Yoga Practice for Flexibility

Quick Facts:
Run time: Approximately 85 minutes, 75 minutes active
Equipment needed: Yoga mat, blocks optional

My Details:
Height: 5'4" or just under
Weight: Under 130, unsure how much.
Fitness Stats: Took a yoga class during school for a quarter (like 11 weeks).

Quick Review:
Calories burned: Unknown, really. Around 55 extra calories per "session."
Highest heart rate: 97
Lowest heart rate: 60
Difficulty: 7/10



Good For:
Who: The flexible person new to yoga or the yogi with some decent previous instruction on modification.
When: Off days when you want to rejuvenate.



Extended Review:
Yoga Journal's two practices for flexibility are, in my opinion, nothing special. Patricia Walden is a good instructor; she's super flexible and shows the positions almost perfectly. Her voice is calming and doesn't interrupt from the yogi feel. If you're an experienced yogi, you'll find her voice annoying as you know how to do the many poses. If you're a beginner, the voice is well-received, as you may not have great body awareness and you don't want to look at the screen all the time. Overall, the poses were NOT beginner poses. She tells you to use a block if you are "not as flexible" and can't reach the floor, but she does not do a terrific job explaining to the beginner how to modify. If you take a class beforehand and your instructor is any good, s/he should tell you what to do if you can't reach. My own previous instructor told us to place our hands wherever on our body (legs) they could reach for stability and to keep everything "connected." This is not explained in the video, and it is expected, especially in the back bend (first) session, that you are already quite flexible, and quite strong as well.

Overall, I think it was okay. I wouldn't strongly suggest it to the brand new beginner to exercise, but whoever is already flexible but new to yoga would benefit. If you've taken some yoga classes and know how to modify poses to fit your own needs, then this is actually a very good DVD, too. If you're advanced and don't mind voices during your sessions, I also recommend it.