Director:
Starring: Madeleine Lewis
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Gaiam   Theatrical:   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: Certified fitness instructor Madeleine Lewis guides you through targeted morning and evening stretching programs. AM Stretch is an invigorating way to start the day, with emphasis on restorative flexibility. PM Stretch helps you to relax and to re-align your body. This deluxe DVD includes two 30-minute stretching workouts, bonus Power Stretch workout, separate music track and an instructor interview.

Director:
Starring: Rodney Yee
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Living Arts   Theatrical: 2002   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: A holistic solution including poses to ease pain, strengthen the back and torso, and improve flexibility. Includes a medical analysis of Yoga’s effectiveness for back health.

Director:
Starring: Ana Caban
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Gaiam / Living Arts   Theatrical: 2000   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: "Remember what Joseph Pilates said," instructor Ana Caban says. "'You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions.'" Pilates has become very popular and for good reason. By working the core muscles (the abdominal and back muscles in the center of your body) you improve strength and posture and develop a lean, long line.
Certified Pilates instructor Ana Caban is a splendid teacher. First she demonstrates alignment and technique for 10 minutes, explaining the cue words you will hear and how to do the basics, emphasizing how to use the core muscles to strengthen the abdominals and back throughout the workout. Then she introduces a challenging 20-minute series of Pilates moves, instructing clearly, demonstrating beautifully, and continuing to advise you about technique, breathing, and form.
Even though this is a beginning Pilates workout, Pilates is never easy, so these moves will feel extremely difficult if you're new to this kind of exercise. For example, you learn to hold your abs tight whatever move you're doing, and you move only the muscles you're working at the moment, using your stabilizing muscles to hold the rest of the body still (much harder than it sounds!). Another participant demonstrates modifications throughout in case Caban's moves are too difficult or your muscles fatigue. If you've been wanting to explore Pilates and you're willing to put in the effort and concentration, this video gets our top rating. "--Joan Price"

Director:
Starring: Intermediate Yoga
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Gaiam   Theatrical: 2002   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: Now that you¹ve mastered the beginning stages of yoga, enjoying the rewards it brings to your body, mind and spirit, you¹re ready to take the next step! Intermediate Yoga, created by internationally acclaimed yoga teacher Rodney Yee, is an exciting program designed to bring you to a higher level of expertise. The program introduces the more challenging inverted poses, the foundation of an intermediate practice, while enhancing the familiar poses with more detail. Intermediate Yoga includes: Sun Salutation, Inverted Poses, Backbends, Headstands, and Shoulderstands.

Director: Steve Adams
Starring: Rodney Yee
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Gaiam   Theatrical: 2000   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: Sculpt sleeker, leaner abs with a workout that¹s more efficient, satisfying and inspiring than situps or other one-dimensional abs workout techniques. Abs Yoga shows you how mind-body workouts and using the weight of your body can reshape your torso and leave you feeling centered and revitalized ‹ so you¹ll be more likely to do this workout often, and more satisfied with your results.

Director:
Starring: Rodney Yee, Suzanne Deason
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Living Arts   Theatrical:   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: Living Yoga succeeds in re-creating its superb yoga programs for DVD with the three-in-one workout "The Total-Body Yoga Workout", which combines the individual body part programs on one disc.
The first workout, "Lower Body Yoga for Beginners", led by Suzanne Deason, is a fun, short routine that will help you to invigorate and stretch the lower body in a series of flowing postures, working to stretch, tone, and challenge one's muscles and balance. In the second segment, Rodney Yee leads "Abs Yoga for Beginners", which is designed to firm and strengthen your abs while providing a soothing respite from your hectic lifestyle. The poses are, for the most part, simple to follow, although the beginner may need to ease into some of the positions. Finally, Yee leads us through "Upper Body Yoga for Beginners", a workout that will stretch, strengthen, and energize the upper body. Yee flows through poses designed to develop an open, supported chest, which in turn promotes healthy circulation, breathing, digestion, and posture. For all of these programs, a firm blanket to sit upon is needed.
The extra features on this disc are the same as those on "The All-Day Yoga Workout". Once again, the DVD format is ideal for a workout program--the chapter search makes it easy to skip the introduction and jump right into the body work. Or if you're short on time and just need to relax, you can move directly to the meditations. An extra feature, "Learning the Basics," has pictures of every pose with written instructions on how to do them, which is just the thing for beginners who feel befuddled when told to do a cow-face pose or gate pose. A section on props explains how to use straps, bricks, and mats in order to modify more difficult poses for less limber bodies. Finally, the interviews with Suzanne Deason, Patricia Walden, and Rodney Yee round out the DVD, making for a full program. This is the ultimate introduction to yoga; it's a workout regimen that's easy to incorporate into your daily life and fun enough to convince you to stick with it. "--Jenny Brown"

Director:
Starring: Patricia Walden
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Living Arts   Theatrical:   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: "Yoga Journal"'s more advanced offering of yoga stretching exercises presents two routines for flexibility: back stretches and front stretches. Each routine begins with a short warm up, though if one is not already well practiced in yoga stretching techniques, not to mention already flexible, some of these stretches should not be attempted. Even the so-called "moderate" poses for those with less strength and flexibility are difficult to achieve. Patricia Walden encourages the viewer to practice often and work toward the stretching goals, and conscientiously demonstrates the stretches in a methodical manner. The principles of balance and strength in all parts of the body (achieved by practicing both front and back stretches) is a lofty goal for many, but one to work toward in small increments. The two distinct routines in this video are conveniently presented separately so that they can be combined or practiced alternately. (If you're not already on your way to yogic flexibility, in the beginning you may be sitting out a good part of this video.) The production value, like the other "Yoga Journal" offerings, is consistently good and even. Certain stretches require props such as yoga blocks, but chairs and phone books are a good substitute for the home user. "--Gilia Angell"

Director: Steve Adams
Starring: Rodney Yee
Genre: Fitness & Yoga
Studio: Living Arts   Theatrical: 1996   Rated: NR
Languages (Country): English ()
Summary: "Yoga Journal"'s approach to instructional yoga tapes is always innovative, but their hour-long "Yoga Practice for Energy" is truly different. Filmed at the beach on Maui, the sessions Awakening, Centering, Creativity, Reflection, and Surrender offer movements that follow the cycle of the sun through the course of a day. Viewers are encouraged to first try the entire tape several times, and then use the sessions that correspond to their needs at any particular time. For example, if you've just trudged in the door from a hectic day, you may want to use the Reflection session, in which "a cooling, tranquil series of forward bends and hip openers let all activities of the day seep in like watercolors setting into paper." There is almost no narrative accompanying the five practice sessions, and if you are a beginner you may feel lost at first viewing. Have no fear: there is a wonderful appendix of poses at the end of the tape to which you can refer for tips on technique and variations. "--Jhana Bach"