One of my high school classmates (year abroad in France) asked me if I could recommend any DVDs for beginning yoga. I have to start by admitting that I have not watched too many. Some of the ones of I have reviewed date back to the 80s and are in VHS format - unfortunately, I cannot remember the title of one of those - I borrowed them from the local library for my book research.
Last year, however, for a nominal fee of $7 shipping, I responded to an offer by Deepak Chopra's center (or one of his centers - in California) for a 2- DVD set, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. I have referred to this set in the past, but today I will elaborate on the benefits of the basic instructional yoga DVD. I re-watched 25 minutes of the DVD yesterday morning so I could comment on it here.
The basic class taught by a female instructor is filmed in what looks like a spacious home yoga studio - or at least it has a "homey" feel to it - perfect! Interestingly, the class begins with the Savasana pose - i.e., what is also known as the corpse pose but which I prefer to call the total relaxation pose. In my experience, yoga sessions end with the Savasana so that the person can allow the energy released from the poses to settle nicely into the body. I suppose, though, the Savasana can also be an effective way to ease into and warm up for a yoga pose.
The instructor carefully explains the various poses from knee presses to sun salutations in a clear voice and, easy-to-follow way. Although she also tosses in the sanskrit terms a bit rapidly for the beginner to catch. I liked that she emphasized that the silence and pauses between the poses is just as important as the poses themselves - super! I think overall, the instructor makes the yoga poses she demonstrates accessible, and non-intimidating to the non-athlete beginner like myself.
The principal drawbacks of the DVD, in my view, is that there aren't really suggestions for how to create a daily regime or enough discussion of the benefits of the poses. There are some - but I would prefer a few more key points brought out to convince the viewer on how important it is to practice the poses regularly. In summary, I would say try watching a few DVDs and video podcasts and look for pointers to enhance your regime.
Thought of the Day: Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy. Constant practice alone is the secret of success. ~Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika