The Yoga for Stress Relief DVD by renowned yoga instructor Barbara Benagh is a versatile program. Barbara combines short posture segments into a series of 20 different practices that focus on a variety of stress-related conditions. Whether it's energizing after a long day, coping with aches and pains, or relieving various digestive conditions, this yoga DVD accommodates most of the reasons that a person has for practicing yoga. Another positive feature is this yoga video is filmed at a beach location instead of a yoga studio.
The practices are slow-moving with a mostly restorative focus. They range in length from 15 to 60 minutes, making it easy to fit a yoga practice into your daily routine. Barbara frequently uses props; in addition to a yoga mat, I would recommend that you have at least one blanket on hand (preferably 2-3), with pillows and possibly an eye bag.
Stomach and Digestion Issues
Not all the practices end with traditional relaxation yoga poses-some conclude with legs-up-the-wall pose or a relaxed seated position. Overall, this is an excellent yoga DVD well-suited to a wide range of practitioners, from those fairly new to yoga to more experienced
Pros of Yoga for Stress Relief
This is one of the best yoga DVDs out of the now 1,055 yoga videos on the market. It combines meditation instructions from the DVD, a path to happiness discussion by the Dalai Lama, and a host of stress relief combinations including a gentle awakening, a vigorous awakening, and a focus on what malady our bodies are using to signal us that we are out of balance.
The instructions are for the average person. The yoga poses provide excellent attention to proper alignment, appropriate focus, best use of props, and proper breathing techniques.
Yoga for Stress Relief features a seasoned Hatha yoga instructor and practitioner. If you want to learn complex advanced poses and their Sanskrit names, don't buy this program. If you want to detoxify, and restore balance to your life, this yoga video is for you. Barbara Benagh leads you through the sessions and she has a soothing voice. She reminds you to breath, slow and steady. You get a total of 20 sessions on the yoga DVD.
This yoga video has a lot of variety. You can do a 25-minute workout or a 60-minute workout and feel relaxed or energized. Although I do yoga for the physical benefits, I could tell a difference in my moods and stress levels.
There is something on this yoga DVD for everyone. It covers just about everything that could be stress related. It's very easy to use, just pick your issue and then choose the routine that best matches what you need. I appreciate that most of the routines are around a half hour give or take. It makes it manageable and easy to fit into my day.
I would compare this yoga video to spending money to attend a professional yoga studio. I highly recommend Yoga for Stress Relief. The instruction is well thought out and she gives good pointers along the way of things to keep in mind when performing the various poses. The best thing about this DVD is that it actually takes yoga poses that are easy to accomplish, and lets you hold them for long periods of time.
The breathing exercises are wonderful and very relaxing. It also has yoga poses to help alleviate back pain, migraines, stress, and neck pain.
Cons of Yoga for Stress Relief
My first minor complaint about Yoga for Stress Relief is the voiceover narration. I can understand why yoga instructors choose this format, but I guess I'm partial to the live instruction you get in a yoga studio. The poses are held for longer than I'm accustomed to and there is one that is supposed to drain the stress from your back but I ended up with upper back spasm for several days. The instructor is very experienced and has a nice voice but she talks almost constantly.
The voice-over narration is ceaseless and disconnected. The breathing instruction doesn't compliment the movements because they are chopped up into shorter segments. For example, bending forward becomes a chair pose and it is held so that there's none of the release that you want with bending all the way forward and expelling breath.
Although the Yoga for Stress Relief DVD does offer a number of good routines for stress relief, the routines are not challenging. To be fair, the DVD does not claim to be challenging, just that it will reduce stress, and it is effective for that. Just don't expect to get into shape because you've used this program.
This yoga video is not a good program for beginners unless you're already flexible. There is a delay between each yoga pose and they don't flow from one to the other. It seems like this DVD may have been made for older adults or for those simply looking to use yoga to help with certain issues. Not for people who are looking for a regular yoga practice.
Summary
Despite the comments about the narration and pacing of the program, Yoga for Stress Relief is regarded as a quality and useful yoga video. Barbara Benagh is professional and eloquent in her presentation. Her demonstration of the yoga poses is clear and fluent. With practice any novice practitioner should be able to learn and benefit from the instruction and demonstrations on this yoga DVD.
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