Thread: Yoga DVD recs

I need to start doing yoga. Does anyone have any good DVD recs? I have lots of experience, so I don't need a noob DVD, but I do need a little guidance. I am looking for something that will increase flexibility, stability and has some flow. I don't need a mediation or academic yoga DVD. Fusion with pilates would also be good. Thanks in advance! ..g.:

Oh, you sound like a good candidate for Shiva Rhea's 'Yoga Shakti' DVD. It's my very ultimate favorite, but not for beginners. It's a collection of flows -- not easy, and she doesn't break down the basic poses at all (although she gives some nice insight into some poses in the DVD features).

The DVD is beautiful to watch, and it also has a feature that lets you select portions of each flow and reassemble them into a customized practice.

It's like having 4 or 5 DVDs, really.

I really like Yoga Choice's Yoga for Your Moods. It offers a variety of workouts at two different levels.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, you sound like a good candidate for Shiva Rhea's 'Yoga Shakti' DVD. It's my very ultimate favorite, but not for beginners. It's a collection of flows -- not easy, and she doesn't break down the basic poses at all (although she gives some nice insight into some poses in the DVD features).

The DVD is beautiful to watch, and it also has a feature that lets you select portions of each flow and reassemble them into a customized practice.

It's like having 4 or 5 DVDs, really.

Thanks Lauren. I love the idea of choosing your own workout. I am thinking this might be too hard for me since I don't know poses by their real names and I read on the amazon review that she does handstands, which I am petrified of. Do you think another shiva rhea dvd might work?

You'll be able to see what she's doing the whole time, so you'll recognize the poses. I don't recall doing any handstands when I worked with that video. But overall, it is pretty advanced. Here, you can get an idea for whether this is what you're looking for. (the actual DVD does have voiceover instruction, unlike this clip)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGkGtYr6rs4"]YouTube - Shiva Rea Yoga Shakti[/ame]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with any of her other videos besides the core workout one and that's pretty specialized.

I started using the Shiva Rea Shakti DVD when I wasn't that knowledgable about yoga, and I did fine with it. It's a great DVD to grow with, because you can shift from doing modifications to full poses at your own pace, or add the more challenging sections like headstands when you are ready (which i suspect I may never be, but I also don't have a free wall in my apt to help build my confidence with).

I also really like Ali McGraw--Yoga Mind and Body, which features the actress Ali McGraw as one of the students but is really taught by Erich Shiffmann. It's beautifully filmed and supremely peaceful.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Ali-MacGraw-Yoga-Mind-Body/dp/B0000DI88C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250551918&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Ali MacGraw - Yoga Mind & Body: Ali MacGraw, Erich Schiffmann, Ivan Bartos, Claudio Droguett, Bruce Ashley, Larry Perel, Rob Newman: Movies & TV[/ame]

I haven't seen the Ali McGraw video, but I see it recommended over and over. People seem to really love it.

The Ali McGraw/Erich Schiffman video IS great. It has a nice flow and it's a great "potpourri" sort of practice that has a little of everything.

The Shiva Rea one is also very cool. There are some pretty crazy advanced postures on there, but definitely you can modify or skip over things that you're not comfortable with tackling. It comes with a booklet with some sequencing ideas. She also has a CD called Yoga Sanctuary that I really like. It comes with a poster so you can see all the poses.

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that the MTV yoga DVD is also one of my favorites. The instruction is decent, but not outstanding. I wouldn't recommend it to total newbies for that reason, but it's a fun, high energy practice!

Thirding Erich Shiffmann's 'Yoga, Mind, Body'. I love that video! It is a lifetime keeper for me.

I also like Shiva Rea's, but a lot of it is hard for me. Not impossible (okay, some of it is impossible for me!), but challenging. I do feel like I will never run out of things to work on with it, it is a really amazing product. Omchantress, that CD/poster sounds cool, I am going to look for it.

I like Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners, too. This is my everyday video. I would say I am an advanced beginner, but I find this video continually challenging while still being able to get through it comfortably.

Slightly o/t: Has anyone tried any of Erich Shiffmann's other videos? I have thought about getting some, and would be curious to hear recommendations from folks who like the Ali McGraw one, too.

I love Rodney Yee, and anything by Patricia Walden -- she's a genius.

My favorite is Eoin Finn's Power Yoga for Happiness 2
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Power-Yoga-Happiness-2-surf/dp/B00128M2NC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1250581168&sr=1-2]Amazon.com: Power Yoga for Happiness 2, the surf edition: Eoin Finn, Insiya Rasiwala, Beth Childers, Bjorn Enga: Movies & TV[/ame]

I also love Shiva Rea's Fluid Power
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Shiva-Rea-Fluid-Power-Vinyasa/dp/B000KGH03E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1250581422&sr=1-1]Amazon.com: Shiva Rea - Fluid Power - Vinyasa Flow Yoga: Shiva Rea: Movies & TV[/ame]

And MTV Yoga and Power Yoga
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/MTV-Power-Yoga-Kristin-McGee/dp/B00009YXBK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1250581451&sr=1-2]Amazon.com: MTV Power Yoga: Kristin McGee: Movies & TV[/ame]

Rodney Yee

and MTV's Power Yoga is a killer!

