AM/PM Yoga for Beginners

I have always had an immense interest in trying Yoga. Yet I've always been intimidated because often instructors make it seem near impossible to achieve the level of flexibility and strength endurance that they have (seeing as they've been doing it for many years). I remember wondering in class (when they did impossible poses) if they were just naturally flexible because there was no way in hell my body could ever possibly bend like they were showing. I became rather discouraged with it all and I stopped attending that particular class. I was browsing on Amazon for different exercise DVDs and came across this one and saw the starred reviews. I have to say I was I bit hesitant to try just for the simple fact that what some people consider easy, I consider hard and even though I run a lot, I am not that flexible. When my DVD arrived, I popped it in and selected the morning (AM) option. There was a list of options to choose from and since I had the time, I chose a 45 minute one. All I can say is yes, it's a bit challenging. HOWEVER!!! If you are a beginner, then it IS the right level for you! And the instructor on the DVD is great because she allows variations to be done and encourages you to not hurt yourself or strain yourself. She is constantly reminding viewers that yoga is not a race nor a competition and that really helps during the exercise (for me at least since I have always been in a rush). Another thing I like about the DVD is that it's not one of those annoying exercise DVDs where the instructor is exercising and talking and is constantly running out of breath simultaneously. This DVD has her do a voice over of her poses so her tone is always calm and she's doing everything in the demonstrations the way you're supposed to. There is also relaxing ocean waves in the background and meditation music playing. After only a few days use, I can already see my body improving with flexibility and also I am gaining a better since of control over my mental state (ie if I'm stressed, bummed out, etc). Best part is, for the longest time, I've had lower back pains. I even bought a new bed to try to alleviate some of the pain (which did not work). Great news: Yoga helped TREMENDOUSLY with my lower back pain. Even when taking Ibuprofen wouldn't help, yoga has damn near eliminated all of my lower back pain! It's amazing. I say if you're intimidated by the thought of yoga, or you've had a bad experience with it, try this DVD. The lady in it is sincerely nice and she seems really knowledgeable on Yoga and what she demonstrates.

This DVD has proven to be a life saver for me. Ms.Benaugh is an extremely patient and gentle instructor as she issue verbal instructions along with nice visuals in a wonderfully smoothing voice. I like the ability to select from a wide variety of yoga practices depending on time available and other factors. They are several progams for mornings and evenings. It is as simple as selecting a yoga exercise routine depending on time available. You have only ten minutes, or twenty, perhaps thirty or even forty-five minutes for a session? There are multiple routines that can fit perfectly into your schedule. Not only has my energy level risen in a dramatic way, by sense of well being, and a big time drop in my stress level are all benefits realized from the use of this DVD. I did not realized how tense and in "knots" my body was until I started using this program. This is something mature and especially seniors can do without causing bodily injury. There is nothing to be afraid of if you are thinking of purchasing this DVD. It is safe. And, there are no positions that would require you to "stand on your head". Think gentle, effective, and challening at the same time when you consider this DVD. I purchased my copy mid-December 2012 and already I am singing its praises.

I purchased this dvd so I could get back to doing yoga after three years away. I didn't practice regularly even then, but I was certainly more flexible. Well, this dvd has increased my flexibility. The PM section really helps me to get a good nights rest and relax my strained muscles after AM kick boxing. I did not give it five stars because there is a PM portion that has you sitting then standing, then sitting and standing yet again. There seems to be no flow there. There is a lot of breathe work which is great for relaxation, however, I am now ready to do more positions. Overall this is a good dvd and will purchase the next one which I hope will be more challenging.

I recently started my journey into yoga, and AM/PM Yoga for Beginners has been a game-changer for me. This program strikes the perfect balance between calming morning routines and restorative evening sessions, making it easy to integrate into my daily life. I love the clear instructions, the variety of routines, the focus on breathing techniques, the serene settings and calming background music, and the overall feeling of motivation. Overall, AM/PM Yoga has not only improved my physical wellness but also enriched my mental and emotional health. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to start their yoga journey!

I like the range of practices on this disk. They go from 10 to 45 minutes and really serve to get you going in the morning, or calm things down at night. The other real positive is the focus on breathwork, which is central to a good yoga practice, but often gets ignored. On the negative side, this DVD is really hard to follow. The audio track is dubbed in, and feels disconnected from the actual yoga practice. Also, the narration doesn't describe all the key parts of the pose, so it's very hard to follow without looking at the TV. I suppose you could watch and memorize the routines before hand, but If I have some free time, I'd rather do yoga. The other downside is that the practices are pretty disjointed. It seems like they are assembled from several different practices. Frequently, at the end of one pose, the camera will cut to a scene of the beach and then cut back to the instructor, who is in an entirely different pose. This wipes out any sense of flow as well as meaning that you have scramble to get into the next starting pose. All in all, it's a great idea, but poorly put together.

