Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss

This video spent some time gathering dust on my shelf before I finally tried it. When I finally did, I loved it, and this may well become my "go to" yoga video for busy days. I happen not to like "flow" videos so much, and it seems most yoga DVDs out there are exactly about that. I love the feeling of breathing into a pose, and the challenge of using my muscles to maintain a strong pose for a little while. Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss gives me just what I need: a good combination of standing, sitting, and lying poses; lots of twisting poses (which I've also found lacking in flow videos); a few poses which gently, but powerfully, build abdominal strength. The video allows you to do the workout at different levels of modification, which means that you can measure yourself to someone at your level as you check your position. It's hard to know if you're doing a pose right if the only model you get a yoga master, or if the modified pose is somewhere behind the yoga master (hard to see on a small screen). Almost every breath is cued, which I also appreciate, and Deason keeps up a running commentary with advice on what you should be feeling and doing during each pose. Her voice is soft enough that you can ignore it if you wish, but I found her suggestions very useful for working on strength and balance, especially during standing poses. And, the entire thing is only forty-five minutes long! It really fits into a busy day, and is wonderfully restorative. I'm not sure what it does for weight loss, but I can tell you that I feel physically good after doing the video, with just the right combination of energy and pleasant fatigue.

I'm new to yoga and after reading all the reviews, this DVD seemed to be the perfect introduction and they were right! Right from the start, the imagery and sounds are relaxing and beautiful (what a wonderful setting!) and help to place your mind in just the right zone. The workout itself was easy to follow and challenging enough for someone used to working out but new to yoga. Both during and after the workout - if that is the right term? - I felt relaxed and rejuventated and had no trouble following Suzanne Deason's intruction even when I wasn't able to look at the TV. Even though I was able to do the 1/4 modified workout first time, I can see myself continuing to use this DVD for a long time to come because of the effect I feel on my mind and my body. I'll definitely be integrating this one into my usual workout schedule. The DVD itself should get 10 stars. There are 4 different versions of the workout and the chaptering is placed at sensible intervals. The four versions are aimed at different fitness and flexibility levels and have different soundtracks customised for the version you are doing. I wish all fitness DVDs were like this! Suzanne is clear about what this DVD is really about; it's more about getting you onto the road to a healthier lifestyle not about shedding pounds - shame on those marketing people! You won't be waving your arms and legs about at top speed but you will be improving your body and your mind.

First of all, let's get one thing clear - yoga, per se, was NOT designed for "weight loss" in the sense of cardiac/calorie burn. As a 30-some year practitioner, I tried one of those "yoga burn" videos and nearly myself. I still don't think they're safe and don't recommend them at all. However, yoga IS the perfect exercise for both mind AND body, and practiced regularly, it WILL provide wonderful improvements in body tone, strength, balance and flexibility, not to mention increased calmness of mind. It was intended to be practiced as a smooth progression of poses, to be held for periods of time, that require concentration, strength, balance and flexibility. It was meant to strengthen both the body AND the mind and to assist connection with spiritual practices. To me, as an experienced practitioner, this workout is absolutely perfect. The postures are sequenced perfectly and held for a reasonable amount of time. But the big plus over other videos I've tried is that there are other women (of various shapes and sizes) in the background performing each posture at a different level - beginner, intermediate and ultra advanced. They also perform them with blocks, straps or other props that a beginner or intermediate person might need for safe performance of the postures. She also CUES for the other levels so you don't have to keep looking up to see what they're doing. I bought this when it was released years ago and wore it out - I'm buying the DVD version because the VCR tape won't play any more. It's not too long, not too short, and I love the relaxation/meditation that it ends with. IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT YOGA, THIS IS THE VIDEO TO BUY.

I am in average shape, but was not at all familiar with yoga. This was an excellent DVD to begin with because each pose is clearly explained, and the Personal Instructor feature allows you to break from the program to get specific instruction, and then return to where you left off. In addition to the poses being clearly explained, the instructor continually reminds you to breathe and focus. The setting (in an Arizona desert) is stunning, and the music is calming and fits the workout well. Specifically, at the end of the workout when you are instructed to stay in Relaxation/Corpse Pose for as long as you like to relax, the instruction ends but the program continues with music so you don't feel any discountinuation. The only negative comment I have for this DVD is that it is too short. If you do all three sections back-to-back, it only amounts to about 40 minutes of activity. Most advanced students of yoga I know practice for 1-2 hours at a time. I always feel at the end like I could have continued for much longer. I have not been able to find a DVD that lasts more than 45 minutes anywhere, though. Because the program is short, I have not experienced noticeable weight loss after about 8 weeks, but I have noticed a significant increase in flexibility, strength, and serenity.

This yoga workout is filmed in beautiful Sedona, Arizona and the music is very relaxing. Suzanne Deason has a pleasant, calming voice. She guides you through each pose with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. She explains the benefits of each pose and warns you how to avoid problems in the poses. There are three other workout levels for the less advanced practitioners. I am a intermediate level yoga practitioner, and I had no problem following Suzanne Deason--although I cannot bend as far as she can. She is a great example to follow! She has the perfect yoga body and watching her workout is truly inspirational. It remains to be seen if it will help me lose weight, but it certainly stretched every muscle in my body, totally relaxed me, and I am sure it will tone my muscles!