Kathy Smith is good too.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000V6FVS4/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v= glance"]Amazon.com: Kathy Smith: Yoga Sculpt: Kathy Smith: Movies & TV[/ame]

My instructor has a good one out:

Yoga

I've been wanting to try yoga. OK--I'm definitely sold on/getting the 'Yoga, Mind & Body' dvd. *As an "Aside"*How's this for coincidence: I just received my bhuz swap meet purchase of past issues of Habibi and Belly Dance magazines; I'm currently reading a 2004 issue with Rachel Brice on the cover. I read part of the interview last night where she mentioned with great positivity how she trained in yoga with Erich Shiffman... Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

I love Rodney Yee!

People's ideas of beginner/non-beginner vary as to peoples idea of hard vinyasa. Some people like to keep moving some like to hold poses for longer.

Shiva Rea is very good but not everyone connects to the her idea of flow or pulsing. For me it takes several run throughs before I feel I can relax in to her programmes - of course the more the practice the more familiar you would become...

Yoga: Gentle Vinyasa Flow ~ Zyrka Landwijt

I actually really enjoy David Swensons Ashtanga dvds/tapes. I know the production isn't great but I like his tone and cues. I find his voice calming and the reminders to focus in the breath very helpful. The short forms are also very useful if you don't have lots of time.

If you want something that looks slicker there is
Ashtanga Yoga Beginners Practice [DVD] ~ Nicki Doane

Personally - I wouldn't like to see pilates & yoga fused (yes there is yogalates) because the breath focus is different for both. I have enough to concentrate on.

Shiva Rea and rainboe mars are two I love.

When I first started practicing yoga, I used the Yoga Zone series. I still reach for Stretching for Flexibility when I want a short routine at the end of the day. I also like Yoga Journal's Step by Step series and the Total Yoga series. Both of these sets have 4 dvds that range from beginners to advance.

Follow up!!! I bought the Ali McGraw video and I've used it twice. It's out of print, but I was able to find it for uber-cheap at YogaAccessories.com

I really like it although I am so inflexible these days that I have to do all of the modified positions. I am so grateful to my yoga teacher in college who taught me all of the modified positions because this video does not teach them. Honestly, most yoga classes I've been to, or DVDs I've watched, do not teach modified positions. I think this is a huge error.

With the Ali McGraw video I need blocks and straps, but if I had not known that from previous experience I would have really overdone myself. Also, I tweaked my neck a little, I'm not sure why. It feels ok this morning.

Oh and I also used a foam body roller for the first time yesterday before yoga. OMG, that thing is incredible. I had so many knots, it was unreal. I didn't even notice them until I started using the roller. However, my whole right leg was asleep when I woke up this morning, so I am not sure if I did any weird yesterday.

Rodney Yees Power Yoga Total Body

I like Rodney's AM Yoga For Your Week. It has 5 short 20-25 minute practices. Shiva has a similar one coming out. It's pre-order, but available in some places. Might an easier way to start with Shiva.

Rodney Yee's Slow Burn yoga. It's more like Iyengar then power yoga, slow movements from pose to pose, holding poses for longer then standard dvds and each flow is gone through 3 times for maximum stretch and body awareness.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, you sound like a good candidate for Shiva Rhea's 'Yoga Shakti' DVD. It's my very ultimate favorite, but not for beginners. It's a collection of flows -- not easy, and she doesn't break down the basic poses at all (although she gives some nice insight into some poses in the DVD features).

The DVD is beautiful to watch, and it also has a feature that lets you select portions of each flow and reassemble them into a customized practice.

It's like having 4 or 5 DVDs, really.

I second this. LOVE it.

It looks cheesy, but I actually picked this up in Sam's club and it's pretty good for begginners. Offers alot of modifications and I like the flow- the AM yoga really does a good job of waking me up :)
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Element-Am-PM-Yoga-Beginners/dp/B001AYWY68/ref=pd_sim_d_20]Amazon.com: Element: Am and PM Yoga for Beginners: Elena Brower, Andrea Ambandos: Movies & TV[/ame]

Originally Posted by Sonja2

I second this. LOVE it.

Cool. I bought it for my stepmom for Christmas. ..g.:

I like the Shiva Rea one, too. Also Hemalaya has a Yoga for Urban Living DVD that my husband adores. I try not to be jealous that he likes to spend time with his secret Indian girlfriend! LOL

I actually don't recommend Rodney Yee for beginners even when the DVd is labelled for such.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, you sound like a good candidate for Shiva Rhea's 'Yoga Shakti' DVD. It's my very ultimate favorite, but not for beginners. It's a collection of flows -- not easy, and she doesn't break down the basic poses at all (although she gives some nice insight into some poses in the DVD features).

That's too funny-- it was the first DVD that came to mind as well- and I had only read just the start of the thread.
So yes-- it SI like having many dvds to practice with... She has a few more out too that I have been wanting to get! Good luck!