I understand there is demand for shorter “convenience-sized Yoga”, but does Rodney Yee‘s latest “A.M. Yoga for Your Week” take the trend too far? Is it really possible to go from groggy, bleary-eyed morning-me to serene, bright-eyed post-yoga workout me in just 20 minutes? If anyone can take us on this journey, the venerable Rodney Yee and the talented production team at Gaiam are likely to have the best shot.

Glen Canyon makes for an inspirational backdrop. But more importantly, how do they build those perfectly flat platforms over uneven rock?

First off, AM Yoga for Your Week is a beautiful DVD to watch. Filmed on location in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the backdrop of undulating sandstone hills and deep blue lake is still nice to look at long after you stop paying attention to Rodney.

Each of the workout routines focuses on a specific genre of pose: Standing Poses, Twists, Backbends, Forward Bends, or Hip Openers, with a few other poses sprinkled in to ease warm-up or round out the workout. When you’re only spending 20 minutes on your routine, it makes sense to keep it focused. Moreover, I found this format really worked well for “prescriptive Yoga”. Eg, after a long day folded into an office chair, nothing feels better than loosening those muscles with 20 minutes of backbends. Or, you can prepare for say, a day of rock-climbing by spending 20 minutes on hip-openers first thing in the morning.

There’s not a lot of time for explanation in this format, and while Rodney gives you a few suggestions from time to time, he doesn’t bother explaining positions, so this might not be the best yoga dvd for a complete beginner. If you know your way around some basic poses however, you’ll be able to keep up with all but a few of the poses in this series even if you’re a stiff and clumsy yoga newbie like me.

Conclusion:
All in all I found that A.M. Yoga for your Week was a fantastic way to start the day. Although it’s not a completely comprehensive yoga routine, if you can spare only 20 minutes of quiet each day for your practice, this DVD will go a long way towards leaving you relaxed, focused, and energized for the day ahead!

Best for:
Yoga practitioners of any level looking for a quick pick-me-up in the morning rather than a  complete yoga program.

Best Price:
$12 on Amazon

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

If you haven’t heard of P90X before, then perhaps you’ve been a little out of the loop–it’s one of the top-selling fitness programs and infomercials of all time. However, I will say this straight out: not only is P90X as a whole fantastic and absolutely deserving of its success, but its Yoga X workout is a beast. 90 straight minutes of yoga guided by P90X’s master of ceremonies Tony Horton. Yoga X isn’t for purists, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and intensity of the postures and guidance.

Click to buy on Amazon: P90X’s Yoga X

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

This DVD by Sage Roundtree provides an adaptable introduction to yoga for athletes of all backgrounds. Ms. Roundtree emphasizes sport-specific challenges and tightness so athletes from different sports can receive targeted benefit from the yoga postures. You can go through the series in order or focus on specific postures to work on specific areas where you’re tight, hurt or needing extra attention.

Click here to buy on Amazon: The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

The advanced yoga practices of Ashtanga A & B are certainly not for everyone, you need to be fit and strong and relatively flexible to even attempt some of the asanas. This dvd is less instructional and more of a sharing what can ultimately be achieved with consistent yoga practice. You can of course follow along, but there is no walking you through postures here. Just a beautiful beach, some incredible yogis and the vision of where yoga can take you. I was amazed and awed by David and his friends.

Click to buy on Amazon: Ashtanga Yoga: Advanced A & B Series by David Swensen

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

If you can’t tell by now, I’ll say it here; Baron is straight-up one of my favorite teachers out there. Especially if you are not a beginner and are ready to push yourself in a serious workout. This DVD is the perfect daily burst of practice, it is short, precise, and intense enough to feel like you got your mini-bootcamp session. If you haven’t tried one of Baron’s classes try one now, I promise you’ll love him.

Click to buy on Amazon: Baron Baptiste: Unlocking Athletic Power – Power Vinyasa Yoga Live! 

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

Barbara Benagh guides you through this Yoga Journal Editor’s Choice award winning DVD. There’s lots of variety here whether you are full-on in your normal training regimen and just want a little flexibility work or if you’re really looking to dive into a yoga practice on your off days. If you’re an athlete, this is the perfect DVD for you to start incorporating yoga into your life.

Click to buy on Amazon: Yoga for Athletes

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

I didn’t expect a whole lot from this DVD when I popped it in.

Honestly, I’ve never seen the TV Show The Biggest Loser, so I didn’t have any context for what I’d find when the DVD started up and got me sweating. However, I was pleasantly surprised when things got moving.

