Element AM PM Yoga for Beginners

I've read in other reviews that people were complaining that she didn't give enough instructional information or that the moves hurt injuries that they had. If you have any injuries or are not in general good health, you should consult your doctor and/or look for a disc that is specifically geared towards people with back pain, knee injuries, arthritis, etc... No, Elena doesn't give a lot of instruction. She does explain how to execute the move, but she doesn't give a yoga history/theory lesson throughout the workout. I, for one, am grateful. I hate listening to a bunch of talking while doing yoga. It keeps me from centering. If that's what you're looking for, then go get an instructional video. This is definitely in the realm of the possible for beginners, but do expect a challenge. If it was totally easy, then it wouldn't be worth doing! I'm not new to yoga, but am coming back after a long break and this was exactly what I was looking for! The AM set is 34 minutes long. It gets you warmed up, focused and energized for your day. My only regret is that I don't normally have time to do it before work and have to save it for the weekends. The PM set is 26 minutes long. It is exactly what I need at the end of the day. By the time I get to the final resting pose, I feel as though I could lay there in a trance on my yoga mat for the whole rest of the night. It is perfect on the days when I do a hard elliptical training after work and need something soothing to stretch out my muscles and calm my mind. Elena is a magnificent instructor. Her voice is soothing and her execution is perfect. She gives just enough direction without being overly chatty. I will get more of her work! Highly recommend! Read more

I am a complete newbie at yoga - no prior experience, no live classes under my belt. I chose this DVD based on reviews and it is my favorite of all the ones I've tried so far. The AM routine is somewhat challenging in spots, but not so much that I can't do it, and that's good because I feel like I'm getting a bit of a workout. For the more challenging poses, she offers the easier version, then specified "for a more challenging version...." so it's totally up to you how to do it. The base is perfect - slow enough for you to watch and keep up with her, and feels serene, without making me feel impatient waiting for the next thing. The PM routine is more relaxed and gentle, perfect for an afternoon or evening unwind. I usually do them both together, but on days when I am sore or not feeling well, I can just do the PM routine and feel like I got a little yoga into my day. She emphasizes breath a lot, which I really like. After doing these routines, I feel relaxed and serene. One of the reasons I started doing yoga was to help my high blood pressure, and breathing is key for that. Yoga has definitely improved my BP readings and makes me feel good about myself at the same time. Definitely a keeper. Read more

Wow!!!!! I grabbed a lot of free ones to review first and paid for a trial version of another before making this choice. I am a beginner and was thrilled that I don't have to keep buying new videos to bump it up a notch. With each yoga pose there are several steps higher that are included as she describes and shows what you need to do. I greatly look forward to starting my day with her pleasant voice and her gentle and affirming way of talking throughout the video. I haven't started the PM practice yet, even though I've been doing it for a month now, but I really look forward to adding that extra practice time. I purchased the downloadable version that was priced well and loaded easily to my tablet. It's so simple to turn on my tablet for a quick start in the morning. You won't be disappointed with this!!!! Read more

Excellent yoga DVD. I am returning to yoga after 5 years. I used to take a yoga class daily prior to that. I'm in love with yoga even more and I think what's better is I appreciate it more now that I'm a few years older. I began having huge problems with anxiety, nervousness, being high strung all the time. My stress was so bad it was starting to affect my health in certain areas. And I'm young--only 27 and felt I was losing touch. I decided to get back into yoga and have been doing so for only two weeks now every day for an hour or two hours. Usually I do an AM session for 30 minutes to an hour and also a PM session 30 minutes to an hour. I do a minimum of an hour of yoga everyday. And I've already felt the benefits. I feel more at peace with myself and when I come out of my meditation at the end I feel like I'm coming out of a dreamlike, trancelike state like I'm on high on yoga. I think it's my chakras rebalancing. Anyway this is a great addition to your routine. I usually do this one and I have a Rodney Yee am/pm that I do as well. I plan on getting more yoga DVDS to incorporate into my practice. Read more

This is a nice slow and gentle way to start or end your day with Yoga. There are two 30 minute practices, one for the morning and one for at night. I haven't done the morning one as much (I like to sleep to much) but the am will help you start your day right a nice slow and easy yoga practice to get you up and moving and ready for the day. The pm practice I know I love and I do it at least once a week, if not more.The pm practice is a great way to unwind after a long day of work, it really helps stretch out some of the areas you might gather stress in and release it for the day. It's not a power yoga to get your blood pumping but a nice easy and slow practice. I recommend this if you want to help ease into and out of your day. Read more