a lot of room to do the yoga in (which is great since I was doing this one at the office) and felt a difference in my muscles by the time that I was done.
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Addicting Yoga Work Out
Added 10/6/2009
As a begginer I find it very difficult to follow most yoga routines. This one was pleasently suprising. I started doing both the AM and PM Yoga a few times a week. I found that if I went too long without doing the video, my body actually started to crave it. Believe me, I am not the type to crave exercise so it kind of blew my mind.
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Excellent begining yoga
Added 8/4/2009
Very good DVD with excellent and complete verbal instruction matching what Ms Brower is doing. The pace is very reasonable, not so slow you become bored and yet it is not rushed. Importantly, compared to some other "beginner" DVDs there are enough different poses that one gets some of the potential breadth of yoga. Also, the accompanying verbal description is complete and detailed enough that it can be followed with only episodic need to look at the screen to see exactly what is going on. She also gives the names of the poses so that as one progresses to more complicated routines, the names can tell you exactly which pose you will be going into. My personal opinion is that this is one of the better beginner DVDs
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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