Customer Reviews

Yoga for Beginners Boxed Set (Yoga for Stress Relief / AM-PM Yoga for Beginners / Essential Yoga for Inflexible People)

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This set of DVDs covers everything you need - if you are starting out and need extra work, to targeting issues to having workouts to wake up and go to sleep to.

I borrowed one of the DVDs for a couple of weeks from a friend who has been practicing a few years and who started out with the one to increase flexibility. (She also has the other DVDs and uses them all the time) This DVD is very good to get you started if you have not done yoga or are early in your yoga practice, really helped me get a basis with assistance and then move along.

Stress Relief is usuable by pretty much anyone with routines designed to help stress issues, digestion, hips, neck and so on. The relaxtion routines are easy to do and very effective. Though Stress relief has some routines for morning and evening, AM/PM has a wide variety of routines for the morning and evening.

I was able to mix and match as I worked through things and there is a ton of variety. Will be able to use this for a long, long time.

After four months of using this Box Set, I am extremely pleased with the purchase as someone new to yoga.

The Box Set consists of 3 DVDs - Essential Youga For Inflexible People, Yoga For Stress Relief and AM PM Yoga. Needless to say there is a lot of variety between the videos and plenty to work with.

The Inflexible title has routines that range from 5 to 10 minutes to up to around an hour or so (for use as you get better/stronger) and includes ways of making things earlier as you learn.

The Stress Relief has a TON of poses and workouts to help you target problem areas, such as headaches, and is very good and effective.

The AM PM focuses more on things to help you energize and relax. The teachers provide enough verbal cues and reminders on positioning and breathing so that I feel that I am really learning how to do things properly at a good pace.

Just love it.

The videos are great! These are put together just for beginners and are not difficult for those individuals who may have difficulty with standard Yoga poses and positions. I would recommend it for anyone who is a beginner, wants to work on stretching, relaxing, and getting their morning energy for the day. The narration is soothing and done very well.

First DVD in set has good routines with good dialogue by the instructor - not too much repetition of the moves - this 1st DVD is referred to as "AM/PM Yoga for Beginners" w/10 plus "Easy to Follow Routines". For someone who is only interested in the routines, I would delete the Dalai Lama's talk on meditation, not really needed for intense yoga practice.

2nd DVD titled "Yoga for Stress Relief" does not focus on too many yoga moves - the titled selections don't indicate a break in the supposed 20+ routines - also too much intro of "ocean waves" - In proper yoga techniques the instructor (in background) should be saying "inhale" and "exhale" not breath in and out, otherwise after trying the moves, I agree the routines for stress do work, with the exception of being too much pressure on the back of the neck.

Last DVD titled "Essential Yoga for Inflexible people" has an unbeleivably long routine which went past an hour - didn't really see any break in this routine, can get tiring after a while holding some of the poses for too long. Otherwise the content is good and acceptable. Instructor takes too many breaks in explanations, needs an easier and lighter flow to her narration.

Otherwise the set is still a good choice for variety of yoga practice.

I work shifts and find it hard to get classes for anything that work consistently into my schedule. I've wanted to try yoga for a long time and doing it at home is the only option. This box set has been phenomenal. Right now I mostly use the Inflexible DVD and the AM/PM DVD. If you are really inflexible, that one is fantastic. It's very remedial and just what I needed. Maggie really knows what she's doing. Using a chair has finally made yoga something I can actually do and benefit from. Every week I'm relying on it less. Eventually I'll move up to the regular Beginner DVD in the box. With these 3 DVDs I think I'm set for quite awhile. There's so much on them. Great value. Great programs.

I have tried all three of these DVDs separately; providing the three of these DVDs together in a set offers an amazing value. I particularly like the two Barbara Benagh DVDs, but there is a wealth of material included here, all of which might be applicable, depending on your level. I have provided brief impressions of each individual DVD below, but for more information, follow the link to the individual product for my full review.

Yoga for Stress Relief
This DVD is my favorite of the three, and one I still use quite often. The practices are broken down into four different areas of concern: 1) Beginning and Ending Your Day, 2) Neck, Shoulder, and Back Issues, 3) Easing Your Mind, and 4) Stomach and Digestion Issues. All of the routines are quite relaxing and largely restorative. They range in length from 15 to 60 minutes and should be doable to most levels of practitioners. Some props are necessary, including at least one blanket on hand (preferably 2-3), a strap, and a bolster/firm pillow.