Pro: - cheap way to try yoga (much cheaper that classes). You just need the DVD, a mat (I bought it at a sport store for 25$), 2-3 pillows or blanckets. - 10 routines; 15 minutes the shortests, 45 minutes the longest, you don't need to spent 2 hours as you have to when you take a class outside. - No pre-scheduled classes. You can do it any time of the day. At your own pace (I do it when I wake up in the morning) - Benefits: If you do it after you wake up in the morning, you just start the day in a more "positive" state of mind. You can feel your back posture improves. You will naturally put more attention on your posture day time. You feel a more flexible body, less sense of "heavy legs" or "thight muscles" or similar. My lower back pain I had before starting yoga, is gone. (I work in front of a computer 8 hours or more a day...) Cons: - yeah, sometimes the "voice" talks too much but... remember, is a beginner DVD: better too many words (explaining what you are doing, how to do it, words of caution...) then too few words - A real good teacher corrects your mistakes better during the exercises How I use it: In the morning I run the "wake up the spine" routine (35 mins) or "get up and go" (15 minutes), depending how much time I have. Almost every day. In the evening: Mainly the "Good night sleep", rarely the "unwind muscles tension". (both around 20 mins). Every other evening(more or less). Yes, it will be the first thing I'll suggest to someone that tells me... "I have some back pain bothering me"

I've only done two of the routines so far but have not been impressed. I have done the 25- and 30-minute PM routines. The 30-minute routine is choppy and does not have a good flow if you want to relax...every other stretch is standing up while the others are sitting or lying down. The constant up and down was frustrating to me. The 20-minute routine is choppy as well and after doing child's pose it never instructs you to switch to your back for the breathing exercises...so if you're just listening to cues because you're lying on the floor and can't see the television, you're left in child's pose trying to do deep breathing for quite some time, which, let me tell you, adds to your pain, instead of helping it. There's also a part where you are supposed to have your feet up against the wall, then you're told to sit up. The next thing you know, you're being told to get back onto your back for shavasana/savasana. Again...not a good flow. There is no indication before each routine if you will need a blanket (or 2 or 3)...which would also be helpful. I want to believe this is a good dvd, but I just feel so disappointed so far and wish I had gone with another dvd. I like my yoga practices to be smooth and well cued. These aren't.

I've been practicing yoga on and off for about four years now and always feel better when I'm doing it. Due to time constraints I haven't been able to make it to classes lately and decided to order a DVD. I've done a couple that I really disliked, but THIS ONE IS GREAT! I love that there are different time options. There are some days when I need to be out the door quickly, and some of the 10 or 15 minutes workouts are perfect. Other days I can afford more time and do 25 or 30 minute programs and it's wonderful. The instructor paces it well (a little slow, but you stay in the poses longer and get a deeper stretch), and her voice is so soothing. Perfect for melting away stress and tension. I find the poses challenging but not impossible. I also tried the Rodney Yee AM Yoga DVD and like this one infinitely better. This one is much gentler and more focused on relaxation, which is what I needed. Great for beginners or intermediate yogis. I highly recommend it!!!

A must have video for the beginner. Lots of variety.

I am not a yogi. I am not coordinated. I am not graceful. But I really REALLY like this DVD. I have bought yoga/exercise DVDs before and I've been disappointed because I couldn't find the time to do an entire 45-50 minute workout OR because it became monotonous. That's where AM PM Yoga is most useful for me - there are a number of choices (variety!) with a range of different time frames involved. I can do 10 minutes or 40 minutes and I'd never get bored with the same old thing. If you're like me, hearing the same phrase or seeing the same error over and over again in a DVD makes you crazy, so the variety is nice. I also appreciated that it's separated into morning and evening routines because, as mentioned earlier, I don't have a lot of experience with yoga and I need someone to give me pre-set energizing or unwinding routines. Another benefit for those of us who are still learning is the slow progression of the exercises. In previous DVDs, I found that by the time I had successfully gotten into the pose, the instructor was already on the next pose and I was constantly feeling left behind. During the segments on this DVD I feel like I know what I'm doing and that confidence translates to better concentration and relaxation. As I said, I have a small stack of DVDs at home that have been tried and never really 'fit'. This is the one I recommend to all my friends.

I have 2 copies of this DVD, one for my own use and the second to lend out. These yoga routines have helped me regain flexibility and strength so I feel 10 years younger (I am in my mid forties). Combined with walking and watching calories in/out I lost 20 pounds in a year (I am at a healthy weight now), and continue to have people ask me how I did it. This DVD was very helpful and I continue to use it on a regular basis. I strongly recommend this yoga DVD.

I was mainly looking forward to adding another PM yoga routine to my collection. I already had two dvd's which had a PM segment, which I alternated. After awhile, one gets bored doing the same routines, so, naturally, I looked forward to adding some new material. However, this dvd by Barbara Benagh, although considered to be "beginner" level, is way too slow. There are quite a number of routines on this dvd, but all of them just do not give me the workout I had hoped for. I have been exercising since the age of 26, and have been doing yoga since my early 50's. It has not been yoga at an advanced level, just at a very basic to intermediate level. Yet, I do expect a much faster pace than what is expected on this dvd. If you are not an absolute beginner, then this dvd is not for you.

excellent very happy with the product i enjoy every minute of it thankyou for the shipping info it was very helpful