Backyard Series: Beginning Yoga

Erich Schiffmann
Year Released: 2002

Categories: Yoga


This 1 hour 17 min video was self made by Erich. The production quality is better than his Live series, but you shouldn't expect the movie quality of Yoga Mind & Body. Music does play at times during this video, but not always. There is audible high speed dub tape hiss.

This is a terrific yoga video for beginners (and others), possibly the best I've seen! If you're looking for a gentle-ish practice that's very low on the woo woo factor and has little or no sanskrit, this is for you too. It's Erich in his own backyard with his cat (who you hear meow off camera once, and who hangs out on the mat for a while). The shoulder openers are particularly thorough and good. I can't recommend it enough!

Here is a breakdown. You'll need blankets or a zafu to sit on (I was too lazy to get my zafu out, so I just grabbed a nearby block) and a strap of some kind (a tie or belt from a bathrobe works too):

Opening Part 1
1. Easy cross leg
2. Forward fold--side bend--vertical twist--chest expander--forward fold

Opening Part 2
1. Mountain pose on toes
2. Arms up, palms down, on toes
3. Chest expander
4. Standing side bend
5. Arms up, palms up, up on toes
6. Chest expander
7. Forward fold arms behind back
8. Squat

Opening Part 3
1. Cat pose--dog pose
2. Kneeling--squat--curl up
3. Half salutes
4. Triangle pose
5. Wide leg forward fold
6. Reclining lotus prep
7. Knee to chest--abdominal
8. Straight leg abdominal
9. Reclining leg stretches
10. Seated lotus prep
11. Shoulder stretches on zafu (watch for Erich's cat!)
12. Locust pose
13. Half dog--quarter dog
14. Bridge pose 1, 2, 3
15. Reclining twist
16. Relaxation

Lisa TV

02/20/2003