Video: Beginner Yoga: 10-Minute Basic Breathing Routine

This is a really nice, relaxing, short yoga session that is great for beginners, or just those who need to relieve stress and gain more relaxation. It's also a great little routine to do right before bed to help you relax and prepare for sleep.

Grab a mat and get ready to stretch, relax, and gently tone your body as you flow with the breath through this simple yoga routine.

Basic Breathing | Beginner Yoga With Tara Stiles
Follow us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=livestrongwoman Here's a basic routine to help focus on breathing, which is a vital...


More Relaxing Yoga Workouts with Tara:

   

Video - Power Yoga for Beginners with Rodney Yee

This 20-minute workout is designed to get your blood flowing and strengthen and tone your entire body. Don't let the title fool you - this is a challenging workout that will make you sweat! He does start with some small modifications to make the sequence easier, and then gradually ramps up to the full classical versions of the poses.  (Sorry - it's not an HD video, so it can be a little blurry at times depending on your internet connection.)  Please note that yoga should never hurt, so take it easy on your first run through, and modify poses if you need to.  (If you like this, see more Rodney Yee videos below.)

Beginners Yoga Rodney Yee!
20 minute Yoga Routine with Rodney Yee Enjoy!



More Yoga Work Outs With Rodney Yee: 
   

Helpful Yoga Videos for Beginners

With hundreds of yoga videos now on the market, you can imagine the diversity among them - you can find everything from nude yoga to postnatal yoga, and everything in between!

Here are a couple of generally good and helpful yoga videos for beginners or those relatively new to the practice. 

Healing Yoga for Common Conditions

This video promises to improve circulation, promote weight loss and manage the symptoms of diabetes and high cholesterol - all through reaping the health benefits of yoga. Without a medical study it's hard to say if it can really deliver, but the hosts, Lisa and Charles Matkin, come with good credentials.

They have taught therapeutic yoga programs at Beth Israel Hospital in New York and New York Presbyterian Medical Center, working with physicians in using yoga to help people with chronic injuries and illnesses.

The 35-minute video is designed to help you increase your metabolism, according to the Matkins. The couple begin the workout with Lisa demonstrating the moves next to a pool with an ocean in the background while Charles does the voice-over, then they switch, then switch again. Both have soothing voices and good form.

The workout is divided into three sections. The first deals with learning to control your breath. It's a pretty basic segment, teaching you breathing techniques and stretching out the body.

The second is for strength, and involves poses that are a bit more difficult, such as the warrior and downward-facing dog poses.

In the third section, you work on releasing tension and relaxation.

This is a good video for all fitness levels. The moves are explained well, as are the benefits and purposes of yoga. None of the poses is very difficult, and the instructors give you modifications to make the moves easier if needed.

Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners

Rodney Yee is known for his calm and relaxed tone, and his vigorous and challenging yoga workout DVDs. This one does offer challenges, but it also includes a great 40-minute segment explaining each pose and how to do it in more thorough detail than most of Yee's videos.

If you are a beginner, or just looking to brush up or get some more instruction, this is a great place to start.

The pose training segment is accompanied by two full-length workouts so you can put what you've learned into practice.  The 20-minute Morning Workout helps wake up your muscles, loosen any morning stiffness, and energize you to begin your day. The 15-minute Evening Workout stretches, soothes, and relaxes tired muscles, and puts you in a relaxed and peaceful state of mind.

For each workout, you can choose full audio instructional guidance through each pose, or simply prompts for the pose changes once you get more familiar with the workout.

Filmed in beautiful Molokai, Hawaii, this is a great introduction to the practice of yoga, and the two workout sessions are likely ones you will want to continue even as a more advanced student of yoga.


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Video - 10-Minute Beginners Yoga Workout

Here is a 10-minute yoga workout for beginners. This video walks you through a few basic yoga poses at a fairly quick pace designed to challenge your muscles and raise your heart rate to burn some calories. Although yoga is not a cardio workout, it actually can really help with weight loss due to the fact that it works and strengthens all your muscles, thus raising your metabolism, so you're actually burning fat for quite a while after your workout. Plus it leaves you feeling relaxed and energized, rather than exhausted, so it can be easier to motivate yourself to work out using yoga rather than a faster-paced aerobic workout.

Enjoy this one, and see below the video for some other short and fun yoga workouts:

Weight Loss Yoga for Beginners
This routine is designed for beginners and anyone looking for a simple practice to build strength, flexibility, and promote weight loss.


