Posts tagged “Childbirth”.

Dr Christine Andersons Dynamic Prenatal Yoga

Dr Christine Andersons Dynamic Prenatal Yoga




Dr. Christine Anderson is a Los Angeles Chiropractor who specializes in pediatrics and pregnancy. She has been teaching fitness classes for over 25 years and practiced yoga during her three pregnancies. Dr. Chris has designed this Prenatal yoga program to accommodate all levels of fitness during pregnancy by modifying typical yoga poses. Those who have been practicing yoga will appreciate the challenging modifications while beginners will receive detailed instruction. The regular practice of yoga during pregnancy prepares women for the challenges they will face during childbirth- physically, emotionally and spiritually. This DVD edition allows you to flow through the entire 90-minute practice or perform individual sessions through the chaptered program TESTAMONIALS As a Childbirth Professional, I love this DVD! As the founder of Hypnobabies, many Prenatal Yoga DVDs have been sent to me to review, and Dr. Christine’s Dynamic Prenatal Yoga is my favorite. It goes beyond the gentle stretching and relaxation of most of the ones I’ve seen before, and gives the expectant mom a real Prenatal Yoga session, helping her to easily tone and condition the muscles that she will use to give birth to her baby, along with wonderful breathing exercises to start the workout with. Peace and serenity are evident in all of the movements at the same time that excellent work is being done. All of this compliments what we teach in Hypnobabies, and I highly recommend this DVD! Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI, (Cypress, CA ) Founder of Hypnobabies _ When I teach an expecting mother the problem I hear is they don’t have time to exercise. This video allows you to do yoga in your own home or office so that you don’t have to be on someone else’s schedule. Dr. Christine Anderson’s Dynamic Prenatal Yoga brings the yoga to you. Dr. Anderson clearly understands the importance of yoga to relax, prepare, and strengthen the mommies before their delivery day. It doesn’t matter what level of fitness you have; if you are pregnant buy this DVD!__ JoAnna Ross- Yoga Instructor Los Angeles,CA This DVD is a wonderful resource for all pregnant women to enable them to follow our recommendations of exercise, time for self, stress reduction and stretching._ ________________________________________________________________ Drs. Jim Bob and Cindy Haggerton,_Lifetime Family Wellness Center- Hurst, TX_ I love this DVD. It is challenging yet sensitive to my pregnancy limitations._ I only wish I had more time to do it more often. _It is by far the best pregnancy exercise video I have ever encountered.___________________________________ Leah Herlihy- San Pedro, CA This is a great DVD. It has some unusual poses as well as more common prenatal yoga poses. Dr. Anderson gives excellent instruction during the DVD, giving modifications depending on the trimester, and it’s easy to follow. I highly recommend it. Elizabeth Bonet, Yogafairy.com- Broward County, Florida

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Rockis Prenatal Yoga

Rockis Prenatal Yoga



User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars LOVE this video!!
I’ve tried multiple prenatal videos including shiva’s (hated it) and fitmama (love the salsa part, not the yoga). this is, by far, the best yoga video. she concentrates on breathing and kegels which are KEY in childbirth. she goes at a good pace and explains each pose so that you are doing it correctly. she doesn’t talk about trimester modifications b/c you should be able to do all the poses throughout your pregnancy and if you can’t, just go as far as you can but they’re all safe poses. you should know your body so someone telling me go as far as i can is great advice, as far as i’m concerned. i’ve practiced yoga for a number of years and i really enjoy this video.

5 Stars Wow — changed my mind from one pregnancy to the next
I did the VHS version of this tape with my 1st pregnancy and didn’t get into it. Don’t know why, just didn’t click with me (yes, the production values are simple, clean and basic, the room they work out in is not high glamour or anything, just a working yoga/mat room) — so I didn’t bother doing more than a couple of time. I guess I wanted something more slick and Hollywood and filled with model-like women and tons of advice on how to alter this if, shift this if, etc.

What a difference 19 months make! I am on my 2nd baby and LOVE THIS. Now that I know my pregnant body better, know what is to come, and what my body will really need during labour and with the baby after the birth, I now know that Rocki’s is the best routine out there (I wrote a previous review for Shiva Rea’s, which is still one of the best, but for me and this pregnancy Rocki is now my guru!)

Rocki is practical and knowlegable with just enough of spirited focus not to turn you off in either direction whether you are spiritual or not. She DOES give instructions for different levels — just because the models are all in late stage, doesn’t mean that women who have smaller belly bumps are ignored.

And there are everyday women going through all the exercises, probably real clients — not currently pregnant dancers and acrobats who can do whatever is required without modification. Each of Rocki’s models are your average pregnant woman, whom you’d see on the street with stretch marks, linea nigra, they have put on those extra pounds…. basically, they are just like me — and probably just like you.

I think most women will benefit enormously from this routine.

1 Star This video’s 4 perpetually pregnant Amazonian warrior women.
Buyers, beware, unless you have the constitutions and the physiques of an Amazonian women, you shouldn’t buy this video tape, or venture to do most of the CHALLENGING [...] Yoga practices in the video…..

