Yoga Journal's Yoga for Beginners II

As for this DVD, I started working with Patricia Walden's earlier release, Yoga for Beginners, and then bought this DVD from another company after seeing it listed as "Yoga for Beginners II" (which the other company claims will be the new name for the video). While there is some overlap between the two programs, they are very complementary and go nicely together. However, this is really more of a Pre-Yoga for Beginners program than a "II." The poses are generally (but not always) less difficult than the poses in Yoga for Beginners, and the standing forward bend is done in a very modified form. However, this program focuses much more on seated poses and twists than Yoga for Beginners does, and helps to increase and broaden one's exposure to the yoga practice. Also, there is somewhat more of a focus on the "flow" of the poses in this program than in Yoga for Beginners. The one real drawback to this DVD is that the explanation of each pose and the time given to the student to change from one pose to the next seem somewhat short, and I sometimes find myself hurrying to try to keep up, but I suppose that's why DVD players have pause and "rewind" keys on their remotes.

I recommend this video to anyone who is fairly new to yoga and wants a soothing and not-too-intimidating program, and to anyone who has been working with Yoga for Beginners and wants to learn more about the seated poses and twists. However, with this DVD or with any other yoga program I have found, I also recommend that you purchase a good, basic yoga book so that you can read pose descriptions and look at pictures on a much slower and more detailed level, so that you will better understand how the poses should feel. "Total Yoga" by Tara Fraser is a very good basic book which I found both helpful and enjoyable, and "Yoga - The Path to Holistic Health" by B.K.S. Iyengar is also very helpful for the beginner. The Iyengar book is especially helpful for some of the more basic poses because of its 360-degree photographs and detailed instructions as to corrections to be made and points to watch for when practicing.

Namaste, and a peaceful practice to all.

The DVD's degree of detailed guidance in doing the postures properly puts any book on the subject to great shame. Even the simplest looking postures are greatly beneficial when done with proper attention to detail, as repeatedly demonstrated by Walden. Another thing I liked is that Walden is an older person like myself, so the poses do not seem so difficult as performed by some sexy nubile limbered up spring chicken.

The instruction series is marvelously stretched out to accommodate your level of progress and performance. There are sequential instructions and also you can select to view the performance of individual poses.

You will have a tough time finding something to complain about this yoga DVD!