Yoga Zone Introduction to Yoga Beginners
“Go at your own pace, don’t strain!” Alan Finger reminds viewers in the introduction to this Yoga Zone workout. They’re words of wisdom for anyone who’s ever tried (and failed) to emulate the moves of some perfect-looking human pretzel on what purports to be a “beginners” videotape. In contrast, Finger’s gentle, refreshingly detailed Introduction to Yoga begins with basic breathing techniques and moves on to some of the most fundamental poses in any practice, including lunges, twists, cobra, dog, triangle, and even a corpse pose tutorial that comes complete with guided relaxation. (Later tapes in this series build on the asanas taught here, adding more advanced variations and positions.) Two instructors demonstrate different versions of each pose, one for more flexible advanced students and one for less flexible beginners. We even get to see one student topple out of stork pose! Calm, thorough, absolutely unrushed, this is a great tape for those who’ve never taken a yoga class in their lives. Even experienced students, however, may find that the relaxed pace helps them reach a deeper level of understanding of how body, mind, and breath can work together. Fittingly, the credits roll over Finger and his fellow instructors demonstrating advanced positions of impressive strength and beauty; like the tape itself, it’s a perfect introduction to the continuing rewards of yoga practice. –Mary Park
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars One of the best DVD’s for those new to yoga
I can’t say enough how much I enjoy the Yoga Zone dvd’s taught by Alan Finger. This is a slow paced practice that gives you an excellent foundation and helps you really understand proper alignment. Unlike some “beginner” dvd’s, the average person who has never done a yoga pose in their life can do this dvd because of the very precise and detailed instruction.
Using this DVD as a foundation to beginning my yoga practice has allowed me to do so many other yoga dvd’s that are great workouts but perhaps lacking a bit in the instructional side. Alan Finger is very motivating and guides you through the best relaxations at the end. I find that although he talks through them nearly the entire time, I can actually relax better into them than in other dvd’s shavasana’s where my mind tends to wander.
I highly recommend this DVD. If you are just starting your practice you can’t go wrong by starting out here!
5 Stars Really great yoga video
I’ve been a yoga teacher for almost 15 years and this is the best yoga video for beginners I’ve ever seen. I stumbled on it while researching yoga videos for seniors as I am looking to buy a video for my 92 year old grandmother who just started doing yoga, but this video is great for all ages (including her!). Alan Finger explains the poses clearly and goes at a gentle pace, making it accessible for beginners yet even more experienced yogis as myself will still learn from it and enjoy the practice. Unlike many other videos I’ve seen which either rush at a hectic pace or bore us with endless talking and no movement, this video flows nicely allowing participants to feel confident in knowing they are doing the poses safely and correctly while getting a great yoga class filled with a variety of poses and stretches. Once you are comfortable with this video I recommend trying Yoga Journal’s Intro to Yoga series, which is a little more advanced. Between the two, you don’t need any other videos.
5 Stars A yoga teacher’s perspective
This is an excellent program.
Allan Fingers offers very detailed and precise instructions each time I listen to it, I get additional hints and tips.
The program is rather quick paced and ends with an excellent guided relaxation.
After following the video several times and learning the sequence I prefer to do it without the DVD and take long time in the positions.
An amusing aspect of the video is that Allan Finger chose some extraordinarily sexy looking models, “senior yoga instructors”, and the camera-person is at times dwelling on the sexy aspects of these “senior instructors” just a tad too long…
Due to this, some of my women friends found the video offensive (perhaps they felt intimidated by these young and sexy as the models).
I highly recommend this program, it does not require any previous knowledge of yoga positions while at the same time, ever very advanced practitioners loved it.
3 Stars Already seen this
The workout itself isn’t bad, per se, but it feels incomplete. It is the exact same workout as Flexibility and Tone. Exactly. There is one extra stretch position and the order of the movements is switched around once or twice, but other than that it’s the same. Alan Finger even says some of the same lines. (I suppose that’s inevitable, after doing dozens of shows and videos). In fact, Flexibility and Tone feels more ‘thorough’. That workout leaves you feeling like you really did something, whereas this one leaves you feeling unchallenged and wondering if you just wasted an hour. I’m glad this is really inexpensive these days. Get Flexibility and Tone…and if you already have that one and are determined to get a new Yoga video, don’t get this one.
3 Stars harder than expected
I got my yoga dvd today and sat down to view it. I have not done yoga before so need something for beginners. after watching it I have a hard time believing this is a beginners tape. it is long and hard. it will take me forever to get this learned. if you are a beginner I suggest you keep looking.
