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Yoga Video Reviews
- Yoga VHS Tapes & DVDs |
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by Marianne Woods Cirone,
M.S., R.Y.T., Certified Yoga Teacher
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Recommended Best
Yoga Video
My new favorite
yoga video is the "interactive" Yoga For Every Body
DVD with instructor JJ Gormley. This video truly uses the
programming technology available on a DVD format, unlike
many yoga
DVDs which are simply repeats of the VHS format with perhaps an
extra feature added. The Yoga For Every Body
DVD takes the basic poses, directed simply and elegantly by Gormley,
and groups them into up to 45 different routines, varying by length,
complexity and focus. These routines are listed at the
beginning of the DVD under the headings of Beginner, Intermediate
and Advanced, and by length (for example, over or under 45 minutes).
Each routine goes from one pose (or a series of poses such as the
sun salution) to another with a brief pause to give the name of the
pose in English and Sanskrit. The DVD offers special routines
for all levels, such as inversions and backbends for the more
advanced practitioner, while providing an array of routines for
psychological situations such as the one for coping with change, and
the routines with a physical focus such as a
"heat-generating" and a routine to do doing the menstrual
cycle. This video is perfect for people like me who tend to
get bored if they repeat the same video often because as they say in
the movie Forrest Gump (which was on the night I first tried this
video), "it's like a box of chocolates -- you never know what
you're gonna get".
The background is a
simple draped cloth with a vase of flowers-- very minimal by today's
standards of Maui sunsets, but the content more than makes up for
it. JJ Gormley does the poses alone with a voice over-- she
looks like a normal person, not a yoga model, and has an array of precautions and
modifications. This tape feels like an classical or Iyengar style
yoga format, and although I enjoy Ashtanga/Power yoga videos, this
is a refreshing change.
Strengths: The
huge variety of options available for length of practice, level of
practice and area of focus, and the excellent instruction. In
addition, there are special segments for meditation and
savansana/relaxation and the nice thing about the DVD format is that
at the end of savasana the DVD reverts to the main menu where the
soft music will play indefinitely, so you can stay in savasana for a
longer time (unlike with a video tape when the tape ends, it rewinds
and then your TV blares when it shuts off).
Weaknesses: Some
might consider the production level a weakness, but yoga is an inner
process, not a TV show, so it really isn't a problem. I kept
my remote handy as there were definitely poses that I wanted to hold
longer, and I would caution users to get instruction in person on
some of the more advanced poses before trying to do them with a
video. Make sure you don't try to watch the TV when you are
doing the inverted poses or you may injure yourself.Yo
Rating: Highly
recommended for all levels.
Yoga Conditioning
For Women
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Yoga Conditioning for Women
is 60 minutes long and features Suzanne Deason. This
is self-described as a challenging and and flowing, dynamic
workout. All of the poses are done fairly quickly with little
or no explanation, even the ones which are more advanced including
the half-moon pose and the standing splits. The restorative
poses are held for a couple of seconds, including Savasana (the
corpse pose) which is held for about five seconds (normally held a
minimum of five minutes). I'm not sure who the target audience is
here -- the video is way too fast for beginners and intermediate
students will realize that the poses should be held for longer
lengths of time.
As much as I LOVE and
recommend Suzanne Deason's video Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss,
and wanted to like this video, I think it's appeal is limited. Too
easy for the Ashtanga people, too hard for beginners and too short
for restorative. While there are no modifications shown during the
main part of the video (or criteria for modifications) there is a
brief segment at the end of the tape which shows some nice
modifications for the poses, although there is no explanation
(instrumental background only). The creators do not explain what it
is about this program that is specialized for women as opposed to
being useful for both sexes.
Strengths: Suzanne Deason is a
good instructor and the scenery is gorgeous. For a much better video
with both of those features, plus lots of modifications, see her Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss
(which is, by the way, not any more weight loss than any other
good yoga class).
Weaknesses: Not enough
explanation for beginners, poses held too short to provide
restorative benefits or appeal to more advanced users.
Rating: Not recommended to buy -
try borrowing from the library if you are interested.
New Yoga DVD For Beginners
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Yoga for Inflexible People
is a best-selling video due to its clear instructions and modifications by an
Iyengar instructor, in a DVD format that can be modified for your schedule or
area of interest. Thorough practice with many options; good for beginners
and experienced yoga students. Done in Iyengar style, this is a great place
for beginners as well as experienced students wanting to choose from an array of
routines to choose from.
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