Here’s what I liked about The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga DVD:

• Bob the Instructor

Bob has to be one of the lowest key yoga instructors you’ll ever encounter. He has basically zero pretense in the way he leads you through the postures. His Southern accent was disarming–I haven’t had much experience doing yoga under the watchful twang of a Southern accent before. But I liked it. He pushes you without calling too much attention to himself.

• The Participants

This is probably the thing I liked most about this DVD. The people who take part in the class Bob leads are all totally normal people. They aren’t experienced yogis by any stretch. The fact that they’re falling out of postures and grimacing as they struggle to keep up makes it extremely easy to keep at it when things get challenging. Because if those totally normal-looking people can stick it out and make it through this workout, then so can you or I.

• The Workout

There’s nothing special about the yoga series taught in the different sections of this DVD. They’re fairly standard, but they work. I particularly liked the Yoga/Pilates Abs workout, which is the second of three series taught by Bob on this DVD. I definitely got a strong ab workout following along with Bob’s instructions during that one. And I liked it.

• The Customizability

There are three different preset ways you can work with this DVD depending on your current level of fitness and yoga familiarity. The first level is a nice 35-minute workout with a warmup, cool-down and standard yoga series with mostly standing and some seated postures. Each of the next levels adds another yoga series into the mix.

But you can watch the DVD whatever way you feel. The different workouts are designed modularly, so you can jump right in wherever you want and follow along.

I should state that this is by no means a traditional yoga class. If you’re a yoga purist, this isn’t the DVD for you (but you probably already knew that just by its title).

However, if you’re new to yoga, this is a fantastic and very nonthreatening introduction to yoga. Let The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga DVD be your introduction to yoga, and get ready to burn some fat!

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

Rodney Yee has been creating yoga videos since the early 1990′s. A quick look through a chunk of his catalog reveals a huge array of filmed yoga sessions targeted at students of every level from total beginner to super-advanced.

In Yoga Burn, Mr. Yee presents a very slow but steady yoga class that, according to the title, is designed to elicit muscle burn in those who follow along.

Here’s the skinny: this DVD isn’t for beginners. The instruction is very minimal, so if you don’t already recognize the basic core yoga postures like cobra, warrior one, warrior two, downward dog and the like, then you’ll likely have a hard time following along. However, this DVD isn’t particularly challenging. Although Rodney takes you through each move three times and spends a good amount of time in postures that keep the legs working hard, I barely broke a sweat as I followed along with Yoga Burn.

I like this DVD for when I want a light, relaxed and different yoga workout. After I finish doing this workout, I feel pleasantly warm and grounded. Rodney keeps you moving almost the whole time. You’re never moving quickly, but you’re always moving. Since you never really have a chance to work, there’s a steadily buildup of warmth and energy across your body in all the muscle groups the series works.

The cinematography is unobtrusive (if you consider the occasional flying downward-looking camera angle unobtrusive). Rodney performs the postures of the class on a wooden platform sitting in a Zen-style rock garden. The overall vibe of this DVD is definitely calm, relaxed and introspective.

Ultimately, whether this DVD belongs in your selection comes down to a few questions:

1. Are you experienced enough with yoga to recognize many basic postures and the mechanics of moving from posture to posture in a series?
2. Are you looking for a yoga class that allows you to move slowly and steadily through your postures?
3. Are you ready for an easy workout that lets you cultivate mindfulness through your yoga movements?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then Yoga Burn is the DVD for you.

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

No matter your sport of choice, yoga makes an excellent addition to any training regimen.

The main benefit most athletes enjoy is a reduction of the threat of injury. Since yoga strengthens and enhances flexibility at the same time, all the body’s joints benefit from yoga practice.

This translates into a stronger and more balanced overall physique, which makes it much easier to withstand the bumps and bruises that come as part of any athlete’s serious training regimen.

The DVDs listed here are extremely accessible. Even if you aren’t hip to yoga, you’ll be able to jump right in and receive great benefits.

• Yoga for Athletes
  Barbara Benagh guides you through this Yoga Journal Editor’s Choice award winning DVD. There’s lots of variety here whether you are full-on in your normal training regimen and just want a little flexibility work or if you’re really looking to dive into a yoga practice on your off days. If you’re an athlete, this is the perfect DVD for you to start incorporating yoga into your life.
  Click to see our full review | Click to buy on Amazon

• Baron Baptiste: Unlocking Athletic Power – Power Vinyasa Yoga Live! If you can’t tell by now, I’ll say it here; Baron is straight-up one of my favorite teachers out there. Especially if you are not a beginner and are ready to push yourself in a serious workout. This DVD is the perfect daily burst of practice, it is short, precise, and intense enough to feel like you got your mini-bootcamp session. If you haven’t tried one of Baron’s classes try one now, I promise you’ll love him.
  Click to see full review | Click to buy on Amazon

