Customer Reviews

Living Yoga: A.M./P.M. Yoga for Beginners Set

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(62)
3 star:		(37)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

This DVD along with abs for beginners and back for beginners (all by Yee) are a part of my weekly exercise routine. I'm not very flexible and have had some nagging sports injuries,but these DVDs have helped me improve noticeably. I notice a difference in flexibility, joint and back pain, and injury prevention. The relaxation and breathing parts at the end of each DVD helps me to relax. All you need is a yoga mat, 25 minutes, and of course TV/DVD. I haven't gone to a yoga studio for lessons and I don't feel the need at this point in time.

As owner of several different yoga video series, I can definitely say the "Living Yoga" is Top Quality. The audio & scenery are spectacular: the videos are always filmed in beautiful, natural settings and the instructors have a calm way of guiding me through the workout. On the other hand, IF you have never done yoga before, you might find yourself wishing the instructors would do a bit more teaching and explaining. Even though they are titled "for beginners," some beginners will be frustrated. The videos assume you know how to correctly do the postures, and tend to walk you through a flowing series of postures, without explaining HOW to do each one.

I have taken yoga classes for over a year, and there are still exercises in the Living Yoga videos that are challenging for me. I would HIGHLY recommend finding a good yoga instructor in your area and taking a class if you are brand new to yoga. I know this will not be possible for everyone, but a beginning class with a good instructor will teach you the correct techniques for the basic postures that are foundational to yoga. I am convinced that yoga would not be a part of my everday life without the face-to-face inspiration, confidence and joy that I found in my weekly yoga classes.

I'm no longer enrolled in a class, yet I still do yoga on a daily basis: sometimes with a video, sometimes without. I thoroughly enjoy the Living Yoga series. Check out videos from "Yoga Zone" if you're finding the Living Yoga tapes are too advanced for you. Want to try a YOGA ZONE sample?: the workouts are shown daily on "WISDOM Television" on Cable or Satellite TV.

I purchased the am/pm yoga for beginners duo because my gym only offers yoga three days a week. I desperately needed something for the off days, and treadmills and steppers were no the answer i was looking for. I have always been an "atheletic marshmallow", however at the same time always a super flexible person. Yoga proved to be the happy medium in my life. It provides me with some type of exercise and at the same time allows me to relax. Rodney Yee has the most soothing voice. While I do find it troublesome that he often confuses "left" and "right" when giving directions, I try to remain conscious of those mistakes. I love that the am portion of the tape consists of gentle poses that ease one into waking up. I look forward to rising 30 minutes earlier each day to do the tape! Patricia Walden's pm session allows me to stretch out and release all of my day's tension and stress. I would like to see a bit more time spent on down facing dog in the pm video, but it is something I have added to my routine once the video is over. I would recommend this video set to a beginner, but I would definitely advise that you watch it more than once if you are new to this form of exercise.

A great video set for people on the go!! The 15 - 20 minute routines are easy to incorporate in your daily schedule. The beautiful scenery, voice-over, and music will calm your mind, while the gentle stretching poses will relax your body. Both videos begin and end with gentle stretching and meditation.

"A.M. YOGA" offers a very basic and relaxing yoga routine. Rodney Yee's yoga routine mainly consists of supine (laying on your back) positions and hamstring stretches. Please be advised that he uses a yoga strap for the hamstring/leg stretches, but a piece of fabric or belt could work as a substitute. Patricia Walden's "P.M. YOGA" routine mainly consists of lunges and balancing poses focusing on stretching the legs and back muscles. Other postures include child's pose, dog pose, proud warrior, and forward bends. The P.M. YOGA balancing poses are somewhat challenging, but should be easily accomplished by the average healthy person. My only criticism is that these yoga programs seem rushed. You do not hold the poses for a very thorough stretch. In a yoga class, you would normally hold a pose for 2-3 minutes. So this boxed set is no replacement for an hour-long yoga class.

All in all, I found both yoga routines straightforward and easy to integrate in my hectic daily schedule. After using the videos, I always feel energized and ready to take on the day!!! After several weeks of practicing this routine, I now feel motivated to continue exercising and to seek a more advanced fitness routine. I highly recommend this boxed set for beginners and those who just want a quick stretch.

Neither of these tapes are very good yoga tapes. I find them more frustrating than anything. While the morning tape by Rodney Yee is better than the evening one by Patricia Walden, they are both too fast, do not focus at all on breathing, and do not flow from one pose to the next. With the morning tape I have to stop it constantly to give myself enough time to actually stretch. The few seconds allowed for each position are not nearly adequate. The evening tape is so disjointed that I'm surprised they would try to sell it like this. Nothing flows together and I have to reposition my feet almost every time, which greatly detracts from the experience. I would highly recommend anything from Yoga Zone instead.

If you dont have any knowlegde of Yoga, do not buy this tape. I thought it would at least introduce you to some basics of poses used. But no. It is now sitting on my bookcase.

These are great workouts. The am workout gets me up and ready to start the day and the pm workout is perfectly relaxing. Boxed together they are a real deal.

Pm Yoga is not for beginners. I ahve never done yoga before and when I tried to do Pm Yoga it was very difficult. The AM yoga is a little easier but you need ot have the equipment to go along with it. This tape seems like a Step 2 tape for beginners. Not the best for someone new to the yoga sensation.

first of all, rodney yee is an excellent yoga master... his instruction is necessary, easy to follow, and not intrusive... i enjoy his program very much...
on the other hand, patricia walden's idea is totally different, and obtrusive... she blathers on incessantly - you may think a peaceful moment is at hand, but it is soon lost when she busts in with her monotonous and annoying voice... she shatters any feeling of serenity you may glean from her program... she gives too too much information - i am surprised she doesn't tell you when to blink... it is completely distracting, and frustrating... in both programs, the actual poses are easy to moderate, and do require a certain amount of expertise to accomplish... with mr yee's program, i do always feel refreshed, and better centered... i usually end up doing the am twice a day, and nixing the pm...

I am very new to yoga. I have always had an interest but never got off my butt to do anything about it. I am a firm believer in Eastern Philosophy and spirituality, so yoga was the next logical step. Where to begin was the problem, since a live class is not an option right now, then I saw Rodney Yee on several TV shows doing some demonstrations. His demeanor and his knowledge impressed me. So I figure why not buy one of his tapes.

I watched the tapes a couple of times before I actually did the poses. I was quickly taken in by both Rodney and Patricia. Both their videos are great, easy to follow. Though they are probably really simple and light work outs, I now feel parts of my body that must have been sleeping for many years. thanks to both Rodney and Patricia. I will without a doubt purchase all the videos put out by Yoga journals.

Namaste