A Few Quick & Fun Yoga Workouts:
   

3 Common Mistakes by Yoga Beginners

Whenever we start something new we have a certain feeling of trepidation and uncertainty of the unknown,  although in most cases it is completely unfounded and we get on with things very quickly and easily.  However, sometimes a simple little thing can cause us to have an entirely negative first impression and perhaps even never want to try that activity or pastime again.  Yoga has so many health benefits, on both a physical and spiritual level, that it would be a tragedy for anyone to miss out on them because they made a silly avoidable mistake on their first day.  With that in mind this article addresses the 3 most common mistakes of new yoga practitioners, and how to make sure they don't happen to you.

Mistake One:  Not Knowing What You Want From Yoga.

Yoga Class at a Gym (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The reality is that there are numerous different styles and forms of Yoga and each has it's different attractions.  Ask yourself what it was about Yoga in general that attracted you and then you can investigate a style that caters more specifically to that.  You may like to set goals, be they physical, mental or spiritual.  If you do then it's a good idea to discuss them with the instructor of your class before you begin.  Yoga instructors are usually very approachable and happy to talk about their passion.  They will be able to talk to you about your goals for the class and let you know if you are being realistic, aiming too high or too low.  Make sure you goal includes a time frame so it becomes something that is measurable.

Mistake Two:  Jumping In Head First.

Having decided that they will give this Yoga thing a try many people take a running leap and jump in to a 12 month stage-by-stage class.  These classes are usually an upfront payment arrangement and progress from one level to the next as the weeks progress.  They are a fantastic way of learning Yoga and becoming very good at it, but it's quite possible you will choose a class that is not ideal for you.

Yoga Class at a Gym (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The best way to avoid this is to join a Yoga beginner class, also known as a drop in class.  If you do these classes for a few weeks you will notice a high turnover of students as new people join and old people move on.  These classes are designed to give you a very broad feel for the different types of Yoga.  The level of the students in the class usually varies greatly so you can expect the instructor to keep the classes quite tame.  The other key benefit of doing this is that the classes are pay as you go so there is no big financial outlay for you while you decide the type and style of yoga that best suits you.  You are also not obliged to attend every class.  With the longer courses you can fall behind quickly if you miss a week or two in a row.  With the pay as you go classes you will find that while each class is different the level stays quite low to cater for the newer people joining in.

Mistake Three:  Choosing the Wrong Teacher.

Traditionally a Yogi had to be an apprentice to a skilled Guru for many years before he could teach even the simplest of Yoga techniques.  Nowadays a 3-day course over a long weekend is considered enough by some people.  There is a big difference in what you will achieve depending on the skills and abilities of the person teaching you.  Yoga is starting to make a regular appearance on the sports injury list and a large reason for this is instructors who have been taught just enough to be dangerous.  A qualified teacher won't necessarily be fantastic and an unqualified teacher won't necessarily be terrible - but the odds are certainly cast in that direction, so it's a good idea to check your instructors background and qualifications before you begin studying with them. Again, check out a beginner class so you can try out different teachers and get a feel for the teaching style you prefer, and above all - listen to your body - if it tells you not to do a certain movement, don't do it (or do it more gently than demonstrated).

Video - Yoga Zone Workout - Weight Loss for Beginners

Here is a great yoga workout from the Yoga Zone collection. This one is a beginners yoga workout, focusing on the weight loss benefits of yoga. It is designed for beginners who might not be that flexible yet, but if you are more flexible, feel free to stretch a bit more than the video demonstrates, as long as it is safe and comfortable. It's only about 20 minutes long, so clear a space, and remember you can always maximize the video to full-screen by clicking on the four-cornered square at the bottom of the video.

And for more great Yoga Zone videos, see resources below.

Yoga Zone - Yoga for Weight Loss (Beginners).2
Yoga Zone - Yoga for Weight Loss (Beginners).2


More Yoga Zone Videos:
   

Beginners’ Yoga Video Offers Good Instruction

Trying to find well-produced fitness videos that are truly suitable for beginners can sometimes be a daunting challenge.

Most videos these days aim at intermediate exercisers, the ones who know a grapevine from a box step and a lateral raise from a biceps curl. These DVDs may offer a few easier moves here and there, but the instruction clearly is geared to people who already know what to do.

The few videos that are marketed for beginners often are unspeakably repetitive, as if flabby muscles always mean a flabby brain. And too often, they provide no way to add extra challenge or difficulty to the routine, as if beginning exercisers are going to remain beginners forever.

It's nice, then, to discover Yoga Zone: Flexibility and Tone, a beginners' video that offers the depth of instruction and easy pace that true beginners need.

