I really enjoy this video. As the title states, this is Gentle Yoga. I use it before bed, and find it perfect for that. In fact I always sleep well when I do this first. I would not use this as a strength building video, but it is a nice stretch. If you are not very flexible, this will help. If you are, this will be more of a stress release, which is how I use it.

The video contains 2 series of postures one of 32 min and one of 28 min. The first series starts out seated, then moves to table postures and planks to down dog and then to standing postures. Then it goes back down to the floor, ending in a short (less than 5 min) meditation. The second starts with lying postures (you can continue from the meditation if you wish) through a similar progression with many different postures. It ends with a few minutes of unled free movement. In other words, she tells you to move as you wish, and work out any muscles you find tight. Both are nice and relaxing, and contain at least a bit of a meditation. This could probably be done by people of any level- even the more challenging postures (Standing warrior, plank, chair, little dancer, and lunge) are not held for very long. She does not mirror cue, but I do not find it distracting, it is not very cueing dependent, being yoga.

The set is a large dark room with the three participants spotlighted. There are no distractions, and none of the participants are buff. They (at times) use props, and all move somewhat differently. The tape includes a poster of all the postures, and on the other side are the postures for their other tape (Dynamic).

I find that this works the kinks out of my back like no other yoga workout. I enjoy the calm atmosphere, which includes new age type music by Mark Kelso (no I don't know him either, that is what it says on the box).

Overall I would recommend this to someone looking for a calming yoga video. She makes a few weird new agey comments, but I have found nearly everyone in a yoga video does. Overall I just ignore them. One, when you are looking forward in a jacknife pose she says "Look forward into your life." gets on my nerves, but the rest are pretty much just there.

Instructor Comments:
She is a great yoga instuctor, and cues very well. Relaxing and pleasant, but has an annoying habit of overemphasizing everything. She sounds New Agey.

Linda Bowerman