AM/PM Yoga for Beginners
This is another wonderful DVD from instructor Barbara Benagh. Here the focus is on routines intended for either the a.m. or the p.m., but I've been known to mix-n-match the practices at any time of the day. Again, the length of the practices varies (from 15-45 minutes), and the same props as described above would be helpful here. A few of the routines, such as "Gentle Wake Up" and "Good Nights Sleep," are performed entirely on the floor; one of my favorites is "Get Up and Go," which is a short practice (15 minutes) that offers a wonderful series of upper back openers.

Essential Yoga For Inflexible People
Out of the three DVDs, this is my least favorite. However, the main reason for that is that this is the DVD that is the most beginning level (it moves at a VERY slow pace), and I'm not a beginner myself. If you are a beginner, this DVD might be a good place to start, as it has practices divided into three sections: 1) Short Routines--Learn the Basics, 2) Short Routines--Continued, and 3) Extended Routines--As You Progress. The practices vary in length from under 10 minutes for some of the shorter routines to a full 90 minute session.

In the end, if you are a beginner to intermediate yoga student, I think it would be hard to go wrong with this set, which offers hours and hours of options. Highly recommended!

I absolutely love these dvd's!! I am a beginner and was able to follow along with the poses. She gives alternatives for people who can't do a pose fully. I think this is a great box set for any beginners who are interested in starting yoga. The setting is calming as is the instructors voice. She's very informative and helpful! I'd recommend these to anyone starting out!

(Updated at end of review)This video was really not what I was looking for. I was really disappointed to find that the "routines" in this video series were not actually routines, but a collection of individual poses edited together. The video actually "fades to black" after each pose. There was no transition from one pose to the next. This made the video feel extremely choppy and not at all conducive to relaxation. I was really hoping for a video that would mimic the experience one might have if one were to attend a yoga class at a studio. Instead, it felt like more like a catalog of poses that that a more experienced yoga practitioner might use to form their own routine.

Update: After spending a bit more time with this video series, I had to come back and change my review from one star to 4 stars. Indeed, it really was not what I was expecting or looking for. I wanted a traditional exercise video and this is not one. However, the sheer volume and variety of routines on this video makes it worth owning. I still don't love the "fading to black" after each pose, but this has become less distracting over time. I particularly enjoy being able to choose a 10 minute session or a 50 minute session depending on the time I have available. I have other more traditional Yoga videos that I use often, but I appreciate having these videos to mix into the rotation.

This a great way to learn. I have been using this awhile and have been very pleased with it so far.

There is one DVD that really helps get you started with modified routines and some regular routines, while the other two are more general with poses that are good for beginners and other things added on to the things to do.

I have been able to work on my flexibility with the DVD that is designed to help inflexible people and also have been able to work on specific issues with the stress relief DVD. The AM/PM is a nice general DVD with things to energize and relax depending on the time of day.

With the amount of material on all the DVDs it is a great collection even if you do not use all of it.

I wanted this 3 disc beginner yoga as one of my birthday gifts. So, I received this one and Jillian Michaels No more trouble zones, to get me started on a "NEW" me. I am out of shape and inflexible, so doing the beginner yoga is still too advanced for me. I prefer doing the sun salute and the yoga for neck and back pain. I do this 7 days a week, so far this is my 2nd week in doing the sun salute (inflexible people dvd) and neck, shoulders and back pain (yoga for stress relief dvd). I feel great and my body yearns for more. I am excited to do these everyday (7 days a week, 1 hour each day). I am 38 y/o female, 214 lbs, 5'1", I have large breasts which tends to add to any pain or stress I feel. I do whatever my body can do and I do a little more each day. Not pushing my body but gradually do a little more each day.

I do modify a few poses because I am just not that flexible yet nor do I have upper body strength. Take the poses at your own pace. Just keep working at it. I feel a lot better mentally and physically and it's only been 2 weeks. That's enough motivation for me to keep going. I do my yoga dvd 1st and then I do 1 to 2 circuits from Jillian Michael's dvd "No more trouble zones". I feel really gooooood right now. If you thinking about, do it, even if it's just for 1 minute, just do it.
At this point any exercises I can't do, I modify it, in the way that's easier for me, then within 2 to 3 days I am actually doing it gradually. Did I tell you, I feel really good!!