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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yoga For Everyone, Feb 1 2001
Why is this video set so wonderful? 1. There are four tapes. One concentrates on the mind, the other two on specific parts of your body and the final on cardiovascular fitness. We all know if your mind isn't into it, sometimes you just can't push yourself to workout. It's true a run or vigorous workout does wonders for releasing stress, but you must get yourself to the workout! How many times do you decide to just sit and vegetate rather than make it to the gym or go for that run? With the "Serenity Now" video, you can calm your mind and also give your body a gentle workout that may precede the more intense three videos in the series. The "Legs and Buns" video and the "Arms and Abs" video both concentrate on specific muscle groups and parts of the body. They contain intense yet peaceful, flowing postures that really work muscles you don't even know you had! The "Cardio Challenge" video is much the same and concetrates on a series of repetitive postures, beginning slowly and quickening the pace so you're performing flowing exact movements that will definitely get that heart rate up and make the brow sweat a bit. The key here is that they're intense but they don't involve a lot of jumping around. You can obtain just as good a workout through the peacefulness and serenity of yoga than if you were to take an aerobics step class with loud pounding music and twenty or thirty others jumping around you. 2. Lilias is not concerned with fancy footwear or body baring leotards. She is a beautiful woman and not your average every day gym rat in your local workout meat market. She has a very calm presence and one that's soothing and encouraging as well. She speaks in a pleasant, calm voice and warns you of problems you might encounter while going through the combinations of poses. Her demeanor belies the tremendous strength, agility and ability with which she performs the yoga poses. It's clear she's been doing this for years and years. In fact, when I was younger, I would watch her series on PBS as she had a yoga workout program on there for quite some time. 3. You don't need 1000 square feet of shining hardwood floors to use these videos. In fact, the exercises are completed barefoot and in comfortable clothes that allow movement, not restrict it. The postures are completed in a small space so you don't have to move that coffee table! 4. You don't need yoga mats or a block although you may find these things nice to have as you advance in your practice. Lilias suggests using pillows or a belt in place of the former and these work just as well. 5. The videos appeal to a wide range of people. I am a housewife and freelance writer. I am not athletic but manage to stay fit with my daily routine and by eating sensibly. My husband, on the other hand, is an army officer who runs quite a bit. I would say he's in prime physical condition. We started doing the videos together and not only do they appeal to the both of us and they're something we can do together at the end of a long day, they get his heart rate up as well, and they're much less taxing on the joints compared to running three or so miles a day as he's done. 6. The videos are short but provide the necessary daily workout time period. Each video is around 35 minutes in length so you're not saying, "I have no time to do an hour video." Just 35 minutes works wonders. They're such fun and I feel so good after doing one, I often do another and sometimes another. 7. They really do work! I'm not going to fib here. I don't enjoy exercise unless it has to do with swimming. I've never subscribed to high (or low for that matter!) impact aerobics, gym memberships or jogging. I've tried a few other workout videos but they were either too long or involved too much jumping around or were just plain boring. The day after I completed one of Lilias' videos, I could tell a difference in my body, and just this morning, after doing the "Cardio Challenge" with my husband last night, he awoke to pleasantly sore and taut muscles- a sure sign it's working! And, look how long yoga has been around. In my time in Nepal a couple summers ago, I never saw an out of shape yogi! 8. The pleasant background music, lovely postures with beautiful names AND a different "cool down" for each of the videos adds to the appeal of this series. Above all, if you find you need something different in your life in the way of exercise, and you're looking for a way to simplify your life (time to go to the gym...money for a membership or classes) and bring more peacefulness and serenity to your presence and being, these videos are definitely for you.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Lives up to its promises, April 5 2006
By A Customer
This review is from: Lilias! Comp Yoga Fitness for (DVD)
This is a great DVD series, perfect for those beginners interested in yoga, or the advanced alike. The variety allows you to work on different areas of your body. I especially enjoy the Sun Salutation cardio challenge because it is an enjoyable workout that raises your heart rate and leaves you feeling so refreshed and ready to start your day. I wasn't interested in a yoga video which focused heavily on Middle Eastern meditational practices, which is why I chose this set. It is a great exercise video for the body as well as great stress relief for the mind.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Ready, set, go buy this one!, May 31 2004
Lilias Folans "Flowing Postures" series is what I encourage beginners and the yoga curious to begin with. No matter how "in shape" we may look and feel without good posture we are out of shape. The posture supports our entire body. The first video has gentle movements to tone and build strength in the upper arms w ithout building large muscles. Strong toned long lean muscles is the message here. . "serenity now" features slow, rhythmical breathing with relaxing postures that will help you to unwind and quiet that inner chatter. Come on you know you think too much . This will help you get centered while in the background beautiful, soothing music is playing. As you gain strength and balance move on to the last video a wonderful cardio workout. Lilias is my favorite instructor . I first discovered her in the seventies on PBS. I think if not mistaken. She had a show either really late at night or really early in the morning. Which can be one and the same I suppose.
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