Yoga For Every Body

I have a few Yoga VCR tapes. This is my first DVD. I am pleased that it makes good use of options DVD provides - the ability to provide menus and skip forwards and backward easily. There are several workouts for beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Within each of these categories, there are further selections for long and short workouts that are either general practices or have specific goals (body areas, aches & pains, etc). I have not done an advanced workout yet. I was pleased that in an intermediate workout there were 2 poses I have not seen before on a tape or in a class. The poses were clearly explained and it was easy to follow the tape. The instructor, JJ, often shows or tells you about different ways you can modify poses to suit your body's ability (or inability!). I have a 2 year old. I absolutely love that there are so many workouts to choose from that I can always find one to fit in the free time I have while she naps, or early in the morning, or while she's playing with Dad. No more saying, 'Well, guess I have to do it tomorrow' just becuase I don't have an hour free to complete one of my tapes. Sure, I know, I could just make my own workout up, but it just doesn't happen. Some reviews complain about the black screen between poses - that it is disruptive and not conducive to flow. I don't have a problem with it. The first time you do a workout you will notice it. The second time through, you begin to see ways to connnect the poses on your own - for example - pose one might end in downward facing dog pose, and pose 2 begins with it - so you just hold it an extra second. In general, holding the end of a pose until the next one begins seems to work OK. It seems that on the shortest workouts this doesn't always hold true - they don't always flow well. BUT - you have plenty of time to recover and get into position. If flow is what you are after, then you will be disgruntled, but otherwise there isn't a problem. I suggest watching the brief segment on technique review. She clearly explains the different body parts and alignment cues she mentions. I found it very helpful. The teacher's style is very relaxed and straightforward. I do not like overly flowery and spiritual delivery - I always feel like that should be up to the student. I found JJ's style to be perfect for me. In all - this is a great DVD and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good variety of quality workouts. The instruction is clear enough for beginners, the workouts challenging enough for at least intermediate students. I'm not advanced, so I can't speak for them!

Maybe I am missing something, I don't know. I bought this based on the amazing reviews, but I have yet to experience what everyone is talking about. Perhaps it is because I am used to more of a flow style of yoga, this video is more 'downward facing dog' then you hold it for a few breaths and then 'seated twist' comes on and you do that for a few breaths. There are a lot of different options of routines but none of them flow. The ab routine is just a lot of twists and I have yet to feel challanged on any of the poses or workouts. I have a horrible work schedule of having to do 12 hour shifts and I am only able to work out on my days off and I want those workouts to count and I have never felt that I am getting a good workout with this dvd. The instructor does do a great job of explaining the poses and proper allignment though. I feel bad for giving it such a poor review as everyone else loves this dvd so much, but I have not been able to get in to this at all.

I have been taking a yoga class regularly for almost a year now, and I think this video is great for home practice. I think if you are familiar with yoga "basics," you can really learn a lot from Yoga for Every Body. What I like: Variety. Between the different skill levels and the number of practices, there's always a fitting series. Time. The practices range from 20 minutes (and actually last just that long, which is important when you are fitting yoga into a tight schedule) to over 45 minutes. Quality instruction. Gormley is good at pointing out where you should feel a pose, how to come in and out of poses, how to modify poses for your ability level, and when to back off. What I don't like: My real-life yoga instructor emphasizes the importance of doing each pose on both sides of the body. So if you are doing, say, a seated forward bend with your legs crossed, you would change the cross of your legs and do the pose again. Gormley does not always do this. I just pause the DVD and do the second side. What you should know before you begin with this video: Get your props ready! It is helpful (though not necessary) to have a folded blanket, a strap, and one or two blocks ready at all times. I don't use props often, but since starting with this DVD, I've experimented with them and think they can be very beneficial. Have your remote handy, too. Sometimes I like to pause and repeat a pose on another side. Also, and I don't know if this is just my system or an issue with the DVD, this video is LOUD. Unless I want to wake up the neighborhood, I turn the volume WAY down before starting this DVD. Overall, I think this is a great value and a useful guide for yoga home practice.

This product offers a number of asana practices, but very little attention is paid to flow, so one finds oneself moving awkwardly from position to position. The pacing is also very slow with much time taken setting up the position rather than being in it. This is good for beginners, but not really for advanced yogis. One other quibble is she prepares you for shavasana, but does not bring you out to complete the session.

I started exercising yoga with a magazin but some of the poses were difficult to guess how to do them so I decided on this DVD. The poses are well explained but I'm missing warm ups... On the other side I just started using itand haven't practise a full rutine.