Product Description

From the Editors of Body + Soul Magazine comes a new line of DVDs designed to excite, inform, inspire and encourage your quest toward a balanced and healthy whole life. YOGA FOR BEGINNERS is the perfect way to be introduced to Yoga and it helps you to explore and experience the numerous benefits of yoga. There are 8 routines to help build strength, increase flexibility, improve your health and vitality and transform how you look and feel. Routines are led by renowned instructor Barbara Benagh who expertly leads you through tailored workouts ranging from 10 to 60 minutes. YOGA FOR BEGINNERS was filmed on location at one of the most beautiful, tranquil beaches in the world, Half-Moon Bay, Antigua, which adds to the overall experience of tranquility. DVD HIGHLIGHTS: 8 customized, targeted routines, exclusive interview with the instructor, routines from 10 - 60 minutes, includes articles from Body + Soul magazine. Amazon.com description. Release Date: 10/24/2006.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #189 in DVD
• Brand: VAS
• Released on: 2006-10-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Yoga instructor Barbara Benagh has practiced and taught yoga for nearly 35 years. She discovered yoga while living in England and began teaching there. She moved to Boston and opened The Yoga Studio on Beacon Hill in 1980.

In addition to her local classes Barbara teaches yoga seminars throughout the US and internationally. She is a regular contributor of articles to Yoga Journal magazine. She has several audio CDs of live classes available as well as DVDs, the latest being Yoga for Beginners released by Body + Soul magazine, and Yoga for Stress Relief that includes a discussion on meditation from the Dalai Lama.

Barbara was kind enough to answer some questions from Amazon.com about this unique line of yoga DVDs.

How are these DVDs different from other yoga DVDs?

I was drawn to working with Bodywisdommedia because they produce DVDs they are interactive. Rather than a "one size fits all" single routine that is typical of most products, these DVDs offer choice, allowing the user to customize and change their yoga practice to suit their needs. No two persons are the same so the ability to change your practice - easing shoulder tension one day and an invigorating morning wake up the next - come as close as possible to allowing you to address your individual needs at home. Not only do people have different physical needs, but they have different time constraints as well. If you have only 20 minutes, there is a practice for you but there are longer practices as well (some as long as 90 minutes) that address the total body/mind connection. The sheer number of yoga sequences offered on each of these DVDs is a first. They are incredibly comprehensive.

How were you able to get the Dalai Lama involved?

This project dovetailed perfectly with the Dalai Lama's message that modern stress is one of the greatest obstacles to our mental happiness and physical wellbeing. Because we are long-time sincere practitioners, having a 30-minute lecture of the Dalai Lama teaching how to meditate on the Yoga for Stress Relief DVD was a perfect fit. Bodywisdommedia also has a broader relationship with the Office of Tibet and are releasing historic lectures with "A Path to Happiness" being the first one.

How will potential buyers of these DVDs know which one is right for them?

The titles are very indicative of what appears on the DVD and therefore a good guide. I really enjoyed making Yoga for Stress Relief because it is incredibly relevant. We strove to make the sequences accessible to as many people as possible, whether they are a beginner or long time practitioner. Yoga for Beginners is a great, non-threatening place to get started and includes lots of sound technique developed over my 30 years as a yoga teacher. Power Yoga for Every Body is a bit more challenging taking you from the beginning level and gradually progressing to much more demanding routines.

Customer Reviews

no longer intimidated by yoga
I rented this DVD from my library about a week ago. I'd always wanted to try yoga and although I'm in pretty good shape, I'm not that flexible so yoga intimidated me. Within 2 days of working with the DVD I knew that I had to buy my own copy off of Amazon! (BTW I just paid for regular shipping, but the DVD arrived in a day and a half. Nice!)
I loved the sheer variety of routines on this DVD. They are split up into two levels, "as you get started" and "as you progress". Only a week into it, I'm still finding the "as you get started" routines very challenging but not impossible. I think that there's enough on this DVD to keep me interested and learning new things for at least a year or two! If you're like me and you've never tried yoga, let me tell you that during the excercise you will work hard (like any good excercise) but after completing one of Barbara Benagh's yoga routines I find that my breathing is deep and slow, and feel like I've just had a full-body massage (QUITE unlike any excercise I've ever done!!!)
Her instructions are so clear that it's easy to follow along. She's challenging but very encouraging, making sure that you don't feel bad if you can't get into a particular pose, and offering you other easier options if you need them. She somehow offers lots of information while using very few words, this helps to keep her instrucions understandable to the novice.
I also want to add that I wanted to learn yoga without all of the "emptying your mind" new-agey type of stuff, and this DVD definately lets me accomplish that. I believe in freedom of religion and I don't look down on yogis who practice the way that they wish, and likewise as a Christian I felt that my beliefs were respected in this DVD. I just want to excercise, not change religions, and Yoga for Beginners allows me to do that.

Wonderful for beginners!
I wanted to start doing yoga. I chose this dvd, and I absolutely love it! It is easy to follow, and the instructions are clear. Many different workouts you can do. Would not hesitate to suggest it to a friend. If you're looking to start yoga, buy this dvd. You will not be disappointed.

Great DVD But.......
This was a great DVD that I used about 8 times. Now I can not get anything on the menu selection to play.