Yoga for Stress Relief

A few days ago I got my DVD order for Barbara Benagh: Yoga for Stress Relief. The DVD shows the same lovely beach in Half Moon Bay as in her Beginners Yoga DVD, but in this one, there is also very soft, gentle guitar in the background. You can barely hear it and it does not drown out the sound of the waves. So that is nicely done. Barbara also has a rather longish interview where she talks about modern life being overloaded, and how yoga will help slow things down. And about how hard it is to slow down at first. Tell me about it! :) The interview on meditation by the Dalai Lama contains great information and HH's soft, gentle humor. It is hard at times to understand what he is saying and one requires a slight bit of patience to understand some of this section. This DVD has such a wealth of options in it, and all for helping with mental and physical conditions: headaches, shoulder/neck tension, opening your heart, digestive ailments, lower back pain, hip pain, anxiety, some AM and PM routines, an insomnia set, mood uplift, serenity work... So far I tried these sections: Easing Neck Tension, passive variation (20 mins) - Soft Spanish guitar music, everything lying down, mainly body twisting. Very sweet and restful. Restorative Poses for Relaxation (15 mins) - soft new Agey music, three supportive poses: cobblers, heart opener and legs up the wall. Pretty much the same set as on Barbara's Yoga for Beginners DVD (the rejuvenate one) but without the centering/breathing part. Also, this one suggests more uses of the blankets and having an eye bag. As I got an eye bag as a gift, I was prepared. But you only really need three blankets/pillows for this section. Lower Back Tension (35 min): This was the best one yet. With my period cramps it was incredibly soothing to my lower back/stomach area. We used a blanket, strap and eye pillow for this set. A bit more active than the two I tried above, this has locus pose and a great let stretch with the strap. Hip Pain section(35 min): Essentially the same routine as the Lower Back Tension, but with two changes. One was the reclined half lotus and the other was something where you sit on your knees, then spread the hips wide, and lean your head forward to the floor. These were very nice poses for my menstrual cramping and this session took away the lingering pain I had. Other than that, the footage is just sliced from the back pain one, with the same modified down dog, locust, hamstring stretch with strap. We used a strap, and eye bag in this one, but no blanket was needed. New Agey music, very gentle, as in the back pain one. You can still hear the ocean and even some birds. Serenity in Stillness (35 min) - lovely section that really opens the sacrum and relaxes the entire body. There was quite a bit of repeats from the back pain and hip pain segments, including the reclining half lotus, but it all came together well. The supported backbend at the end requires a yoga brick. I really enjoyed this pose. New Agey music with a vaguely Hawaiian theme. So many choices in this great DVD - it will be hard to get to them all! It's all all presented in a lovely beach setting and accompanied by Barbara's soothing, healing voice. Highly recommended for yoga practitioners to use (as needed) for various physical/mental ailments. There are also a few AM/PM type routines in this disc, as a bonus for anyone wishing to add this DVD to their regular yoga rotation.

