I wrote reviews of of yoga books, CDs and DVDs for Fit Yoga magazine for several years, so now I have quite the collection. On top of that, I get countless e-mails from people asking for recommendations on good yoga DVDs. And, while I do love to be of service, I also love to be efficient with my time and energy; so I have compiled here a preliminary list of my favorites.
Consider investing in one (or some) of these. I cannot tout the benefits of a consistent yoga practice enough. With the world the way it is today, our bodies, minds, and hearts need it more than ever. That may sound new age-y, but it’s true.
I often tell my students: “I would be dead if I didn’t practice yoga.”
Grim, but true. It has helped me that much.
Keep practicing!
- I love Insight Yoga with Sarah Powers. This one is good if you want to slow down and be energized. I especially like the emphasis on developing awareness and a meditation practice. The style is yin + yang (vinyasa) yoga plus meditation (and inspiring Dharma talks during the yin portions). There’s about 3-4 hours of material that you can mix-and-match to create sequences different lengths and intentions. I come back to this one again and again.
- Most people who write to me for recommendations have injuries or chronic pain, so I refer them to Viniyoga Therapy for the Lowback, Sacrum & Hips and Viniyoga Therapy for the Upperback, Neck & Shoulders with Gary Kraftsow ( a skillful yoga therapist and articulate, accessible teacher). These are simple but very effective practices. If you’re new to yoga (especially those who are 50+), but don’t have any injuries, this is still an excellent choice for you.
- If you are traveling or live outside the U.S> (where amazon ordering takes a lot of time and money), I suggest buying and downloading classes from ihanuman. You can find classes taught by Erich Schiffmann, Betsey Downing, John Schumacher, and more. Oh, and I have a class on here, too….
- For those with a low budget (and a good internet connection), enjoy daily classes in a variety of styles and levels at Yoga Today. A one-month subscription costs $8.99 USD; and all classes are filmed outdoors in the beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
- For all of you pregnant goddesses out there, I recommend prenatal yoga with Shiva Rea (a pre/postnatal 2-pack) and Gurmukh. Here’s Gurmukh’s post-natal practice.
- For more of a fast-paced, vinyasa practice, try Shiva Rea’s Yoga Shakti. This is a good value because you get 4.5 hours of material that you can play with to create several different practices. Rea’s creative sequencing, scenery, and vibrant physique inspire me, but, being the slow mover that I am, I personally find that her practices moves too quickly for me to really savor, feel, and enjoy.
- While I haven’t tried it yet, I know that many new to yoga really enjoy Elena Brower’s, Certified Anusara Yoga® teacher, AM and PM Yoga for Beginners.
- If you’re really up for a challenge, just want to be inspired, or both, try Richard Freeman’s The Ashtanga Yoga Collection. This was my very first yoga video (which I bought on VHS at the time). He’s also one of my dearest teachers.
- Then, of course, there’s our yoga poster boy, Rodney Yee, who has countless DVD’s. You really can’t go wrong with any of these.
- Lastly, sometimes we need to shake things up a little, literally and figuratively. I do this by taking Soul Sweat classes with Chantal Pierrat here in Boulder every Sunday morning. It’s a fun, energizing, dance workout. Here’s her DVD, which I take with me when I’m on the road.
If you think I’m really missing something here, please feel free to share!
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(photo credit: j/f/photos)
