On Yoga Videos
Thursday August 16, 2007
A reader recently asked me to recommend a yoga video that replicates a classroom environment (you know how so many yoga videos are filmed on the beach or in some moody cave with yards to purple silk hanging from the walls), and I have to say that Kimberly Fowler's Yoga for Athletes video does a nice job with this. Overall, however, I'm not the biggest fan of yoga videos. I have yet to find one that holds my interest for more than a few sessions. Feel free to recommend your favorite video in the comments - maybe I'll find the perfect one yet.
Comments
I go the www.yogatoday.com and do their classes on line. I love it. Very good classes and the instructors seem to know their stuff. I took yoga classes before so, I think that helps. I don’t think it would be good for a beginner to do an on line class. Everyday there is a new class to download from Yogatoday.
I use my dvr to tape the INHALE show on oxygen network. I love the classes, the instructor and the different levels of the students that participate. Anyone have an opinion on NAMASTE? I haven’t tried to work out with that show yet.
I enjoy Total Yoga with Tracey Rich and Ganga White of the White Lotus Foundation. It has been in my collection for more than a decade and I return to it frequently.
Rodney Yi Power Yoga for Strength and Flexibility is very good. (20 and 25 minutes each) And we just recently started working out with Rainbeau Mars, Pure Sweat, another very nice approach.
How about you make you own video’s?
I really like Rodney Yee’s “Yoga Burn” and also “Power Yoga - Total Body”. Not for the beginner but great for intermediate level yogis. Great workouts - but you don’t have to be young and totally fit - I am 48 and have been doing yoga for about 2 years.
Wow, this is really neat, thanks for all of these wonderful suggestions, both in the article and here in the comments. I’ve never taken a formal yoga class before although it’s been on my to-do list.
These are great starters for anyone who has wanted to learn more about yoga, maybe before jumping in to a full class. I’m especially impressed with the free online yogatoday class.
Marla - I have done at least 10 of the Namaste sequences and absolutely love them. I have never tried INHALE (although I will now, thanks!), so I’m not sure how it compares.
I find Namaste to be a wonderful vinyasa flow practice. Some of the sequences are more challenging than the others. Each program is separated into 3 sections in between the commercial breaks: warm up, main sequence and “cool down”. The “cool down” is miserably inadequate (savasana lasts MAYBE 2 minutes, if that), and some of the sequences move quickly, but that’s a function of only having 20 minutes to cram everything in, KWIM?
Going back to the original blog post, though, Namaste does not replicate a classroom environment (instruction is a voiceover, while 3 women demonstrate the sequences in varying indoor and outdoor locales). So, if that’s what you’re looking for, this one may not be for you!
Hi Ann
Let me send you a couple of our DVDs. You pick the ones you would like to try.
The key for you might be that you can change your music from day to day because of the different tracks.
Maral’s beginners DVD is being released this week and it is as good as a beginners DVD gets. It has natural bird sound that I don’t seem to get bored with.
Steve