1 Star Very disappointing
I was very disappointed with Rocki’s Prenatal Yoga video. Rocki is not charismatic in the least and the program is boring and not challenging. I am in my last trimester and have been doing a great prenatal yoga class at a yoga center once a week and wanted to supplement at home. I picked Rocki’s video based on the good reviews it got and sadly found it very lacking. She spends so much time explaining positions that you barely do anything by the time the one hour video is over. Plus she has you doing things like leg lifts which are not even yoga moves. I strongly discourage anyone who is looking for anything remotely challenging from buying this video.

5 Stars Highly recommended!
I did this workout throughout my whole pregnancy and I’m totally convinced that’s why I bounced back so quickly. It kept me in shape (well, you know what I mean-everything’s relative when you’re hugely pregnant)and kept me feeling great while I was pregnant. My husband could tell the days I didn’t work out because I didn’t have the same energy as when I did yoga.

The sequences are thorough-kind of easy when you’re barely pregnant and tough when you’re full term. The stretching and breathing alone is worth its weight in gold for me. I love the meditation Rocki does, too. It’s nice but not too “new agey” for me.

Best of all for me, I just had my baby 3 weeks ago and went back to doing this tape a few days ago-and felt good. I hope Rocki puts out a postnatal workout-I bet it would be great. I did her Labor Prep tapes and we loved them. They really helped my husband and I work together when I was in labor.

This workout is terrific and I really recommend it. Fit Pregnancy and LA Magazine say it’s the best prenatal yoga class, so I’m in good company. I couldn’t have gotten through my pregnancy without it.

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Prenatal Yoga A Complete Home Practice for a Healthy Mother and Baby

Prenatal Yoga A Complete Home Practice for a Healthy Mother and Baby




Selected by Fit Pregnancy magazine as a 2006 Editors Pick, this program has three yoga routines and three guided relaxations to help you be more comfortable now and prepare you for childbirth. The routines can be done separately or linked together for longer practice sessions. Equal emphasis is given to movement, breath, and relaxation. OPEN: seated and kneeling poses to connect your body, mind and breath. Breathing lesson — full flowing breath. (25 min.) FOCUS: standing and seated poses to energize and build strength. Breathing lesson — deep ‘ocean’ breath. (35 min.) SURRENDER: floor poses to help you relax and release. Breathing lesson — space between breaths. (20 min.) Use the 10-minute guided relaxations to end your practice, or do them on their own for a restful break in your day. FLOWER, FEATHER and CLOCK appeal to different senses to help you relax, release tension, connect more deeply with your baby, and replenish your energy. “As the former editor of a yoga magazine, I’ve seen a lot of yoga videos. This is one of the best — pregnant or not. It’s clear and concise, and the relaxations at the end are fantastic for overwhelmed moms-to-be.” Hillari Dowdle. [See also our companion DVD "Prenatal Sun Salute: An Energizing Yoga Practice" and CD "Deep Relaxations for Pregnancy."]

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Good pick for pregnant women.
I have been using yoga videos for 6 years. Now that I am late in my second trimester of pregnancy I have found some of the traditional yoga poses are becoming difficult and uncomfortable. Prenatal Yoga seems to be more gentle and appropriate for the pregnant body, while still providing opportunity for muscle tone. I have also liked how there are three routines that each last between 23 and 32 minutes, so one session is a perfect length for me to fit into my morning schedule. I have not tried any of the breathing relaxation exercises, but imagine that this woudl be useful preparation for childbirth.

2 Stars Prenatal Yoga for beginners
This DVD is good for pregnant women who have never done yoga before and are also in bad shape. If you have experience in Yoga or if you used to excercise regulary before your pregnancy, this DVD is not for you.

3 Stars Ok Yoga Video
I ordered this DVD when I was at the end of my second/entering my 3rd tri-mester. I tried the 3rd session, which is recommended for the 3rd trimester and I found one of the positions very uncomfortable and not able to do it. I am not overly big, and I have only gain 24 1/2 pounds, and I am on my 35th week, however, I found this one particular position unobtainable. Besides this I would suggest for viewers to have a soft floor to lay on and lots of room to move around.

5 Stars My friend loved it!
I got this for my friend who is pregnant and was bummed out when her Yoga class got cancled. She really seems to enjoy it and has used it quite a bit! From all I can tell she loves it and was super happy to get it!

5 Stars Great Preparation for Labor
I am so glad I bought this DVD, it has everything I wanted plus some stuff I didn’t know I’d want. Before I bought it I used only Shiva Rea’s yoga DVD almost every day for a few months and I needed variety. It has done a lot to lessen my hip pain (which was making it nearly impossible to move around before I started) and done a lot to help me relax and deal with anxiety problems and practice relaxations I will use in childbirth.

Pros

- It does a fabulous job of training you to move with your breath, which is what yoga is all about and is a great preparation for labor.

