Flow Yoga: Elements of Yoga: Air and Water with Tara Lee

This was the best yoga purchase I've made so far. Bought a book and some other dvds in the past, which got nearly zero use. This dvd has 3 great workouts about 24-27 minutes each. After several weeks, I still can't do the whole thing straight through, so I do what I can and pick up where I left off the next day. I imagine when I can do the full 80 minutes or so, I will be in pretty good shape. My back is definitely in much better shape than it was. I've lost some weight and stand straighter with a slimmer profile (it is correcting a swayback problem quite well).If anyone is wondering how my math works on my "80 minutes or so" comment, I believe the workouts are 24 minutes, 24 minutes, 27 minutes and a 5 minute cool down; 24+24+27+5=80.It's funny but they are pleasantly challenging. I was just thinking about describing each workout and I realized it would be difficult to split them into upper body, lower body, and back (for example), because they all have something with all these parts of the body. As I was thinking of this, I thought of the more difficult aspects and I actually smiled with frustration thinking about them. I can't say this is an emotion I've ever had before. I used to go to the gym regularly for cardio and weight-lifting, but I never enjoyed it like I do with these workouts. I never put weights down and laughed in frustration. I don't really know WHY it makes me happy, but it does. I guess when it gets tough, you know it's really doing something and that you still have a ways to go. Getting stronger every day without having to add more weights... and it's fun. Definitely squeezes your endocrine system in ways that let the feel-good hormones out.

I don't understand the negative, or sub-par reviews for this DVD (well, unless if you're an advanced yogi). To the beginners, is it really that difficult to just look up at the screen while you're doing this? I'm not an avid yoga practitioner by any means (trust me). In face, the first time I had done yoga was in college 7 years ago, and it was more instructional. I don't know movement names, or what is what, even with having done that yoga class, but that was fine, just look up at the screen and voila! Instruction! I found this to be pretty great. I had my sister borrow this DVD and she also enjoyed it, and she's actually gone to yoga and knows the movements far better than myself. So, for those of you who are a "beginner", like myself, there is no need to tread carefully with this DVD. Do not fear that you won't know what you're doing, just look up at your screen if you're uncertain. There are also advanced movements the DVD mentions for those who've practiced longer, and the DVD gets harder with each practice (in my opinion). There are three practices total. I've only done one at a time. My sister has done Practices 1 and 2. Perhaps one day, once I become more flexible and don't have much of a workout to do, I'll do the whole thing. Until then, practice makes perfect!

Initially I did not like this DVD all that much. However, upon doing the whole workout the last two days, I've changed my mind. Tara's instructional style is very different from Ashley Turner and Mia Togo. It took me a bit to get used to the fact that she doesn't mirror cue. I solved that problem by orienting my mat so that I could see the TV throughout. She doesn't hold the poses as long as I am used to ... but may that is the "flow" idea. I really felt relaxed and stretched after the first practice. The second practice is more challenging and I did break a light sweat. Finally, the third practice was an invigorating stretch. I did not add the five minute savasana at the end since I had already done 3 segments at 68 minutes. Done together all three of these make a well-rounded practice. The one thing I did not like is her "new age" speak of elements...but then again a few times she did say that is was more of a sort of mental image which I can accept.

This is my favorite yoga dvd, and I have many! My past favorites were Rodney Yee's Power Yoga and Flow Yoga, but after turning 60, was looking for something less time-consuming and gentler. I then progressed to Shiva Rea's Daily Energy which I really like because of the different routine options, but was still looking for something which incorporated counter-poses at a gentle pace. Tara Lee's pace is slow enough to allow you to get into position for maximum benefit, and the setting by a river is very calming. Her directions are easy to follow, and her voice is very pleasant. There are three different routines, each about 22 minutes in length, so that you can do one or more depending upon time and energy. After completing her sessions, I feel very calm and stretched. Bonus features - about 10 minutes in length - include core work which really gets deep into the muscles, and the core work setting is in a forest at night lit by three container fires - very inspiring for igniting your core workout!

This dvd is amazing for beginners and very calming. I typically have a hard time following yoga dvd because I have to look up to make sure we are on the same page, but with this dvd I never did. She uses some yoga terms but typically she explained what the next pose physically was so we could follow along. Her voice is very calming and she moves at a good speed for me. To compare, I also got kino MacGregor ' s "yoga for beginners" dvd and I liked it much less. It was hurried, and her voice was less calming. I also had to keep checking that we were on the same page, as she is not very clear in her explanation. I look forward to picking up her "earth" series as well as her "fire" series.This dvd is a single disk that has 3 20 minute sequences that can be played solely or as an entire work out. I believe it's a bit longer that 20 to include the corpse pose or cool down.

I've only given this 2 starts because I think as a DVD in itself it is very unbalanced. There are three sections to choose from. The first is very very easy - mainly stretches by way of hip and arm circles. The second two are much more challenging and advanced for someone with previous yoga experience.As someone who has been doing yoga for years, I find that the first section is too easy, but the other two launch into things at quite a pace and are really lacking in any kind of warm up. I therefore find it very unsatisfactory. None of the three workouts can be done on their own for real benefit in my opinion. Would have been better to have only two workouts of say 30-40 minutes which build up in pace rather than three that are all around 20 minutes.This isn't to say that the sequences and poses are bad in themselves - they are not - but the way the whole DVD is structured hasn't been thought through.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, however I am not a beginner. I found the pace good and the practice as a whole was as challenging as I need for an after work session, or when I can’t make it to my usual class. Beginners probably want to start with the Earth disc from this series. I had that when I first started yoga and it helped me a lot. I think I would have struggled with this one early in my yoga journey, but for someone more experienced I think it’s great. I agree with others that the sections don’t really work in isolation, but this doesn’t bother me as I prefer to do the whole workout anyway.

As an absolute beginner I found this very hard at first but I've been practising the part 1 and 2 every day for a couple of weeks now and I can now do them without getting out of breath. I have more strength, flexibility and balance which feels great.

I do like this CD. There are many programs on the one CD and as a practicing yoga for most of my life, I can say she is an A1 instructor. I recommend this video.

A good mix of challenging and relaxing workouts. Great value for money. So many yoga DVDs to choose from, but for me this was perfect as I wanted some challenging workouts including all the basic practices and positions, along with some relaxing sections too. Instructions are clear and gentle.