tf-galGaiam: Beginner’s Yoga 4-Disc Set
Year: 1998 (Original VHS Release), 2002 (Original DVD Release), 2011 (Gaiam DVD Re-release)
Distributors: PPI Entertainment, Current Wellness, and Gaiam
Instructor: Jennifer Kries
To begin, the next few reviews that I will publish are going to be from the Beginner’s Yoga 4-disc set, which I previously purchased in a Half Price Books location. This DVD set contains 4 different yoga workouts, but I did not realize this until I saw the content on each of the DVDs upon inspection: each disc contains a previously released workout from The Method workout series, originally distributed by Current Wellness and PPI Entertainment, and now Gaiam holds the rights to their content.
The Video Fitness Forum has several threads about Gaiam rereleasing compilation DVD sets and selling them to unsuspecting customers, and I have copied the following thread from VFF so you can get an understanding of the situation:
Orignally posted by bzar on Video Fitness Forum:
Sorry, I had to revive this thread. I saw the Beginner’s Yoga set in a thrift store (sorry, I know I’m always in thrift stores looking at fitness stuff!) but I noticed the pictures on the back are from the old The Method series because I recognize Jennifer Kries and Lisa Wheeler.
Gaiam must now own the rights to The Method.
here’s an Amazon listing for it:
Gaiam even sneakily changed the titles of the 4 workouts to be:
Beginner Yoga
Yoga Mix
Yoga Stretch
Firm & Flex Yoga
(if you mouse over the second Amazon picture in the link, you can see the pictures magnified.)
anyone who bought it – which The Method titles are in there? I’ve always wanted their “Dynamic” series. I have Precision Yoga, and I’m guessing it’s in this compilation.
There was also another Gaiam set called “Complete Yoga”, and Amazon has a listing – Amazon link.
I don’t recognize the pictures on the back of “Complete” but they’re not The Method. The set looks like a room in a highrise because there’s big windows.
~jeannine
I remember that there was another post explaining about Gaiam now owning the rights to The Method workout videos, but unfortunately I can’t find that post anywhere on my computer right now. As an alternate approach to me not finding the original post, I have decided to include another one here:
https://forum.videofitness.com/forum/video-fitness-reader-forum/general-discussion/94067-the-method-tv-show#post1543335 (click here to learn more about the history of The Method’s copyright and stuff)
And with the legal stuff out of the way, let’s get started with this review for The Method: Precision Yoga (aka Beginner Yoga), which is the featured workout on Disc 1 of the 4-disc set.
Yoga has been celebrated for its balance of conditioning the mind and body, yet the impact on physical and mental health lives up to the ancient truths to this day. Today, I’m going to dive into how The Method: Precision Yoga is shaping up to be a fresh new take on classical yoga (from the 90s, of course). Initially, I did find a VHS rip of the workout on the Internet Archive, but it was not an official American VHS. I also found out that the DVD version of the workout is pretty rare now, and it costs nearly thirty dollars. How can one know if the purchase of the DVD set, let alone one of the DVDs, were worth it or not? I’m going to seek out the truth when doing this workout.
In the introduction, the creator of The Method Workout videos (Jennifer Kries) describes the benefits of yoga on physical and mental health in a poetic way, and claims that the program is designed to be effective for everyone regardless of age, fitness level, or circumstances of one’s own being. Jennifer has created this workout herself, which is meant to be a conglomeration of various forms and styles of yoga (and also some Pilates moves and breathing exercises thrown in there); divided up into three distinct sections—Strength and Vitality, Flexibility and Range of Movement, and Serenity. Each segment focuses on a key element of movement and mindfulness, allowing for a balanced progression from strength-building to deep stretching and finally, relaxation. These 20 minute yoga workouts can be done at any time of the day, and you can do one or all three of them if you are up for a challenge.
The first segment, “Strength and Vitality,” starts out with Jennifer doing a simple breathing exercise in which you focus on how your breath moves in and out through the body while she points out the little nuances that come with such a simple action. After she establishes how to breathe properly, the breath is linked to a Pilates exercise called the roll-up for some reason before transitioning into pelvic lifts, or bridge pose. Another Pilates exercise called “rolling like a ball” is demonstrated here, flowing smoothly into cat-cow, child’s pose, and then into active cat after that. She then moves into a series of sun salutations (they are among the most challenging poses in yoga) in which you begin in mountain pose, and as you continue to establish the foundation, she adds on more poses into the traditional sequence. By actively practicing these poses regularly, you will enhance muscular strength, endurance, stamina, and invigorate the body.
Next is the Flexibility and Range of Movement segment, which emphasizes deep stretching exercises aimed at increasing joint mobility and overall flexibility. Beginning in mountain pose, Jennifer starts with doing some side bends and encourages you to work with the breath, eventually transitioning into the triangle series. Some modifications are shown with the usage of a block, but only for a short period of time before she moves on to the next pose in the sequence.
Unfortunately, she does not show any modifications with the pyramid pose, in which I don’t have the flexibility to fully sink into the pose. I did, however, use my block for assistance so the triangle series is much easier for me to perform. The usage of a block also applies to when Jennifer transitions into another series of deep standing forward bends in which I am not capable of doing because I’m a flexibly impaired person. Next, she does a series of poses done on the floor: cow face pose, seated forward bend, twisted sage pose, seated straddle pose, camel pose, and ends with child’s pose. Finally, the segment ends with Jennifer doing tree pose and the attitude (also known as dancer’s pose), concluding the second segment.
Last but not least is the Serenity segment which focuses on relaxation techniques to promote mental calmness and inner peace. It begins with Jennifer showing us how to do a breathing technique called alternate nostril breathing, a new technique that I’ve never heard of before. Initially, it may be difficult at first, but you will get better if you practice this in your own time without Jennifer’s help. Lying on our backs, we then transition into a series of spinal twists done on the floor followed by the “scissor stretch.” I’ve noticed that Jennifer herself is really flexible because she has built up that flexibility from a regular yoga/Pilates practice even when she is not making workout videos, and I had to use a flat resistance band in place of a strap to assist with flexibility.
Now comes the most challenging part of the workout for me: a pose called the “crazy wheel.” This pose is inspired by the roll-over in Pilates with the stabilization of your core and your lower body, which is what makes it challenging to perform with proper form. For me, this pose is too difficult for even a beginner to get into, so you should proceed with caution when doing extreme poses like this (I did get a great spinal massage when doing it for the first time). Luckily, Jennifer does another pose in succession to the crazy wheel called fish pose, allowing the lower back to arch. To end the final segment, we lie down in corpse pose and engage in a short meditation for clearing the mind and enhancing the relaxation benefits of yoga in general.
I am extremely grateful for “making this special appointment with myself” and taking some time to reap the benefits that yoga has to offer. Ailments such as insomnia, digestive disorders, tension, anxiety, muscle stiffness, and restlessness all dissipate when you practice yoga on a daily basis, and I thank myself (and Jennifer) for connecting one on one with this special yoga session, despite the absence of props and beginner modifications that are needed to make this program accessible to everyone. Before you know it, Part 2 of the review will be published soon. Namaste!
Rating
Instructor(s): 10/10
Sets: 9/10
Outfits: 8/10
Music: 8/10
Production Value: 4/10 because this is somewhat of a lazy VHS to DVD transfer from Gaiam.
Overall Benefits: 10/10
Exertion: 9/10
Ease of Movement: 5/10
Audio/Visual Modifications: 3/10
Special Features: N/A
Use of Equipment: 4/10
Total Score: 85
Intensity Level: Low to Moderate Intensity
Impact: Low Impact