Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss

This video spent some time gathering dust on my shelf before I finally tried it. When I finally did, I loved it, and this may well become my "go to" yoga video for busy days. I happen not to like "flow" videos so much, and it seems most yoga DVDs out there are exactly about that. I love the feeling of breathing into a pose, and the challenge of using my muscles to maintain a strong pose for a little while. Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss gives me just what I need: a good combination of standing, sitting, and lying poses; lots of twisting poses (which I've also found lacking in flow videos); a few poses which gently, but powerfully, build abdominal strength. The video allows you to do the workout at different levels of modification, which means that you can measure yourself to someone at your level as you check your position. It's hard to know if you're doing a pose right if the only model you get a yoga master, or if the modified pose is somewhere behind the yoga master (hard to see on a small screen). Almost every breath is cued, which I also appreciate, and Deason keeps up a running commentary with advice on what you should be feeling and doing during each pose. Her voice is soft enough that you can ignore it if you wish, but I found her suggestions very useful for working on strength and balance, especially during standing poses. And, the entire thing is only forty-five minutes long! It really fits into a busy day, and is wonderfully restorative. I'm not sure what it does for weight loss, but I can tell you that I feel physically good after doing the video, with just the right combination of energy and pleasant fatigue. Read more

First of all, let's get one thing clear - yoga, per se, was NOT designed for "weight loss" in the sense of cardiac/calorie burn. As a 30-some year practitioner, I tried one of those "yoga burn" videos and nearly myself. I still don't think they're safe and don't recommend them at all. However, yoga IS the perfect exercise for both mind AND body, and practiced regularly, it WILL provide wonderful improvements in body tone, strength, balance and flexibility, not to mention increased calmness of mind. It was intended to be practiced as a smooth progression of poses, to be held for periods of time, that require concentration, strength, balance and flexibility. It was meant to strengthen both the body AND the mind and to assist connection with spiritual practices. To me, as an experienced practitioner, this workout is absolutely perfect. The postures are sequenced perfectly and held for a reasonable amount of time. But the big plus over other videos I've tried is that there are other women (of various shapes and sizes) in the background performing each posture at a different level - beginner, intermediate and ultra advanced. They also perform them with blocks, straps or other props that a beginner or intermediate person might need for safe performance of the postures. She also CUES for the other levels so you don't have to keep looking up to see what they're doing. I bought this when it was released years ago and wore it out - I'm buying the DVD version because the VCR tape won't play any more. It's not too long, not too short, and I love the relaxation/meditation that it ends with. IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT YOGA, THIS IS THE VIDEO TO BUY. Read more

I bought this DVD when I didn't have much experience with yoga and it was a great place to start. It has four different women (who actually look like real women) doing the workout so you can follow whoever best fits your fitness/flexibility level. You can also select the workout as a full modified, 1/2 modified or 1/4 modified if you wish. The video moves at a nice slow pace and the poses are explained well so you never have to worry about "keeping up" like in some videos. It's also presented in three sections- body and breath awareness, active yoga conditioning, and a cool down. It works all parts of the body and stretches the entire body while maintaining focus on breathing. Suzzane's voice is also very soothing to guide you through the exercise. If you are just starting a yoga DVD collection, or looking for a solid, easy to follow routine, this is it! Read more

I am in average shape, but was not at all familiar with yoga. This was an excellent DVD to begin with because each pose is clearly explained, and the Personal Instructor feature allows you to break from the program to get specific instruction, and then return to where you left off. In addition to the poses being clearly explained, the instructor continually reminds you to breathe and focus. The setting (in an Arizona desert) is stunning, and the music is calming and fits the workout well. Specifically, at the end of the workout when you are instructed to stay in Relaxation/Corpse Pose for as long as you like to relax, the instruction ends but the program continues with music so you don't feel any discountinuation. The only negative comment I have for this DVD is that it is too short. If you do all three sections back-to-back, it only amounts to about 40 minutes of activity. Most advanced students of yoga I know practice for 1-2 hours at a time. I always feel at the end like I could have continued for much longer. I have not been able to find a DVD that lasts more than 45 minutes anywhere, though. Because the program is short, I have not experienced noticeable weight loss after about 8 weeks, but I have noticed a significant increase in flexibility, strength, and serenity. Read more