Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners

Rodney Yee’s “Yoga for Beginners” is an excellent video for relaxation or for the beginning yoga student. There are different programs to choose from. There is a pose training section, which I appreciate, to make certain I am doing each pose correctly. There are 2 full length yoga workouts. I additionally appreciate that for each workout there is a choice of full instruction, pose instruction and inspirational instruction. The inspirational instruction allows for a relaxing experience. I recommend this video to anyone who wishes to begin a yoga journey.

Although the least important fact about this DVD, what I found very uplifting was that the sessions were recorded outdoors on a beach with a scenic ocean view in the background. I used other yoga DVDs in the past recorded in a drab dark studio with a monotone voice over, and this alone made a huge difference: you practice in your own home, but with a great view to look at. The DVD has three sections: one step by step tutorial how to perform each of the poses (studio recorded), and two yoga sessions (outdoors) by two different teachers, each about 20 minute long. It also has three narration styles to choose from: step by step explanation to moves in each pose, pose name only, and inspirational (energy flow, feeling etc.) so you can choose what work works best for you. The pace is right, not too fast, and it's really good for beginners, although at times you wind up with your back to the TV, so it can be a challenge to follow visually while doing certain poses. The explanations are straight forward and help with getting in right. Finally, a 20 minute session length seems just right and encourages practicing more often. The only annoying thing I found with the DVD (and probably any DVD) is that you can't fast forward through a lot of promo materials in the beginning of it.

A long time ago I was a medium distance jogger. I learned through experience that I needed to stretch and after a period of time I made stretching part of my pre and post jogging routine. Now, 20 years later, and having not exercised in forever I started biking about 2 months ago. Recently I decided that it was time to integrate some stretching. However, instead of just plain old stretching I figured I'd try Yoga for its other benefits. I bought this "Yoga for Beginners" DVD hoping that it would give me a reasonable introduction and some easy "beginner" poses that I could use. This video goes into detailed explanations on how you should do the poses and what the common mistakes are. It let's you review specific poses in case you didn't get it right the first time. I haven't gone through the whole video yet but I "audited" the course by watching the poses section and then watching one session with Collen Saidman and one with Rodney Yee. Positives: Easy to understand and easy to follow. Reasonably priced. Negatives: It would not run on my computer. It would only run on a DVD player which I had to go dig out of a box and hook up to my TV. Not so much a negative but it would have been nice... For a beginner course there are some poses that Colleen Saidman achieves that I just shook my head in disbelief. I'm so far away from those poses that I had to laugh. I understand that some of these are goals but it would have been useful (at least for me) to have had some commentary about "If you can't reach this position then try for this one.. " with something like an actual beginners pose. I'm still working on seeing all my toes let alone putting my hands flat on the floor in between my legs... But, all in all, it looks like a good introduction to the art and I like the slow pace and the detailed instructions.

This is a solid starting dvd if you want to learn the basics of yoga. Rodney Yee and his wife Collene give great instruction through 2 revitalizing practices and 1 lengthy Pose guide. I've had severe back pains (Herniated Disc) for about 2 years now. I was unable to sit properly, walk for minimal amounts of time, stand without losing balance, or even tie my shoes! I was told by my chiropractor that light yoga exercises would possibly help ease my lower and mid Spinal pains. Since starting this basic dvd 2 months ago I'm able to get back on my feet and be more active. My pains aren't fully gone, but if i stay on the right path and do as little as 15mins of yoga 3 times a week I'll be back to 100% health in no time. This dvd is great if your looking to make you body and mind healthier, but at a very basic and easy to follow instruction. Gaiam and Rodney Yee are awesome! Totally worth every penny spent! #Namaste

This DVD is a keeper. I purchased it a few years ago near the beginning of my yoga practice to learn the different poses and their proper forms. Recently deciding to thin my DVD collection, I reviewed this DVD to determine if I had moved beyond it. I am so happy I re-viewed it after all this time. As it turns out, I'd been doing a few of the poses with less than proper form. I followed the instructions, fine-tuned my posture, and found those poses less strenuous and more "opening." I learned much from this DVD in the beginning of my practice and again years later. In the 40-minute instructional portion, the two instructors offer clear and concise descriptions and visuals (including proper form and common mistakes) for each of the presented poses. This is the most valuable portion of the DVD and, I believe, should be viewed often in the beginning of one's practice and then periodically thereafter. The two additional routines (one for AM and one for PM) are good for a quick session if time is limited. Another benefit of these two routines, especially if done just after completing the instructional portion, is the ability to practice the illustrated poses flowing one into the next while being mindful of one's body and how it feels when in proper form.

I'm in my 20s, relative beginner to yoga, and I've been practicing almost every day for several months now. I've ordered several beginner yoga dvds, but I'm disappointed in this one. (especially considering all the good reviews) I ordered it because I saw a glimpse of the pose guide, which appeared helpful. Aesthetically, the exercises on the beach looked peaceful, the music non-intrusive, and Rodney Yee seemed to have such a soothing voice (a big plus in a yoga instructor). But the exercises move waaaaay too quickly. Doing the practices felt like I was being ushered along hurriedly--like I was late for a meeting or something. Kind of the antithesis of what yoga is all about, right? The instructor would even say, "Stay here for a cycle of two breaths," but s/he would only give enough time for a single quick one. Aaaahh!! Cue aggravation, another thing you don't want to get out of a yoga session. Given all the good reviews, I was really surprised. Granted, I'm only a beginner, but I feel like the whole point of yoga is to get into the poses...if only for a few nice breaths. I felt so short-changed with this DVD; there's no way I'm hitting the pause button after every pose. This is probably the last Gaiam or Rodney Yee dvd that I'll be ordering.

I got this for my husband, who decided he wanted to try yoga after seeing how I have benefitted from a regular practice. This has a nice, detailed instruction on the poses and correct form at the beginning, which is helping him slowly get into yoga - his body is not exactly used to these movements! He likes that it is a male instructor as well. My only issue was that the poses instruction should be a little slower and give you more time to figure out each one, but at least they include this portion. I have not done the flow workout with him yet so I can't comment on it, but I expect it to be similar in quality. It's a good start, but not great.

I bought this for my husband who has a mild case of scoliosis but due to his height and profession (Truck driving) he is often in back pain. He didn't want to do this alone so I agreed to do it with him. I've done yoga before but its been a few years (and a few kids) since that time. This DVD has two great sessions on it, one for the morning and one for the evening. My husband has found that doing this everyday has alleviated some of his chronic back pain and that to me is a gift beyond words to not see him suffer so much much less to him to not be in so much pain while working. He is currently out of town due to work and has informed me that he is doing some of the moves and the stretch's he learned from this DVD while he is away. Now as for me as I stated I've done yoga before but its been a while. Yoga is an easy workout that I can add and fit into my busy kid filled life whenever I see an opening everyday. This DVD has moves that challenged me at first but as he shows you in it you can make simple adjustments till you can do the full movement or you can do simple things to make it more challenging if its to simple for you. I liked that they were easy moves in this that a beginner like my husband could do, yet moves that I could do even having done yoga before without getting bord. Overall great DVD to have. I'll be going more from this instructor.