The instructor here is Alan Finger, a genial-looking middle-aged man who wears a polo shirt, rolled-up cotton pants and a chin-length bob. His physique is not the standard chiseled form of exercise videos; he looks as if he might carry a few extra pounds around the middle.

But he has a lovely voice (with a hint of a brogue) and a calm manner, two essentials for a yoga tape, where relaxation is key. And he has a true gift for instruction, combining the nuts-and-bolts details of positioning with what it feels like to stretch and balance.

When he describes how the muscles of the feet ought to rotate through to the little toe, you'll know -- and be able to feel -- just what he's talking about.

Although sometimes each move contains so many of these instructions that it can be a little overwhelming to try to master all of them at once. But you will improve your technique with each watching.

Image via WikipediaIf you have tried yoga before, you'll recognize some of the moves -- the down-on-all-fours stretch called the cat, the inverted V that forms the down dog, and the corpse, which requires little more than lying flat on one's back, completely relaxed.

In another nod to beginners, Finger also provides true modifications and tips for those who may not be as flexible as they'd like.

Finger shows how a folded blanket can be placed under the knees or for better support while performing seated postures. A folded towel also is used for several poses, although Finger doesn't announce that in advance.

The 50-minute session ends with stretching and relaxation, set to gentle New Age music that might lull you to sleep.

If you're new to yoga and looking for a good introduction to the practice, or just looking to add another yoga DVD to your collection, this is a great place to start. You can find this Yoga Zone video, and many others, very affordably priced on Amazon.com.

Yoga Zone Videos:
             

Beginners Yoga Free Video Series

If you've been following along throughout the beginners yoga workout series we've posted over the past few weeks, we thought you might find it handy to have links to the whole series all in one place. However, keep in mind you can always just do one segment for a couple of good yoga exercises, if you don't have time for the whole set - it is perfectly okay to just do one or two of the videos at a time.

Image via WikipediaHere they are - enjoy, and of course have fun!

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9CvLUXUc8

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMRrRCi6b7A&feature=related

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk3BjmTwLxg&feature=related

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkmVEKmn1UQ&feature=related

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvOjFs_lLpc&feature=related

Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LalDfXwmPQ&feature=related

Stay tuned for more great yoga workouts, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html for some more fun exercise ideas.

Video - Basic Yoga Workout for Beginners - Parts 5 & 6

Here are the final two poses in the beginners yoga series (we also included Part 6, which is just the final ending and credits, but Part 5 cuts off rather abruptly).

We hope you  have enjoyed this free yoga video series!  As she mentions at the end, even just practicing one or two poses per day can be beneficial, and that's why this was broken up into so many pieces - so if you only have time for a few poses, you can just do a couple of them at a time. However, if you would like the whole series in order, check back next weekend, when we will post links to the entire series, so you can go through the whole thing in order if you like.

Namaste!

01 Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies Part 5
Part 5



01 Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies Part 6
Part 6



Want more Yoga? Check out the Basic Online Yoga Trainer Course, for a Uniquely Fun Yoga Experience!

Video - Basic Yoga Workout for Beginners - Part 4

Here is the next video in our beginners yoga series (notice we don't use the word "dummies," - this yoga set is definitely for real - it's just very well explained and demonstrated in a thorough way. Plus, you're not a dummy if you haven't gotten around to trying yoga yet - you just haven't yet discovered what you're missing!)

Today's section finishes up Downward Dog, and moves through some great back stretches and exercises such as Cobra pose, Child's Pose, and the Seated Spine Twist. These exercises relieve stress and strain in the back, strengthen your back muscles, and improve posture. Try these, and you may want to watch the demonstration once through first, as she does a lot of great explanation and demo of proper breathing, positioning, and technique.  Enjoy!

01 Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies Part 4
Part 4

Video - Basic Yoga Workout for Beginners

Here is an excellent (and FREE) yoga workout for beginners I found online. The workout is broken up into about 10 minute segments, and I will post each piece of the workout over the next few weeks, so be sure to check back for the next one!

For those who think yoga is too hard, this is a great way to introduce yourself to the practice in a simple way. The instructor is very professional and offers good yoga technique, while still offering tips and modifications for those of different fitness levels. These are high-quality videos, very professional, and gentle - these basic exercises should be suitable for all fitness levels, but I must give the disclaimer to of course consult your own healthcare practitioner before starting any new workout.

Check out Part 1 of the series below, and be sure to come back next week for Part 2!

01 Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies Part 1
Part 1


Be sure to come back next week for Part 2, or subscribe to our free weekly newsletter (see box to the right), to be notified when the next video is available!