• Ashtanga Yoga: Advanced A & B Series by David Swensen
  The advanced yoga practices of Ashtanga A & B are certainly not for everyone, you need to be fit and strong and relatively flexible to even attempt some of the asanas. This dvd is less instructional and more of a sharing what can ultimately be achieved with consistent yoga practice. You can of course follow along, but there is no walking you through postures here. Just a beautiful beach, some incredible yogis and the vision of where yoga can take you. I was amazed and awed by David and his friends.
  Click to see full review | Click to buy on Amazon

• The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga
  This DVD by Sage Roundtree provides an adaptable introduction to yoga for athletes of all backgrounds. Ms. Roundtree emphasizes sport-specific challenges and tightness so athletes from different sports can receive targeted benefit from the yoga postures. You can go through the series in order or focus on specific postures to work on specific areas where you’re tight, hurt or needing extra attention.
  Click to see full review | Click to buy on Amazon

• P90X’s Yoga X
  If you haven’t heard of P90X before, then perhaps you’ve been a little out of the loop–it’s one of the top-selling fitness programs and infomercials of all time. However, I will say this straight out: not only is P90X as a whole fantastic and absolutely deserving of its success, but its Yoga X workout is a beast. 90 straight minutes of yoga guided by P90X’s master of ceremonies Tony Horton. Yoga X isn’t for purists, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and intensity of the postures and guidance.
  Click to see full review | Click to buy on Amazon 

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home

Yoga is a fantastic–and can be gentle–way to shed pounds and get fit.

While Yoga isn’t traditionally associated with more ferocious calorie burning activities like aerobics, spinning or kickboxing, the gentle and low-impact nature of yoga combines extremely well with a longer-term approach to weight loss.

Basically, don’t expect to lose all the weight you want to lose as fast as possible by relying on yoga DVDs for weight loss, but if you stay persistent and committed, you’ll reap a ton of benefits AND you’ll be more flexible, grounded and peaceful as well. The many benefits of yoga will conspire to help you not only shed the pounds but keep them off. Perseverance is the name of the game here, but you can do it! And these DVDs will help you on your way.

Yoga for Weight Loss

This DVD is one of my favorite ones for focusing on losing a few pounds. It’s interactive, which means you get to really customize your routine and focus on the areas that need work. It’s great for beginners, but also has some more advanced routines and poses for the more veteran yogi. More of the gorgeous beach filming, which really helps to get you in the yoga mood.

• Trudie Styler’s Weight Loss Yoga
  Trudie Styler teaches four different yoga workouts on this DVD from Gaiam. Trudie does a good job of keeping the workout intense and fat-burning without things getting out of hand. You get the relaxation benefits of yoga and the fat-burning benefits of a great workout. Definitely give this one a shot if you’re focused on practicing yoga for weight loss.

• Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss
  There are four different instructors demonstrating throughout the program, each providing a unique modification of the same poses. What I like about this one is that it can be practiced at all levels of experience, fitness and flexibility. All the options of are there with the modifications for each level. I found this dvd to be challenging enough without being overwhelming. I loved the scenic background of the Oak Creek Canyon and found the whole experience to be energizing and yet relaxing at the same time.

• The Biggest Loser: The Workout – Weight Loss Yoga
  Honestly it was the name of the DVD that first grabbed my attention, but it turned out to be a pretty great Yoga DVD, especially if you’re just new to the practice. Bob instructs you as if you are completely new to yoga, which ends up being a good thing for everybody. It just really brings you back to your alignment and focusing on the right way of getting into a pose. The menus on this DVD are interactive, which means you can tailor the experience just for you. If you want some weight loss action, this is definitely a good option.

• Fat Free Yoga
  Kundalini Yoga teachers Ana Brett and Ravi Singh team up for a powerful yoga workout designed to get your blood flowing, your metabolism cruising and your body slim and healthy. Four different sections take you from warm-up to an intensive workout for your glands, and the whole DVD brims with fun. Highly recommended.

• Budokon for Weight Loss – With Self-Empowerment CDYears ago I was really into martial arts, kickboxing in particular, and although I don’t practice it anymore I still think it’s an amazing way to shape up and lose weight. What I like about this particular DVD is that it has a little bit of everything: martial arts, yoga, nutrition plans, meditation, and a self-empowerment CD to keep you feeling positive.

Via Yoga DVDs - The Best Way to Practice Yoga at Home