yoga question

[FreshTart]

I'm looking to purchase a beginner's yoga DVD. I'm looking for something in particular that will (in this order):

1. strengthen my middle back muscles
2. strengthen my upper back muscles
3. strengthen my chest muscles
4. strengthen my shoulders
5. strengthen my abs
6. anything that isn't in the above list would be a nice bonus

I only want DVD options. Don't suggest a class because I don't want to attend a class; I only want a DVD that I can do at home.

Thanks.

[zoebird]

i'm going to have to think abuot this greatly. There are a number of DVDs that are out there, they work these areas in different ways. I have a few in mind, so let me 'do' the ones that i have to see what it's effect on those muscle groups are.

Also, i want to give you a few links to a few poses that may help you out before you get a DVD. in fact, you may not even need a DVD. You can just take my word for it and do these poses. LOL is that helpful?

ok, lemme sit down and brainstorm a bit and get some poses and sequencing together and then start putting it all in a post.

ok?

[FreshTart]

Thanks for the offer, but I really need a DVD with someone walking me through it or I just won't do it :lol:

[Ms Chevious]

Krista, check out the DVDs at Gaiam.com. They have several good ones with Rodney Yee (I think that is his name) and lots are very cheap priced. If you want to order one let me know and I can find you a discount code to save you even more.

Here are some from Overstock -- http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=ENDECA&SEC_IID=8770&N=0&keywords=yoga+dvds&x=13&y=8 Let me know if you want these as I can save you 10% at Overstock.

[FreshTart]

thanks, I'll go look :)

[brahmacharya]

I Agree with the Ms. C!

[zoebird]

i think that rodney yee's power yoga video would be best. If i'm not mistaken, there's a picture of him doing arm balances on the front. it works really well. i just went through the DVD real quick--and there is a lot of focus on strength in these areas. it's a bit more concentrated. Also, i dig his alignment (iyengar). But, i noticed that it was missing the three best poses that meets all of your requirements:

1. Chaturanga Dandhasans (http://yogadancer.com/Pages/Dandasana.shtml#Chaturanga): (four limbed staff pose) for this posture, make certain that you keep your elbows in to your sides (they should stop at your lats/rib cage) and that your arms form a 90 degree angle from wrist to elbow, elbow to shoulder to prevent injury. belly and thighs stay off the floor.

2 Urdvha Muka Svanasana (http://yogadancer.com/Pages/Svanasana.shtml#Urdhva): (upward facing dog) for this posture, you want to make certain that the thighs are off the floor, that the quadriceps are active, that the inner thighs roll in and up, and that you're pulling your shoulders together and down tward the floor as you lift your chest forward and toward the ceiling.

3. Adho Muka Svanasana (http://yogadancer.com/Pages/Svanasana.shtml#Adho): (downward facing dog) this posture counterposes the previous posture, and also strengthens the back--particularly in the mid back. Make certain that you spread your shoulder blades and roll the triceps toward the floor. try to put more weight into your legs (to support you) than your arms (common beginner error is to put too much weight forward). Try to get a flat back in this pose.

So, you got a bit of both. what you wanted, and what you didn't want, but if you could find a way to be motivated, it would probably be all that you need to do to get what you want. :P

[FreshTart]

I'll check out the power one first and bookmark your post. If I stay motivated with it, I'll either try your poses or find a video that covers them :D

<<<wuss

[zoebird]

there are lots of videos that cover them--most of them the various power vinyasa videos (kest, stryker, baptiste, etc) and astanga videos (birch, swenson, etc).

[catswym]

there are two rodney yee ones i like.

one is the power yoga: total body workout and one is power yoga: strength and flexibility.

for what you are looking for krista i would go with the strength and flexibility one (although i prefer the total body workout). the s & f one is two 30min workouts which are both fast paced. my upper body is pretty tired after doing the combination of them. the strength portion esp does a lot of arm balancing which is great for the upper body.

[FreshTart]

Thanks!

[CarbLover]

I do a lot of fitness DVDs. Most of the beginner yoga DVDs I have are focused on flexibility and lower body. Lots of standing poses, lunges, etc. There are some back extentions/stretches but I don't know if these do anything for strength. I haven't done any upper body focused yoga...mostly because I can't freaking do it. I can't even come close to doing Chaturanga. My upper body is weak. As far as the Rodney Yee ones--I liked his A.M. Yoga DVD (but this is just stretching and meditation, not strength at all) so I looked at his others. The power yoga DVDs seem to be quite advanced based on the reviews I read on Amazon.com. I also go to www.collagevideo.com. They have reviews and 60 second previews.

[missleigh]

I also like the Gaiam/Rodney Yee DVDs the best. They seem to be the closest to how my yoga classes were back when I could afford to go. I have this one:
http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=gai&category%5Fname=l3%5FYogaforBeginners&product%5Fid=91%2D0234
but I got it off of ebay for a lot less than $20 :)

[TofurkyZombie]

Power yoga really helps to strengthen all the areas you listed. My favorite power yoga videos are the first 3 pack that bryan kest did. http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001WTWYC/ref=br_lf_d_1/701-7919498-9281923

[FreshTart]

:cry:

I can only do 5 minutes at a time before I get really confused and sore :lol:

[zoebird]

that's ok. only do five minutes then.

after a while, you'll do 6 minutes, then 7 and then 8. work your way up. rome wsn't built in a day afterall.

and besides, yoga is a life-long practice. you're not meant to get it all at once. that's what makes it fun and exciting--always something new to learn, somewhere to go. just enjoy the ride of that.

and, if that doesn't convince you, my favorite line for the over seventy set:

"we do this yoga so that we can depend on ourselves, rather than depending on Depends." (Depends is a brand of adult diaper here).

so, yeah, do your yoga.

[jenna]

Just may be the motivation I need to kick it back in gear to stay with the yoga I had been doing for a while. I have a bunch of DVDs/videos of yoga and so far my favorite one is Suzanne Deason's Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss. Many, many poses in there work on the sorts of things that you are wanting to strengthen, Krista. I also like how in her DVD she has women of various sizes and advancements in yoga practice. This one is really good for stretching and strengthening. She says it's for "weight loss" but I think even those who aren't necessarily looking to lose weight could benefit from this one. Also, her voice is calm and smooth - not irritating like some I've heard.

I still want to check out Rodney Yee, too. I think he's fantastic.

[astro]

Do you have a file-sharing program of any kind? You can get 'beginners yoga' and 'pilates' videos and dvd's for free on most of them. That way, you haven't wasted any money if you find it doesn't suit you or it's too hard. :)

[catswym]

:cry:

I can only do 5 minutes at a time before I get really confused and sore :lol:

which one did you end up getting?

if i can't do poses than what i like to do is pause the dvd (or just go without it if i know what the pose is supposed to look like), get my body as 'far' as i can go in the pose and visualize my body as being in the pose.

start where you are and be okay being there.