A.M. and P.M. Yoga [DVD] [2004] [2000]

I have very little background in yoga. Consequently, I wanted a gentle introduction to yoga from this DVD that would teach me something about the practice and would be feasible to incorporate into my day.

I thought it was excellent. The AM yoga session with Rodney Yee is my favourite and is very gentle yet I have found it effective. After a short while I've noticed distinct improvements in my flexibility at my circuit training class which is highly motiviating.

The PM session with Patricia Walden is more challenging but that's good as it gives you more insight into what's needed to progress in yoga practice. The main difference for me between the AM and PM workouts is that a beginnner would need to use props for the PM. It would have been helpful for me to have had someone less advanced alongside Patricia for the PM programme as I couldn't get near to some of her positions but that's a minor quibble and wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

The bonus features are also excellent, there's instruction is using yoga props and an additional workout that allows you to practice their use which is very clearly explained. I'm surprised the producers don't make more of this in the promotional material and I would recommend trying the bonus workout and practising with the props before trying the PM workout. The bonus features also include interviews with Rodney and Patricia which give you an insight into their yogic and teaching philosophies which puts things into context.

This is the best thing short of a class that you could hope to find for a beginner. I would recommend this to anyone thinking of taking up yoga or anyone who feels they need more flexibility to achieve their athletic goals. The latter may wish to skip the relaxation parts. In my lay opinion, it's not suitable for intermediate or advanced practitioners.

This is a nice and gentle way to begin your day or end it after you come home from work.
Each session begins with an introduction about the aims of the practice followed by a brief meditation, workout then relaxation.
For those with even less time you may wish to skip the morning meditation, especially if like me you're I'm likely to fall back asleep if encouraged to relax too much!

For those used to hour long yoga sessions you may not find enough work in here BUT for those of us who crawl out of bed in the mornings rather than leap, the AM session has about the right amount of back and hip opening to ease out those creaking bones.
The evening session is a little more vigorous but still within the grasp of beginners. This section has some forward bends that will help to stretch out your legs and shoulders, very useful for those of us working at a desk all day.

Even if you're not in to the idea of yoga I think everyone would benefit from some gentle stretching everyday and this dvd is ideal for that. The short workout time means you have little excuse not to do it.

I've been doing yoga off and on for several years and after a break this is an ideal way to get back in to things.

Excellent DVD! Highly recommend it! Both workouts, which last about 20 minutes each, are super. They help you to be more limber as they stretch the stiffest areas of the body as well as work with balance and strength. As yoga often does, it also seems to magically stimulate the inner organs to detox and normalize functions, so is a real all-round health booster! Both workouts are well narrated, so you don't need to keep your eyes glued to the television set to figure out what you are supposed to be doing next. This is one DVD that I will be using for many years to come! I should add that my 20 year old daughter finds the movements too slow (but she is a dancer who does pilates to relax) while they are perfect for middle-aged me.

There is a third and excellent workout routine if you are just a little too stiff for the extreme poses and need the blocks and straps, which gives a nice variation or bonus. In all, a recommended purchase.