(Living Arts/GAIAM)
1998
What is it?
A 20-minute, gentle Yoga routine specifically geared to strengthen the back.
Who is it for?
Anyone who is concerned with having a healthy back, and who finds regular Yoga a bit too challenging. Those who suffer serious back problems should check with their doctor before trying this video.
What to expect:
With his thoughtful, well-spoken instruction and beautiful form, Rodney Yee has created an excellent back routine. At 20 minutes, this session is just right for most people with back problems - they're looking for a targeted solution, as opposed to a whole Yoga class. And, as long as the viewer realizes that he doesn't have to go into the poses as deeply as Yee does (or even come close), he will find the majority of the moves simple to do, relaxing - and they will promote back health. With the use of a chair and a strap, Yee approaches the back from a number of different angles, using everything from hip openers to twists, to forward bends and modified standing postures. The tape ends with a four-minute relaxation session. The only thing that could have made this video better was more focus on the abdominals - strong abdominals are necessary to promote back health. But this can be easily rectified by supplementing this video with Yee's Abs Yoga for Beginners video.