(Parade Video)
1998
What is it?
A 45-minute Yoga routine for beginners from fitness expert Denise Austin.
Who is it for?
Beginners who know little or nothing about Yoga and are interested in making it part of a fitness program. Will not satisfy those who want to learn about Yoga in depth.
What to expect:
While Denise Austin is not really a Yoga instructor, she knows enough about it to put together a fairly decent video for beginners. This video is suitable for those who are fairly new to fitness, and for those who want an introduction to Yoga. It's not really for anyone who wants to know about Yoga's spiritual aspect, or who wants a lot of exacting direction when it comes to the postures - you'll need a tape from a full-time Yoga instructor for that. Austin cues you well enough to get by, especially if you keep an eye on her form (she moves beautifully and her posture is correct). The video is divided into four segments. The first introduces floor postures, such as Bridge, Forward Bend and a couple of spinal twists. The second segment has several standing and balance postures - Austin talks you through Mountain Pose, Tree, Exalted Warrior and several others. The third segment - Sun Salutations - is the eakest, since Austin goes through these too fast (perhaps her background in aerobics is showing here). Lastly there's a seven-minute relaxation. Fans of Austin are no doubt accustomed to her perky attitude and words of enthusiasm ("You're doing great!" "I'm proud of you!"); some who are unfamiliar with her may find her patronizing. All in all this video is suitable for anyone who just needs the most basic Yoga instruction. Those who want more than that will soon gravitate towards other videos by a Yoga pro such as Rodney Yee.