A.M. Yoga for Your Week

Rodney Yee has had some hits and some misses in his yoga DVDs but mostly the former, in my book. Despite the occasional DVD that did not work, I think of him as a wonderful teacher, in fact he is one of my favorites.I dont like philosophy mixed in with physical yoga. Because of the mind+body aspect of the origins of yoga, often a new age talk track accompanies the physical yoga on DVDs. The issue with this is that every teacher of yoga has their own interpretation of the philosophy behind yoga and frequently this seems, at least to me, very different from my own readings and interpretation. So although I think yoga is holistic, I dont find yoga DVDs of physical asana practice the best medium to impart simultaneous spiritual/philosophical ideology.One of the reasons I like Rodney Yee is that he sticks to physical yoga. His talk track is form and alignment cues. Yee usually has a minimalist instruction style that is best suited for those who have some prior experience of yoga and want a DVD to follow along but not to really "learn" yoga asana. Another reason I like Yee is that his yoga is "classic" and yet features interesting combinations.AM Yoga for your Week is a bit of a departure from Yee's minimal talk track style. He provides extensive and wonderfully helpful cues. Despite some years of yoga practise I discovered help with some sticky points from his cues in my forward bends. Full marks to the DVD for cueing. It should work well for beginners and beyond as its audience.Before I ordered the DVD I had read that each 20 minute session had a separate focus - twists, backbends, forward bends, standing poses, hip openers. I typically do longer sessions of yoga with a bit of everything for what I consider a balanced practise. Forward bends are effective counter poses to backbends and so on. I wondered how separating the focus would work. I find it works very well as put together by Yee. Yee sets up with prep work before getting into the deeper poses and finishes with asanas that work as effective counter poses although they are not the typical choices. Doing 20 minutes with a specific focus each day is working as well for me as doing a long session twice a week that incorporates all the categories.This DVD is particularly useful to busy people who cross train and want to do yoga apart from other forms of exercise like strength training and cardio. The 20 minute format is easy to tag on after another workout or as an independant yoga session in the morning if you do some other stuff in the evening.The special feature of an intervew with Yee was enjoyable. I have often worndered what attracted him to Yoga since he says so little in his other DVDs. Hearing him explain in his sincere and understated style was good. He seems to have a good sense of humor.

This DVD is very easy to follow along and very calming. My schedule doesn't allow me to use it much in the AM as originally planned but it;s just as effective in the PM.

Love this yoga video! Rodney Yee provides clear and simple directions for performing the various postures. He covers all areas of the body.

Very helpful

PROs:-Has 5 different 20 minute practices.-Each practice has a specific focus: standing poses, twists, backbends, foreward bends, and hip openers.-The practices are great for beginner/advanced beginner and intermediate yogis. The poses can be modified for different fitness levels.-Each practice is well-rounded with thorough warm up time and shavasana/meditation at the end of each practice.-The flow from one pose to the next is very well choreographed with little in between pose movement.-The music is PERFECT! This yoga DVD has the most relaxing and inspiring music I have heard on a yoga DVD.-The setting is stunning. The atmosphere of the wide open desert is breathtaking, awe-inspiring and the perfect thing to wake up to! I feel so inspired doing yoga with this scenery, I feel like I am there in the wide open spaces.-Rodney Yee gives excellent and highly detailed direction.-I have had this DVD for about a year and I still use it nearly everyday. I don't always use it in the morning, the practices are good for any time of day. The point is I love it so much I am STILL not tired of it! I have a whole stack of yoga DVDs and this is one that I continue to use very frequently while others just collect dust.-Rodney gives excellent guided meditations at the end of each practice. Each meditation is different and relates to the specific practice.CONs:-Sometimes Rodney's instructions are so detailed that I am not sure what he means. How do I "release my muscles away from the bone"? Not sure what he means by that.

I'm really enjoying these workouts. They're a great way to start the day feeling energized and relaxed. My biggest frustration is that as someone new to yoga, I don't have the equipment needed, other than a mat. One of the workouts requires a yoga block, one uses a strap (made due with a band until I was able to order one), and another uses a bolster/2 blankets rolled up. Two of the 3 items I didn't know I needed until I was partway into the workout. I've since ordered a block and strap, for $10 - $15 each. The bolsters are around $40, so I'll need to improvise something else for that. So, my $11 dvd has now turned out to be a $40 investment with another potential $40, which was not the plan. As far as the actual workouts go, they're pretty easy and enjoyable, and a great way to wake up.

Let me start my saying that I am NOT a morning person. I am not bright eyed a bushy tailed. I would never be able to take a spin class first thing, or go to the gym at all for that matter. The thought A.M. Yoga made me laugh a little, to be honest but this DVD changed all that. First each segment is only 20 minutes. That sounds much better than getting up early to drive to the gym or doing an hour's worth of anything. When the alarm goes off, I tell myself "It's only 20 minutes...." So I get up and put this on.One of the great things about it is that the routines are gentle, as morning practice should be. You can pick between "Twists", "Hip Openers" (my favorites!) "Back bends", "Forward Bends" and "Standing Poses"Usually, I tell myself I'm going to do just one (that gets me out of bed) but often I do two or three.Time flies by because the instruction is superb and the scenery is amazing.I wish Gaiam with come up with a sequel for even more variety.