I would like to try yoga and am looking for a good video to try. (I wish I could take it in a class but there isn't money in our budget for that.) Nothing too hokey, I rented one from the library and the lady was really surupy sweet and didn't look like she had all her marbles. :) (Or, if you know of a book that is better, shows all the positions and such, let me know the title of that too.)

Any suggestions?

I am hoping to get into this at some point, too. I have not yet bought any videos, but I am thinking about the Baron Baptiste series. People have good things to say about it.

If your library doesn't have to many to try, you may want to see if they can order some from other libraries.

www.collagevideo.com is a good site for looking up info on different videos.

i like the baron baptiste videos and practice his style of yoga ( as well as teach it) at the yoga studio that i belong to. I really enjoy it. His videos are excellent and well balanced. He also has a book, Journey into Power, that makes a good accompaniment.

Another good one is Beryl Bender Birch's Power Yoga and Beyond Power Yoga (books). Beryl has a new video coming out soon. She practices and teaches astanga (which she calls power yoga too), and the first video is, i believe, a modified primary series.

The AM/PM videos are very popular. I like rodney yee and he has a book as well. The book is excellently done, but it's not one of my favorites. Yoga Journal also has a series of videos. They are predominantly taught by Rodney Yee and Judith Lasiter. Rodney is an ecclectic yogi who does a lot of power yoga-type stuff. he may or may not practice vinyasa (depends upon the video). Vinyasa is a series of postures matched with breath. So, Astanga and baptiste power yoga are vinyasa yoga. Rodney's videos may or may not be a flow, even though they may be power yoga. Labels get confusing in the yoga world too. Judith Lasiter is an Iyengar instructor. They have great form and teach in great detail. it's wonderful for learning postures, but many people find it borning because you stay in a pose for so long, or there are only so many poses that you do per video, not a lot of variety.

Bryan Kest has vinyasa yoga videos that are quite challenging but also balanced. The Swensons have books (i believe they helped write Power Yoga for Dummies, though i hate those titles. most people aren't dummies, so why by a book that associates oneself as one? it seems like self-loathing and not the practice of ahimsa, or nonviolence, towards oneself.) They also have videos, but they are more strict to astanga primary series. Although i love primary series, without a teacher to direct you, it is very difficult to get into it. There may also be Anusara yoga videos, but i haven't seen any first hand. Anusara is a good form of yoga, with good emphasis on biomechanics.

All of that being said, i think the best thing to do is to go to a studio. I understand tight budgets, but don't let that scare you off. Most classes run about $10 per class in our area, and that's drop in (no preregistry). Many studios, ours in particular, offers opportunities for trade. You can come and open the door of the studio taking in the money and making sure the new people are introduced to the studio in exchange for classes. Or, mop/scrub the floors every few days; or any other number of things that one can do or that the teacher can come up with. I work in exchange for all of my classes. I'm there so frequently now that i can take class twice a day every day. I haven't done that in a long while, but i do get to the studio four or five times a week. It's an opportunity worth looking in to.

Hope this helps!

when i first started out someone gave me the 'idiots guide to yoga' video.

it's not too bad.

I just returned Denise Austin's Power Yoga Plus to the library.
I'll have to look for it on eBay - its a great workout!
It actually combines yoga with pilates making it an intense routine.
I was really very shocked - as fit as I considered myself to be, it still hurt to laugh 3 days after i did it the first time, my abs were so sore!
Lisa

I suggest going to www.kundaliniyoga.net and buying some of his VHS tapes. I have them personally and they are a really good way to get started. (even if you have done it before)

I started practicing yoga with Patricia Waldens' Yoga for Beginners video. It's a good starter video to get you familiar with common poses.

I also found a really good website that has a lot of postures including descriptions of how to do them and photos. http://www.yogabasics.com/ There are also suggested post sequences and a description of pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation. All for free!

Basically I started with the video and when I felt comfortable with that I added more postures from the website.

YOGA ZONE!!!! I have quite a few of their DVD's and they rock!!!! They're easy to follow and I feel so relaxed after a session.

http://www.yogazone.com/

YOGA ZONE!!!! I have quite a few of their DVD's and they rock!!!! They're easy to follow and I feel so relaxed after a session.

http://www.yogazone.com/

I have the Yoga Zone Power Yoga for Strength and Endurance and I like it alot. It's a pretty good workout and I haven't gotten tired of it.

Wonderful beginner videos here:

www.kripalu.org
https://www.kripalushop.org/main.htm

Check out their beginner/gentle tapes. Affordable, too. They're also the least "judgmental" of all the yoga programs, imo. My favorite phrase: "Let go of how you should be in this pose." (Meaning that you needn't worry about whether you can be perfect . . . it's the journey, not the destination.)

The beginner's video is also excellent for anyone who's mobility-impaired for any reason (illness, injury, weight, etc.).

I can't believe no one recommended www.gaiam.com yet! Tons of Rodney Yee videos, my personal favorite. And lots of gear and stuff.