I love this DVD. It is by far the best overall relaxing yoga sessions you can find. The segments are pieced together and are repeated in different sequences depending on your need. They are very Yin Yoga like / very gentle yoga sessions. Barbara Benagh leads you through the sessions and has a calm, soothing voice. She reminds you to breath, slow and steady. You get a total of 20sessions on the DVD. It is beautifully filmed at Half Moon Bay Resort in Antigua (much better than a boring yoga studio!). My only critic is that I would have liked to have a matrix where I could create my own sequencing from all the individual segments (like Shiva Rea's DVDs). Also, they should have published a booklet describing each session with the DVD, so here's my version ;o) Print this out and keep with your DVD. I highly recommend this DVD, it is well worth the money. ***BEGINNING & ENDING YOUR DAY*** Beginning Your Day Slowly (25 min.) On your back in reclining cobbler's pose. Lying back , wave breathing. Modified downward dog. Standing at the head of your mat, standing forward bend, sun salute movement. Sitting, Shoulder stretch series (great!). Sitting in cobbler's pose, forward bending. Sitting cross legged, breathing. Wake Up (60 min) Lying back, wave breathing. Sit on heals, then wide leg child pose. Standing at the head of your mat, full sun salutation. Standing, tree pose. Standing, wide legs, triangle pose. Standing, wide legs, side angle pose. Standing, wide leg, twists Sit in cobbler's pose, forward bending. Seated wide angle pose. One leg, revolved head to knee pose. ¼ dog pose (kneeling on all fours & on forearms). Sitting cross legged, breathing. Evening Revival (40 min.) Sitting on heals, then wide leg child pose. Standing, wide legs, twists with arms outstretching Standing, wide legs, triangle pose. Standing, wide legs, side angle pose. Standing, wide legs, hinge over twits, then hang down. Sitting, Shoulder stretch series (great!). Lie face down, cobra series, 4 times (great!) Revolving head to knee pose. Sit cross legged, breathing. Letting Go of the Day (40 min) Lying on floor with feet on floor, knees bent, tune-in, breating. Reclining cobbler's pose. Sit on heals, wide leg child pose. Cobbler's pose, then 1 leg forward bend (head to knee pose). Cross legged, seated twist. Knees bend, seated twist. Savasana Insomnia Issues (35 min) Standing, wide legs, inversion Modified downward dog Cobbler's pose, then 1 leg forward bend (head to knee pose). Supported resting cobbler's pose. Supported child pose. Legs up the wall pose. Complete yoga rest. ***EASING NECK AND SHOULDER TENSION*** Easing Neck & Shoulder Tension, Passive (20 min.) Bolster across neck & shoulders, prayer on forehead. Lay on back, knees bend, 1 arm under back stretch. Arm across chest twist, lying on back (on your side) Easing Neck & Shoulder Tension, Active, Extended (30 min.) Sit or stand, side neck stretching. Sitting, Shoulder stretch series (great!). Lie face down, cobra series, 4 times (great!) Standing, wide legs, twists with arms outstretching. Standing, wide legs, hinge over twits, then hand down. Legs up the wall pose. Lower Back Tension (35 min.) Reclining cobbler's pose. Wave breathing. Reclining leg stretch. Lying face down, crocodile & locus. Upper back bolster. Quarter dog pose. Savasana Hip Pain, SI Joint (35 min.) Reclining cobbler's pose. Wave breathing. Reclining leg stretch. Sit cross legged, open ½ lotus pose (aka square pose). Lying face down, crocodile & locus. Sit on heals, wide leg child pose. Modified downward dog. Savasana. Tension Headaches (45 min.) Lying on floor with feet on floor, knees bent, tune-in, breating. Bolster across neck & shoulders, prayer on forehead. Lay on back, knees bend, 1 arm under back stretch. Arm across chest twist, lying on back (on your side). Supported child pose. Legs up the wall pose. Complete yoga rest. ***EASING YOUR MIND*** Breathing Exercises to Calm the Mind (15 min) Lying on back< knees bent, breathing. Lying on back, knees bend, tune into breathing. Lying on back, twisting with breath. Wave breathing. Restorative Poses for Relaxation (15 min.) Supportive resting cobbler's pose. Supported heart opener. Legs up the wall pose. Deep Rest (20 min.) Lying on back, knees bend, breathing. Complete yoga rest. Mood Uplift (30 min) Wave breathing Standing at the head of your mat, standing forward bend, sun salute movement. Standing, wide leg, twists Standing, side leg, warrior 1 Standing, hanging forward bend. Supported bridge shoulder stand (with block). Supported heart opener. Complete yoga breath. Serentify in Stillness Fold blandket in 3rd and half roll at the end. Lie face down with roll in abdominal. Massage belly. Reclining cobbler's pose. Reclining leg stretch. Open ½ lotus pose (reclining). Sit on heals, then wide leg child pose. Arm across chest twist. Supported bridge shoulder stand (with block). Sit cross legged, breathing. Anxiety Relief (50 min) Lying back, wave breathwork. Lying back, 1st lift breathwork. Lying back, segmented exhalation breathwork. Lying back, extended pause breathwork. Lying face down, crocodile pose, breathwork. Arm across chest twist. Supported child pose. Sit in cobbler's pose, then 1 leg forward bend (head to knee pose). Sit cross legged, breathing. ***STOMACH & DIGESTIVE ISSUES*** Constipation (25 min) Fold blandket in 3rd and half roll at the end. Lie face down with roll in abdominal. Massage belly. Child pose exploration. Inversion, standing wide angle pose. Modifed downward dog. Sit upright, cross-legged, seated twists. Lying on back, Savasana rest. Improved Digestion (30 min) Stand at head of mat, standing, sun salute movement. Standing feet wide, twists Sit upright, cross-legged, seated twists. Half shoulder stand. IBS (30 min) Irritated Bowel Syndrome Lay on back, knees bent, breathwork. Lay on back, reclining cobbler's pose, unraveling. Sit upright, cobbler's pose, forward bending. Seated wide angle pose. Half shoulder stand. Legs up the wall pose. Diarrhea & Indigestion Laying on back, reclining cobbler's pose, unraveling. Supported heart opener. Upper back bolster opener. Supported bridge shoulder stand. Legs up the wall pose.

