Yoga Zone: Yoga for Weight Loss

By removing all the restlessness you experience from daily stress, you can then start to address unconscious eating habits. Suddenly, you are making better choices and wandering in the natural foods isle of your grocery store. Since starting Yoga, I've rarely found myself at a fast-food establishment and when I do happen to be there with my husband, I'm making better choices. For example - salads or low carb options.

So, Yoga works. This I've proven to myself. It strengthens you from the inside out and also helps you focus on your health instead of just "exercising." Yoga actually makes you a more well-rounded person, except you can see it toning your muscles and making your face look more relaxed. In fact, if you skip your Yoga, you start to crave the peaceful serenity of your daily "moment with yourself."

Al Bingham's voice is so pleasant and his instruction style is positive and nurturing. I love how he takes a hands-on approach and really guides you through each exercise. You can be assured you are doing it correctly because he explains each position in depth.

This is one of the most accessible yoga workouts out there. The exercises range from beginner to intermediate with some interesting variations for the chair pose which made the pose less exhausting, and much more creative. You will recognize positions like Warrior 1 and plank pose. There are yoga-style pushups and the entire exercise routine is pleasantly paced. The Sun Salutations are healing and teach you to breathe.

Al Bingham's calming voice makes this a favorite for late night relaxing. The beach scenes take you out of your home environment and give you a mini vacation.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

P.S. Also look for Yoga Zone Flexibility and Stress Release


Excellent Flowing and Heating Practice   June 3, 2004
Yoga Dad
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I've done this tape several times and really like it a lot!

The particular things I like about this practice are:

1. Al Bingham is an excellent easy to follow instructor.

2. Modifications are shown by one instructor and the full poses by the other.

3. Much of it is based on the Sun Salutations, but it is broken down incrementally so that your body has a chance to adapt to each posture.

4. I found that it generated a good amount of heat and sweat.

5. It's only about 30 minutes which makes it very doable in terms of fitting into a schedule, plus you can push pretty hard without it becoming impossibly long so you don't have to worry about petering out.

6. It's challenging physically but all the poses can be done by most people in reasonably good health (no crazy poses that you need to be Gumby in order to perform).

7. The Yoga Zone programs in general have a very nice feel to them, a nice presentation in terms of the scenery and the instructors are not intimidating.

8. The pacing is flowing but not rushed.

Just a suggestion for those doing this regarding the chair poses. If you find them really tough (and they certainly can be), just start straight legged, the as you slowly sweep your arms overhead (or in front of you) gently lower down to the first "edge" of tension and breathe there. Don't push yourself EVER to the point of pain, just mild discomfort. You can also practice them dynamically, start higher up (straighter legs) and on each inhale raise up a little to release the stress and on each exhale just gently go a little bit lower than before. This makes the pose much safer and builds heat.

Anyway, I like this video, the bonus video is also an effective practice and only about 20 ,minutes so it's a nice practice to either alternate with for variety or to use on days when time is short.

Namaste


Great Video for beginners   November 8, 2003
S Smith (New Brunswick Canada)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This video is great for anyone looking to get into Yoga. Instructor Al does a great job of taking you through the whole work out pose by pose, with clear instruction. You are left with no doubt that you are doing it right.
As well you will also acheive visible results from the video, and you will be able to feel the affects of the video the next morning.
Though with any work out video it may take two to three times before you really get the hang of it.
This video really gave me the Yoga bug, and helped me to develop a real appreaciation for Yoga and it's benefits.


You'll stress with this video   June 1, 2003
I love the Yoga Zone series in general, but this particular one completely stresses me out! The instructor is horrible. He overtalks, is way too hyper, and talks more about what NOT to do rather than the correct poses.


Loved this DVD   May 17, 2003
I'm pretty much brand new to yoga and love this DVD! I bought it because I'm familiar with Yoga Zone from watching the Health Network. I miss it now that we've moved! This DVD is great for beginners, but it's still difficult enough that I know I can work up to full postures. Also the modifications are wonderful--this is truly a program one can grow with!

The workout is about 35 minutes long and I couldn't believe I was actually working up a sweat. After only three days of doing the program, I can tell a huge difference in my flexibility and my husband says he can see improvements in my overall appearance.

There's a bonus 20 minute conditioning program, which is great, but I'll probably alternate between the two, because the first workout tires me out (and yet leaves me totally relaxed--it's awesome!)