Yoga Now Series

Rodney Yee, Mariel Hemingway
Year Released: 2005

Categories: Yoga


I’m by no means a serious yogi. My usual workouts consist of lots of cardio (advanced athletic style) with total body resistance training thrown in about three times a week. Only on occasion, I might throw in some brief stretch segments because I know I need it.

So it is not surprising that one of the reasons why I purchased the Yoga Now DVDs is because they are promoted as cardio/yoga fusion workouts. The Yoga Now Series consists of 4 workouts on 4 separate DVDs. My impressions of each DVD are listed below.

Yoga Now 50 Minutes – Is a 50 minute workout that has short burst of cardio distributed throughout. The cardio consists of fast lunges (with hands on the floor or blocks), small jumps or squats, and arm swings. When I initially previewed the video, the cardio did not look that strenuous. After I actually did the workout, while not what I would call a sweatfeast, it definitely is enough to slightly elevate the heart rate. I found this to work very well and not just for the extra cardio. The cardio was just enough to really warm my muscles up and help me get more into the poses. The poses were what I would call simple/beginner level. You begin on the floor in a reclined mountain pose. From there you go into twists, and knee to chest. Standing poses consists of sun salutations, tree pose, warrior 1, warrior 2, and side angle pose. Seated poses consists of cross-legged abdominal, one-legged seated forward bend, staff pose and cobbler’s pose. Rodney and Mariel are featured with other background exercisers but they do not talk. Instead, both instruct through a voiceover. I’m not used to doing exercise videos this way but their voiceovers did not bother me.

Yoga Now 30 Minutes – Is a shorter version of the 50 minute workout. It has the same cardio bursts and most of the same poses. Both Mariel and Rodney are with a class/background exercisers and talk during the workout. There are no voiceovers.

Yoga Now AM – Is about 10 minutes long and only Mariel is in the workout instructing through a voiceover. Again, this workout is smaller version of the 50 and 30 minute workouts with just a little more stretching. I really like this workout and will probably use it often.

Yoga Now PM – Is 10 minutes and features Rodney instructing through a voiceover. There are no background exercisers. This DVD consists of mostly poses using a chair to do wide angle forward bends, cross-legged forward bends, and of course supported relaxation pose. There are no cardio bursts. I found this one to be very relaxing and again, can see myself using it often.

All the workouts/practices take place in what looks like an airy studio with hardwood floors and brick walls. Modifications are shown for most of the poses. The instruction is clear and use of the props for the modifications is explained well.

The DVDs come with a pose guide which I found very helpful, being practically a beginning yogi. Mariel is pictured in this guide demonstrating all the poses.

Overall, I really like these DVDs. The instruction is very clear and simple. It is a beginner workout but I never felt that Mariel or Rodney tried to dumb it down at all. Thanks to their clear and concise way of teaching, I now know that it is ok to wobble in a pose or to constantly adjust myself. My initial idea of doing yoga was to remain as stiff as possible when doing a pose (told you I’m new at this). Also I could really feel myself getting in touch with my body and concentrating on how it felt while doing a pose which is another new experience for me. Even if you are not a beginner, these DVDs may have a place in your collection because of the added cardio. And if you are a Rodney Yee follower, I think they are a must have. Yep, all of these DVDs are keepers. I'm happy that I made the purchase.

Instructor Comments:
The teaming up of Rodney and Mariel is a great match! Rodney is of course a well renouned yoga instructor and now I can see why. I also thought Mariel was excellent. I believe these are her first yoga DVDs and hopefully they won't be her last. The two of them have great chemestry and work so well together.

Tiffanee

02/06/2005