This tape was given to me by a mother of a child in my daughter's dance class. Learning she did yoga and noticing she looked phenomenal while chasing 3 children aged 5 and younger just like I was, I asked her for her opinion on yoga for a beginner and this is the tape she gave me. (Giving videos to the interested is now my "philanthropy" in her honor!) It took a little while for me to even try it, but when I did, I was completely blown away by yoga and have done it almost every day since Feb 1, 2006 because it feels so good! To me it is like a massage from the inside out. As a mother with 3 small children, I really appreciated the slow, and should I call it, sensual movements, that require surprising strength. For me with my young kids, I think I relished the thought of having the TIME to do such slow and sensual poses, but I have learned to fit it in. From this video, I got good solid instruction on basic yoga and learned how yoga enhances my life instead of being yet another obligation. I have since purchased many new videos and do yoga every day and feel like I have found the ultimate mind/body answer for the rest of my life. And by the way, I didn't even know I was searching for a "mind/body" answer until discovering yoga. Yoga is really good stuff and this video is an ideal place to begin!

I watched the Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss - Deluxe DVD Edition from my Local Library. It was so good.For the basic Yoga poses this DVD is good, well balanced, Easy to do.It has 10minute warm up then 45 minutes yoga poses. It has 5 workout levels. 1- unmodified version 2-1/4 modified 3-1/2 modified 4- 3/4 modified 5 - combined After doing few modifies ones I did the unmodified version an di liked it. Thats why I ordered 3 DVDS of the same type. What I got had only 4 levels. It doesn't have teh Unmodified version. I was so upset, I asked Amazon about this , The sent me replacemnet DVDs at NO cost. But those are also have the same problem. Contacted the CS , she said I can return all the DVDs and they will refund the money.Yes they did refund the money. I ordered 3 DVDs from AMAzon market place which also has the same problem. I can say the GAIM- who distrubutes this DVDS has marketed so many versions of the same DVD.They cut corners here and there.Really no body can tell what is inside the DVDs by looking at the title. Suggestion to GAIM- Please market 1 version with out any confusion in DVD titles. But Amazon did very good.They tried their best to replace the DVDs .Atlast they refunded my money.The custmoer support at Amazon is excellent! I can live with the other 4 workout levels. But What I got from local Library is the excellent one. Why should they market a DVD with same Title and different contents?

I have so many yoga videos I should open a store. But this one stands out as the only one that I have used consistently. I love the way various levels of difficulty are presented using different people in a group. You can sneak up a level just by changing which person you are focussing on, so you never feel you are stuck watching one level or that you are missing something. I really love the beginning workout that is called "body breath awareness". It turns out to be perfect for getting my aching back limber. It's ironic that this breathing section does way more for my back than "back" exercises do, and is a lot more pleasant and peaceful to watch. I don't know about the weight loss part, but since weight loss starts with good habits, then why not yoga. I lent my CD to a friend and am buying another copy since they love it too. Beware! There is another "yoga for weight loss" with Suzanne Deason (same person) but it is not at all as good as this particular one. It's only about 30 minutes total and I found it pretty worthless. It must be a new edition or something.

J'adore Suzanne Deason et sa manière de produire ces DVD de Yoga. Celui-ci défile dans un décor paradisiaque d'Arizona et les 4 femmes font la même routine mais chacune à leur niveau. La voix de Suzanne Deason commente mais de l'extérieur et c'est très calmant de l'entendre. J'adore ce DVD de mouvements simples mais combien efficaces puisque l'animatrice S.D. te donne tout le temps nécessaire pour compléter ces mouvements avec ta pleine conscience ce qui en fait un entraînement à plusieurs niveaux. C'est un DVD que je recommande plus pour le jour. Le DVD "Stress Relief Yoga" de Madame Deason que j'ai aussi acheté est complémentaire et est plus pour le soir ou avant de se coucher. 2 excellents produits!

I've got a few yoga DVDs, and this is one I go back to all the time. Don't know about you, but I'm not terribly fit, or a stick, and that was one of the reasons I got this DVD over others. One of the best things about it is that there are four levels of workout, which one can work through depending on flexibility/ fitness/ how you feel that day. This makes it a fitness DVD with great potential to grow with you as you improve. Plus there are additional tips you can access to improve your practice throughout the DVD. Suzanne Deason is a very good instructor, she talks through the postures with care and attention, but without being annoying or doing that terrible 'look at me and how supple and fit I am' thing that many fitness DVDs do. Nor is it simply an excuse to wear pretty yoga clothes and look at the scenery as so many are. It's practical and achievable, focusing on mind-body connection to bring well-being as as much as fitness, which is very important for those of us who see gyms, aerobics and treadmills as mechanical processes which don't help us to want to get fit. This is a practice you will want to do, because of the sense of relaxation and being in the body which it leaves one with.

It's brilliant! Love the different levels of difficulty you can choose from the video.

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Easy to follow instructions