Description
Even if you've never done yoga before,you can benefit from this gentle program. This yoga program is designed to help you increase your metabolism while gently stretching and relieving stress. Making these simple exercises part of your daily routine may assist in managing the symptoms of diabetes and high cholesterol as well as helping with weight management and improved circulation. The Healing Yoga series brings into your home Lisa and Charles Matkin's extensive hands-on experience and work with leading physicians in using yoga to help people with chronic injuries and illnesses. Regular practice of this yoga program can be beneficial for a range of specific conditions while helping you build strength and bring flexible, fluid movement to your whole body. About The Instructors: Charles and Lisa Matkin are experts in therapeutic yoga and have over 16 years combined experience as yoga professionals. They design custom yoga programs to help their clients address chronic injuries and illnesses. The Matkins founded and direct the Mind Body Therapies department at a complementary health care center in New York City and have taught therapeutic yoga programs at Beth Israel Hospital and New York Presbyterian Medical Center.
Unrealistic for all ages - Reviewed on 2007-03-05
17 customers found this review helpful.
Lisa and Charles have a beautiful energy together, and although this DVD may be appropriate for those with some experience in yoga, or with fairly good health, I cannot imagine people with some of the 'common condiditons' they mention doing this series without struggles or perhaps injury. (I teach in medical settings, am an RN and a Registered Yoga Teacher). For example, many Type II Diabetics (most common type), and others who are overweight or hypertensive might be better off sitting on a chair to start with vs. the ground. They mention sitting on a pillow or a book-without addressing common difficulties such as knee pain or arthritis (more common in people with overweight), or how to transition from pose to pose. And downward-facing dog?? It is a good pose for stretching out various parts of the body, but there are so many others that can get you there, and the stress on the wrists and shoulders without detailed instructions can be great. Too many forward-folds without modifications often lead to dizziness...I'm sure that with the experience these teachers have, and with the hundreds of asana poses there are, they could've come up with something more creative and health-promoting than Sun Salutations!
Although they do mention the importance of doing modifications several times, they don't show progressive steps or the modifications. I have noticed that most people will imitate the teacher in classes, our common human tendency to strive and 'look right' rather than follow our own body's messages. This is mostly a physical (hatha) yoga practice, rather than focusing on healing and the integration of breath and awareness in the practice. These teachers seem kind and well-intentioned and their joint effort is nice to see, but I did find it distracting at times, especially with eyes closed, to be listening to a female voice, then after a moment of silence a male voice chimes in and vice versa.
Also, I cannot imagine my 84 yr. old mother-in-law, who is a yoga practitioner, doing this series, nor the majority of the cancer survivors that I have worked with. It is too fast. You would be better off handing this DVD to a beginner with some yoga experience in their 20s to 40s, and using one of Lilias Folan's such as Yoga Gets Better with Age or Healing Yoga by Joseph LePage for anyone aging, or with a 'common condition'.
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