Living Yoga - Abs Yoga for Beginners

After the first time I used it, (and having to keep my knees bent during the most strenuous poses) I was thinking "no sweat" - that was pretty easy. But the next morning, I felt it so deeply in my lower abdomen that I nearly jumped for joy. Through this exercise video I have found an extremely effective way to target the weakest part of my body and I feel great when it's over. I look forward to doing it as I am finally seeing the slimming results I've been looking for - and each time I do it I am able to progress a little bit farther.


ABSolutely A Good Workout   April 21, 2001
54 out of 54 found this review helpful

I was a little hesitant to try this videotape. As we all know yoga is intended to be exercise for the mind and body. I am always looking for a good ab workout but was not looking for an "Oprah-remember-my-spirit" type program (though ironically I became aware of Rodney Yee's tape on the "Queen Midas'" daytime talk show). Much to my surprise, this is quite a good and quick workout. Having done the tape several times a week, I already feel and see improvements in that pesky region of the body. What I found different (and liked!) about this workout was that I did not have to do seemingly endless and boring repititions of crunches or feel the proverbial "burn." But no need to worry, if you are anything like me, your ab muscles will definitely tell you that they are being worked out. I feel a good muscle tension afterwards (and okay sometimes even some mild soreness the next day).

A word of caution for other yoga "newbies." It will take some time to get up to speed moving between and doing the series of poses. After a dozen times or so, I think I have got it down -- but admittedly still have a mental block with keeping up with Yee's breathing inhalation/exhalation instructions. As others have noted, skip the annoying ads in the beginning of the tape. I simply have queued the tape to the start of the workout and rewind it back to that point each time.

I will probably not be a "spiritual" yoga convert (my abs don't feel like the "deep soft belly of the dunes" that Yee soothingly tells me each time) but so far I am a fan of this challenging, yet relaxing, program. I still find myself surprised that the workout is over so quickly (approximately 20 minutes)-- that is something I have certainly never experienced with an ab workout.


Invigorating, fun, fast and it works!   May 6, 2001
Susanna Hutcheson (Midwest U.S.A.)
41 out of 41 found this review helpful

I love Rodney Yee and find all the videos of his in my collection to be easy to follow, which is most important in a video. I like this one because it's relatively short yet provides a complete ab workout. When you're finished, you know you've worked your abs. I have fibromyalgia and am not the most flexible person in the world. But with the help of consistant exercise, I'm finding I'm beginning to get more flexible. This video is beautifully done and very easy to follow. So it's good for beginners. At the same time, it's challenging enough for those who have exercised and even done yoga for some time. Why do more than necessary to get to your goals? I am not crazy about the advertisements that preceed the program. I think if you pay for a video you should just get what you pay for and not have to sit through ads. But, of course, one can simply fast forward, which is what I do. I highly recommend this video. And for those who have a bad back, I recommend Rodney's yoga for the back, also a short twenty minute program. Easy to follow and fast. Both videos really work.


Let the ab definition begin!   December 7, 2000
S. Gardner (Lincoln, Nebraska, United States)
36 out of 38 found this review helpful

This program is perhaps deceptively basic at first, but it really gives your abs a good workout! Do this tape a few days a week and you will have well-defined abs. I alternate using this tape with others in the Living Arts series and it helps round out the collection.

One of the nice things about this tape is that you can alter your form a bit to fit your level of fitness. You can keep your legs bent for the most intense part, for instance, until you build up the strength to complete the whole thing with straight legs. And what an accomplishment that is!

Rodney Yee is a soothing presence. He is a thoughtful guide and I feel in good hands when I use his videos. You get a sense of his spiritual connection to the practice of yoga without there being even a hint of sanctimony in his presentation. Yee is one of my favorite yoga instructors for these reasons.

Happy ab-bing!