After having some lower back and neck discomfort I visited my local Chiropractor. My visits began with a wonderful massage. My massage therapist recommended Yoga as a way to strengthen my back muscles and relieve the discomfort in my neck and arm. My doctor had also recommended Yoga, so I decided that there must be something to it. There are many gyms in my area, but I didn't want to go into the classes without some basic knowledge of Yoga moves and a better understanding of what Yoga is all about.

I went to my local Blockbuster and saw a copy of Yoga Journal's Yoga for Beginners and purchased it immediately. I began by reading the booklet that came with it and watching the video, trying some of the asanas while I watched how to do them correctly. Familiarizing yourself with the moves before doing a workout is very helpful. The video is rather long, but even if you have to do it little by little, learning the moves is key to enjoying the video workout and Yoga in general.

It has been a wonderful video, make sure you get a copy that comes with the booklet! After learning the moves on the video, there are three 20 minute workouts in the back of the booklet that are designed to Develop Strength, Flexibility or Relaxation. You can even create your own workouts by using a combination of poses you've learned in the video/booklet. I took the Strength workout and added some Flexibility poses that target the back. The booklet contains the benefits of each asana to help you better understand what area each pose targets and why it can help you. It also gives a long description of how to do each move and a brief history of Yoga to help you understand the ideas behind the moves.

I think that this video has basic poses that anyone can do. They explain to you that if you can't touch the floor, don't, use a prop (stack of books, etc.) to help you stretch as far as YOU can. Of course, Patricia Walden can bend herself into a pretzel, but she doesn't expect you to be able to. And, that's nice, the last thing you need is to feel belittled from the very beginning! She tells you to listen to YOUR body and as you become more flexible you can reach farther, etc.

This video brought Yoga to my daily life and that has been a VERY positive thing. My body is feeling wonderful, especially my back. It is also a wonderful stress reliever and very calming for the mind. I'm ready to move on to the next level of Yoga.

I haven't gone into the gyms yet, I decided that I actually enjoy the quiet time I now allow myself when I practice yoga daily. I purchased a mat and yoga bricks, but it isn't necessary. The video/booklet gives you alternative items to use, which is great if you don't have the money or don't want to invest it in props. I held out until I decided that I really enjoyed doing Yoga and would do it on a regular basis.




Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV