(GAIAM)
1998
What is it?
A 20-minute Yoga routine from Rodney Yee that targets the abdominal area.
Who is it for?
Those who are already familiar with Yoga and want a quick routine for their abdominals.
What to expect:
Rodney Yee's Yoga videos are consistently good - they're beautifully photographed in stunning, natural surroundings, and Yee's instruction, while at times minimalist, is right on target. Abs Yoga for Beginners (filmed in the Death Valley) is no exception. As always with Yee's videos, take the "for beginners" part with a grain of salt - although this routine takes you outside of the familiar, traditional Asanas, it works best if you have been studying Yoga for a while. Yee wisely begins by focusing on the breath, a crucial aspect of ab work that is often forgotten (ideally, you should always breathe with your diaphragm, and proper breathing helps keep your abdominal muscles toned). The next 13 minutes are spent on a simple - but not necessarily easy - selection of moves and poses. These look easy enough for the most part, but those with weak abs will need to keep their legs bent and may even tire out before the end of the 13 minutes. When it comes to ab work, beginners should definitely take a breather if they begin straining too much - otherwise they risk hurting their backs. Like any ab routine, this one is only as intense as the effort you put into it - if you really focus on form and breathing, and make sure that your ab muscles are doing all the work, then this video will be effective. If you practice this video in a lazy and unfocused manner, then these postures will not get you the results you are looking for. As always, keep in mind that diet and a varied exercise routine get you the best results of all. Abs Yoga for Beginners would make a worthwhile addition to an overall abdominal fitness program.