Gentle Yoga 7 Beginning Yoga Practices for Mid-life 40s - 70s including AM Energy PM Relaxation Improving Balance

I'm a 64-year old male who is reasonably fit - run 2.5-3 miles three days a week and lift weights & do floor exercises three days a week (Sunday is normally a rest/heal day). I was getting worried about the general stiffness and inflexibility in my body, so thought I needed to explore incorporating a different set of exercises. On advice from my 29 year old son (who takes Yoga classes with his girlfriend), I decided to try Yoga. I considered enrolling in a class but didn't want to embarrass myself by being clumsy and looking foolish in front of others. So, I went to Amazon and looked for a DVD. After reading reviews for multiple DVDs, I selected this one. After a month of incorporating Jane's practices into my daily routine (I typically do 1-2 programs a day), I can tell a big difference in my flexibility and over-all well-being. Initially, some of the practices were very strenuous for me and I was unable to even attempt some of the poses and movements. I kept at it and I would try and do all the ones my body would allow. After only a month, I can now attempt all the movements but still have quite a ways to go to do them completely. My hips and back aren’t nearly as flexible as hers but they are slowly improving. Additionally, she includes some exercises to help improve balance. These are highly challenging for me, but I’m slowly working away at it. The setting for the DVD is majestic, the soft music is calming, and Jane is wonderful. She has such a calm, encouraging, and peaceful presence. I particularly like her gentle reminders of when and how deeply to breathe. This may sound goofy, but it is very helpful. Read more

It has been quite a while since I practiced any yoga - in fact much of any exercise other than walking - but I remembered how much better I felt when yoga was part of my life. Being middle aged, way out of practice and out of shape, I wanted a practice on DVD that could do in my home that would re-introduce my body to the stretches and poses yoga, but taking into consideration my body isn't what it was 15 years ago. "Gentle Yoga: 7 Beginning Yoga Practices for Middle-Age" seemed appropriate. The quality of the DVD is not exceptional, but this is more about doing the poses and not about watching them done! The entire DVD was recorded in beautiful Glacier National Park, and it does feel much more soothing to look at that setting over some one doing yoga in a studio. Jane Adams has a calming and soothing voice as she guides the viewer into the poses. It is easy to follow along! The DVD is divided up into 7 practices of varying length, though none really go much over 30 minutes. Most of the practices are right around 20 minutes. The viewer has the option of working through one practice, or they can work through several during one practice. The practices consist of Evening, Morning, Relaxation, Desk & Computer Relaxation, Lying Down, Balance, etc. Working through these will challenge a body that hasn't done any yoga or has taken a long hiatus from practicing and needs some extra easing into the practice. If some one is comfortable with yoga, this is probably not the DVD for you. The poses are very simple, there is stretching and breathing, but the practices on this DVD are not strenuous. However, if you need a very basic introduction to yoga - with care for a body that might not be as limber as it once was - these are vary satisfying practices. Because this is very elementary and not at all strenuous, I would suspect if one utilizes this DVD regularly they would find a need to move on in their practice to either a DVD that is a little more challenging or going to a yoga studio. I look forward to my "time" with Jane Adams. I find these practices to mesh well with those in middle-age or even seniors. Highly recommend! Read more

I began taking yoga classes about 5 months ago. This video is not quite what I think beginning yoga practitioners need, but I like having it to supplement and extend my studio classes with additional poses. The video also provides direction and flow when I need to practice at times when I can't get to the studio. Jane's narration is very good--serene and slow. It takes several viewings to adapt to her pace, and this would probably be true with any yoga video. She reminds the viewer when to inhale and exhale, which is very important in yoga and the mark of an excellent yoga teacher. Within the spectrum of yoga poses, the asanas presented are considered to be for beginners, even though some viewers have found them very difficult. If you're starting yoga in midlife after being mostly sedentary, as I am, it will take time for your body to adapt. Don't push it; you'll be a beginner for quite a while. The outdoor settings are a bit distracting for me, though lovely in themselves. I also wish the camera were closer to her in order to see the details better. In a face-to-face class, the teacher can correct alignment and help the student adapt poses to one's own body. Obviously, that's not possible in a video, but more close ups would help. In my limited experience, yoga seems to be taught by immersion; there don't seem to be true introductory classes. The definition of "beginner" seems to be rather broad. Thus, starting with a F2F class might be more beneficial and safer for the true neophyte yogi of any age. For someone who has a little yoga experience, these are gentle poses that provide some challenges and help you develop and maintain your practice. Read more