At first I thought it was okay, then I thought it had major problems and wanted to give it 1 star for disappointment: little flow (choppy with a few poses then fade out, then fade in a 1-5 or so more poses before fading again). During the fading in, you don't know if she'll be in the same position or not (ie lying down, sitting, standing). Also, at first the stretches seemed easy or impossible (imagine a chubby person with short arms trying to clasp hands behind her back and lift the clasped hands up a foot) but with very little benefit. I thought the stretches were ineffective. What they are is gentle stretches and their benefits improve with practice. That is how I learned the poses with her too, as I went, because some of her follow through directions are incomprehensible ("pull your side ribs forward"?, those are bones) but mostly are okay. At the end, I feel more relaxed with some minor stretching benefits. That is not enough if I need to loosen up after lifting weights or because I have a perpetual crick in my neck (even with the rolled up hand towel under my neck at night). The stretches are gentle, her voice is soothing and overall, it's a nice DVD. However, the language is sometimes confusing, the flow is lost with the choppy format and the stretches leave a bit to be desired. I would recommend this to people looking for what the title claims it is for; relaxation and stress relief, along with gentle, extremely slow stretching, for the novice. Also, expect (probably with any instructor and new positions) the poses/stretches to become more effective as you become accustomed to and practice them. That's what I learned. Although I am a novice, I want a bit more for my buck--more flow, more stretch, clearer language and a bit more energy. Until night, when I may go back to this one for relaxation and minor stretching.

I was surprised to read the "most helpful critical review" and other negative reviews criticizing the DVD, questioning the pace and use of props. The purpose of gentle and restorative yoga (for pain or stress) is for people that need focus on relaxing their muscles, body, and mind. A slower pace is expected and desired by individuals who are specifically seeking this kind of yoga. Also, the props are hugely instrumental for providing additional support who need it. If you prefer a faster pace instruction than gentle and restorative yoga is not for you. If you're partial to live instruction then you should go to a class. For example, I utilize DVDs since I don't want to plan around class schedules but rather when it's the right time for me. I got the Yoga for Stress Relief DVD as part of my search for gental yoga DVDs. As there weren't many options, I figured a yoga DVD on stress relief will focus using the same approach as gental yoga. It works well since stress relief yoga and gentle yoga both help pain and strain due to tight muscles, such as neck, shoulders, hips, etc. As someone with chronic upper and lower back problems due to injuries, the poses definitely provided relief. I also liked how the menu offers a variety of choices, with short and long sessions as well as passive and active poses. It's helpful since you can choose what you need, depending on you're feeling physcially that day. The sessions also emphasize meditative breathing to the poses, which is a fantastic reminder when you're in a pose to help relax into it further. The only thing that could be better is the camera stays in one position the whole time and doesn't show different angles of the poses, which can be a problem if it's a new pose for you and you want to make sure you're doing it correctly. The other problem was that changes between poses don't allow for time for the viewer to make the changes. For example, they show one pose with sitting, and then they cut to the next pose with the person already standing or lying down. So you have to pause the DVD and change your pose. Something you don't want to worry about when you're trying to relax and be present with your practice. All in all, it's one of the better DVDs I've tried.

this video is wonderful for those who are not yoga "masters" and is similar to actually being in a yoga class - it gives the best slowly detailed description of the practice I have ever seen in an actual video and has similar benefits to working with an actual yoga teacher. I have received more benefit from Barbara Benagh's yoga video than any other I have purchased, and I actually use her video on a daily basis. I only wish her yoga studio was in my area - but, since it is not, this is a wonderful tool to access her great yoga teaching and yoga style. I actually share this video with my friends who are interested in yoga, and I have given it as a gift. Another additional beauty of the video is the different practices one can choose from, including working the whole body, parts of the body, problem-stress-related areas, long or short practices. I guess I cannot say enough about how much I love this video and how much it is a part of my life. I live in a small town with no access to a yoga practioner, and once a week I drive an hour to work with a yoga teacher whose teaching I deeply respect. Barbara Benagh's video is my teacher the rest of the week.

I would classify myself as a beginner/intermediate (complete beginner when I got this). I tried yoga specifically for stress relief. I have owned this dvd for over 10 years, have bought copies for my sister, daughter, niece, etc. I love it. Finally wore out mine, and am purchasing a new one. I love it because of the scenery, the instructor (not perky, ex-cheerleader type, very low-key), and the routines. There are routines to do in the morning, or evening, various lengths depending on how much time (or inclination) you have, and some are specifically targeted to problems, such as back issues etc. It fits so perfectly with what I needed that I never felt the need to try other yoga routines/instructors. I have progressed from once or twice a week, to daily and sometimes twice a day. I am much more flexible, and relaxed. I even get up t night when I suffer insomnia, and do yoga to quiet my mind so I can go back to sleep! Works like a charm. I am 56 years old, and spend a lot of time sitting at my job, or in the car. I have had back issues including some degenerative spine issues and a pinched nerve. All of my issues happened during times when I was not using this dvd daily. Once I started using it more frequently, my back issues improved or resolved completely.

