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Recommended Yoga Videos, Books & Magazines
Web Sites
Videos
1. Living Yoga: A.M./P.M. Yoga for Beginners SetThis yoga set is perfect for busy people who need to work in a way to relax. On the a.m. tape, Rodney Yee takes you through a 15-minute morning yoga set, while Patricia Walden leads a 20-minute evening routine on the p.m. tape. The a.m. tape was filmed on a beach on Maui at sunrise, providing a soothing background for this gentle workout. In the morning, Rodney tells us, "the body is rested but stiff from inactivity." The stretches he demonstrates are designed to increase circulation, improve mobility, and bring clarity to your mind. The movements are easy to follow (they include a conscious relaxation, the a.m. workout, and a guided meditation), and the set is short enough that it can be squeezed into the most hectic of morning schedules. The p.m. video was filmed at sunset in Death Valley. Patricia's yoga set is designed to quiet the mind after the stress of the day and to help you make the transition from active to quiet. She uses a combination of a centering series, standing poses, forward bends, and restorative poses to help you ease into night. You will need some firm blankets to sit on and a yoga strap (although a belt or scarf will serve the same purpose) to perform these movements. Perfect for the beginner and for the overworked.
2. Ali MacGraw - Yoga Mind & BodyClean white sand and a cool predawn sky are the backdrops for this stunningly produced video, complete with an upbeat New Age soundtrack. Don't be put off by the MTV-like camera work, as this video constitutes an excellent, well-balanced workout. Ali MacGraw and a supporting cast of something-for-everyone models work through this 50-minute routine, overseen by yoga master Erich Schiffman. The first minutes focus on ujjayi breathing, then MacGraw leads us through a complete practice of shoulder stretches, sun salutations, back bends and twists, and standing poses. No equipment is required, but a sticky mat is recommended.
3. Kripalu Yoga: GentleThis excellent tape delivers exactly what it promises: a gentle but complete yoga experience. Two of them, actually, as the practice is divided into distinct but compatible 30-minute sequences. Carolyn Lundeen (also known as Sudha), with the help of two other demonstrators, leads you through a flowing progression of seated and standing twists, lunges, bends, and balances, with a short "meditation in motion" at the end of part 2 in which users are encouraged to move any way they please, be it yogalike or not. There are no bells and whistles here--no lush outdoor settings, elaborate costumes, or New Age affectations. Lundeen's presence is what really makes the difference. Her calm voice-over direction is neither too perky nor too laid-back; her manner is such that instructions like "look forward into your life," which might easily sound pretentious elsewhere, come across here as totally natural. Kripalu Yoga: Gentle is highly recommended for those just getting started, or for anyone more advanced who wants to take a break rather than break a sweat. This elegantly produced, superbly taught yoga video from the well-regarded Kripalu Yoga Center focuses on the gentle yoga experience. Strength and flexibility of the body are encouraged, but the main goal is deeper awareness of the self. Posture Sequences Poster included with video.
4. Jane Fonda: Yoga Exercise WorkoutThe focus of this tape is on the "sun salutation," a connected series of poses that builds strength, flexibility, and balance, and with repeated practice this offers what Fonda calls "an excellent full-body workout." The program is divided into three sections, any one of which can be practiced on its own. The first breaks down the various poses comprising the sun salute, while the second is devoted to several repetitions of the salute itself; three variations are offered, two incorporating some of Fonda's own techniques and one that's closer to the "classical" or "Series C" salutation. The final section (which might actually be a better place to prepare for your practice than to finish it) focuses on relaxation and breathing. Fonda's manner is brisk, but her instructions are clear and concise, and while the tape isn't especially difficult, it should prove challenging enough for beginners and most intermediates.
5. New Yoga Video for Breast Cancer Survivors by Esther MyersThe video features movements to help re-establish flexibility and range of movement after breast surgery. These stretches are also suitable for those with lymphoedema, a swelling usually caused by radiation or surgery. The video's creator, yoga teacher and breast cancer survivor, Esther Myers, takes a group of students, also breast cancer survivors, through a yoga practice designed to help in the recuperative process.
6. Yoga for Round BodiesEnjoy classic postures, tailored for mastery by the full-figured man or woman. On each volume of this series, simultaneous beginner and intermediate versions of postures let you do just what your body needs, every time.
Magazines
Yoga Instructional Cassettes
At Kripalu
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Kripalu Center
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Kripalu Moderate Yoga |
Rebekkah Kronlage
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Yoga at the Edge |
Todd Norian
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The Gentle Series |
Rudy Peirce
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At Iyoga.com
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iyoga.com
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So You Want to Start Yoga |
Felicity Green, 2 tapes
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Advanced Beginning |
Series I, 2 tapes
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Advanced Beginning |
Series II, 4 tapes
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At Amazon
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Amazon
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The Art of Breath and Relaxation |
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Rodney Yee,
2 tapes
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Lilias Yoga Complete |
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Lilias Folan,
2 guidebooks and 3 cassettes
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Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing |
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Andrew Weil
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Total Fitness Yoga with Gurumarka for Beginners |
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Gurumarka
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Relaxation |
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Mary Pulliz Schatz, MD,
60" guided relaxation
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Seated Yoga |
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Carol Dickman,
mild practice or for mobility limitations
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Yoga for the Young at Heart |
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Susan Winter Ward,
60" 4 gentle 15" sessions
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Yoga Sanctuary |
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Shiva Rea,
2CDs 2hours 11 mins.
For experienced beginners. Includes instructions for asanas, sun salutations and relaxation
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Books from Esther Myers Yoga Studio
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Esther Myers Yoga Studio
(you can view excerpts) |
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Yoga & You |
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Esther Myers
A clear step-by-step instructional book for students of all levels
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The Ground, the Breathe & the Spine |
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Esther Myers and Lynn Wylie
A Yoga instructional book for beginner and intermediate students.
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Breath, the Essence of Yoga |
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Sandra Sabatini
An insightful book that helps you learn how to listen to the breath and how to approach some simple positions - for yoga students of all levels.
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Music
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