Prenatal Yoga W/Bartlett;Desi

and this is my favorite. Different people look for different emphases in prenatal yoga (and yoga in general), but I was looking for something that had an even balance between stretching, strengthening and meditation, with the mediation helping me relax my body and connect to my baby. Others I've tried, and there have been many (by Shiva Rea, Jennifer Wolfe, Ann Richmond, Elena Brower and others), have either been too complicated and rigorous an aerobic fitness, for me meaning changing poses too quickly, for someone with minimal (but not no) yoga experience, with very skinny pregnant women, which managed to make me feel self-conscious even alone at home (I'm more average-in the size 6-8 range) which was just no fun, or on the other end, some others were a little too hippy-dippy for my taste, with what felt like an overdone and overly earnest emphasis on eastern philosophy lingo, without actual eastern philosophy. This DVD has a voice over description of the poses rather than someone talking while doing the poses, which I prefer, because it feels as though the voice is talking us both through it together. Many of the other DVDs, I'd try for 10-20 minutes and then give up, either tired and frustrated or bored. I make it through this one regularly, as it has great pacing, and I feel energized afterwards. You can also do this in sections (floor, standing, meditations at the beginning and end). I'm now in my third trimester, week 38 to be exact and I can still do and enjoy this tape, with my own modifications. Plus I love the look and music in this, which is simple and understated, spanish guitar, and also with an option to play without instruction, if you really feel comfortable with the poses (I never got to that point, but I like the option). I really like the simple and genuine references included throughout that help me connect me to the baby. Beautiful overall.

Be careful if you are planning on downloading the video because you do not get the option to choose your work out. You will have the 45 minute workout but that is it. The sections to show you how to use the chair are at the end if you need it.

The video is okay. The stretching felt good and it is a nice way to start the day. Definitely not a workout.

Feels like regular yoga. Not a slow mo video. Very easy to break it down into sections, if you don't have time to do the whole thing. The music is not annoying. It is a happy fun video.