I have to confess I had become a lapsed Hatha Yogini. After years of practice, a few intervening accidents and life intervened and my Hatha Yoga practice was sacrificed in the caldron of daily life. While I was aware of my body absorbing the toxins of people's nasty attitudes, violence on TV and in the newspaper,etc, I chose to persist in the exingencies of my work and studies ignoring the calls of my ailing body. In that my work and study centers around stress relief and I am a student of the Dalai Lama, I decided to check out this video. In my experience this is one of the best yoga videos among the now 1,055 yoga videos now listed on Amazon. It combines meditation instructions from the DVD A Path to Happiness by the Dalai Lama and a host of stress relief combinations from gentle awakening to more vigorous awakening to working on what malady our bodies are using to signal us that we are out of balance. The instructions are clear and concise without undue explanation. (For students who seek more understanding of the poses, the videos of Rodney Yee, Patricia Walden, John Friend and many others are out there.) The instructions are for the average person. There are no Sanskrit names. There is excellent attention to proper alignment, appropriate focus and attention and use of props. Her breathing instructions are the best that I have heard from any yoga instuctor. As I practiced these routines I could literally feel toxins depart, my stiffness start to leave and my "energy" flow more freely. This is the video of a seasoned Hatha Yoga instructor and practioner and yoga practioner. If you want to learn complex advanced poses and their Sanskrit names, don't buy this video. If you want to detoxify, and restore balance to your life, this is the video for you.

I love intense exercise, but I also love this DVD. I would categorize it as very gentle yoga, almost more like breath work and meditation more than yoga. This DVD is the perfect workout when I've had a very stressful day and I want to unwind. It's also my `go to' workout when I'm injured. There are 4 main categories: Beginning/Ending Your Day, Neck, Shoulder and Back Issues, Easing Your Mind, and Digestion Issues. With several routines in each category, you have over 20 workout routines. I didn't mind the slow pace and appreciated seeing Barbara fold the blanket or get out the other props, since that meant I didn't have to rush to do the same thing before starting the next move. Whenever I do this work out, I have a great night's sleep. There is something about Barbara's soothing voice, the beautiful beach scenery and the focus on breathing that really de-stresses me. My two minor issues with this DVD: **the workout times aren't accurate. **it would be nice to have chapters, instead of all preset workouts. These issues don't detract from my enjoyment of this DVD. This workout is suitable for all fitness levels. It's great for stress relief.

I purchased this to be able to do yoga at home. You can also use a strap, blocks, bolster and blanket as props if you do not have them already. Each time I turn on this DVD I find a different series of poses and clearly indicate which areas of the body they help. There are more energizing ones and relaxing ones depending on your mood, time of day and how much time you have (each segment in the menu shows the duration). I feel like this gives me multiple DVDs in one, there is so much choice and variety! The instructor also has a calm and soothing voice. Some poses are repeated between segments but the transitions seem smooth. The setting is very peaceful and she not only explains the poses well, she explains the benefits of the poses which gives a better understanding of how you are helping your body. This is by far the best Yoga DVD I have purchased. I especially love the breathing techniques, even if I can only spend 15 minutes out of my day I find it helps.

I purchased this DVD in good faith and was looking forward to it arriving, it took over 2 weeks to arrive and when it did it would not play on either of my dvd machines - all it said " was wrong region". I emailed the seller and explained to which I received a very curt reply - "the DVD was clearly labelled with which region it was for" it wasn't as far as I could see and if it was what is region 1 or 2? They said I could send it back but would have to pay the postage! I haven't as it will probably cost me more than the DVD did in the first place. I will not be buying DVD's from Amazon again unless they clearly say " For playing in the UK" I am very disappointed and annoyed at the attitude of the seller!!!

This DVD was a life saver! I had to stop work for a few months due to depression and anxiety, and once I got into the habit of doing the routines from this DVD every day, I started feeling better immediately! The best part is that you never get sick of it because you can choose a different routine every day. Barbara's soothing voice and the lovely scenery also help a lot to make this DVD a great experience. This is a great DVD for beginners or advanced yoga practitioners, Barbara gives you all the explanation you need to do the poses and also explains the benefits of each pose. She also gives variations for different levels of difficulty.

This yoga tape gives me incredible flexibility with yoga guidance depending on what my immediate needs are of mind and body and the amount of time I have. I am far more likely than in the past to take the time to do some yoga since I can do a 15 minute sequence or 45 minutes simply and easily. Also, a criteria for me is also the backdrop I am looking at and I love the water setting of this program....

THIS DVD WAS FAULTY I DIDN'T RETURN IT AS THE RETURN DATE HAD PASSED BY THE TIME I WATCHED IT. MY OWN FAULT, HOWEVER, NEVERTHELESS IT WAS UNPLAYABLE.