- The exercises are challenging but not too hard.

- The exercises really focus on positions that will help you during labor.

- There are three stand alone routines of about 20-30 minutes each so you can do just one a day or do a few in a row if you want a longer workout. After four or five months of doing the exact same workout every day this is a huge bonus.

- There are special features so you can choose to listen to just the music or just the instructions once you’re familiar with the exercises.

- The way they put it together is very relaxing.

- It also contains three separate guided relaxations so that you can rotate around and do different ones on different days.

- This DVD was put together by a yoga center instead of an individual yoga teacher and as a result I think the routines are better and the DVD overall has a lot more to it.

Cons

- The exercises may not be challenging enough earlier in your pregnancy if you already have been doing a lot of yoga. I didn’t get this until my 3rd trimester and it was great then because it’s so hard to move around when you’re so big, but it might be too easy if you do it in the beginning. Even if this is too easy for you at first, I still highly recommend you give it a try in your 3rd trimester.

- If you’re not into the more spiritual side of yoga the quiet relaxations and things that are so great about this DVD may not appeal to you.

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Dr Christine Andersons Dynamic Prenatal Yoga

Dr Christine Andersons Dynamic Prenatal Yoga




Dr. Christine Anderson is a Los Angeles Chiropractor who specializes in pediatrics and pregnancy. She has been teaching fitness classes for over 25 years and practiced yoga during her three pregnancies. Dr. Chris has designed this Prenatal yoga program to accommodate all levels of fitness during pregnancy by modifying typical yoga poses. Those who have been practicing yoga will appreciate the challenging modifications while beginners will receive detailed instruction. The regular practice of yoga during pregnancy prepares women for the challenges they will face during childbirth- physically, emotionally and spiritually. This DVD edition allows you to flow through the entire 90-minute practice or perform individual sessions through the chaptered program. For a 3 minute preview of the video go to youtube.com/watch?v=nVHa1NBtERM and for more information on Dr. Anderson go to kidchiropractic.com . TESTAMONIALS As a Childbirth Professional, I love this DVD! As the founder of Hypnobabies, many Prenatal Yoga DVDs have been sent to me to review, and Dr. Christine’s Dynamic Prenatal Yoga is my favorite. It goes beyond the gentle stretching and relaxation of most of the ones I’ve seen before, and gives the expectant mom a real Prenatal Yoga session, helping her to easily tone and condition the muscles that she will use to give birth to her baby, along with wonderful breathing exercises to start the workout with. Peace and serenity are evident in all of the movements at the same time that excellent work is being done. All of this compliments what we teach in Hypnobabies, and I highly recommend this DVD! Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI, (Cypress, CA ) Founder of Hypnobabies When I teach an expecting mother the problem I hear is they don’t have time to exercise. This video allows you to do yoga in your own home or office so that you don’t have to be on someone else’s schedule. Dr. Christine Anderson’s Dynamic Prenatal Yoga brings the yoga to you. Dr. Anderson clearly understands the importance of yoga to relax, prepare, and strengthen the mommies before their delivery day. It doesn’t matter what level of fitness you have; if you are pregnant buy this DVD! JoAnna Ross- Yoga Instructor Los Angeles,CA This DVD is a wonderful resource for all pregnant women to enable them to follow our recommendations of exercise, time for self, stress reduction and stretching. Drs. Jim Bob and Cindy Haggerton, Lifetime Family Wellness Center- Hurst, TX I love this DVD. It is challenging yet sensitive to my pregnancy limitations. I only wish I had more time to do it more often. It is by far the best pregnancy exercise video I have ever encountered. Leah Herlihy- San Pedro, CA This is a great DVD. It has some unusual poses as well as more common prenatal yoga poses. Dr. Anderson gives excellent instruction during the DVD, giving modifications depending on the trimester, and it’s easy to follow. I highly recommend it. Elizabeth Bonet- Broward County, Florida

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Decent but long workout, disconcerting imagery
If you have 1.5 hours to get through the entire dvd it is helpful, but the background folk Christian and punk art-deco style (?) imagery (e.g., headless naked blue mannequin wrapped in outdoor lights standing behind the instructor) is out-of-place, as is the image of the instructor herself. I also found it hard to relax looking at the harsh contrasting lime green, black, and blue colors in the instructor’s studio/living room. Finally, Dr. Anderson is a chiropractor not a medical doctor so don’t let the title fool you into thinking she brings medical knowledge to this — in fact, she advises everyone use a chiropractor during pregnancy — something I’ve never heard or read anywhere else!

1 Star don’t buy it
I bought this product after reading good reviews. What a waste of money. It is the worst kind of quality you can imagine. Real home movie stuff and although the yoga moves are good, the instructor is so right on that it just puts you off. Save your money and go for a walk!

5 Stars Excellent
Excellent video. I am 8 months pregnant and have been doing this video since month 3…it has been challenging each month. It’s a great combo of stretching and strengthening. It is quite long (90 minutes) but divided into chapters, so you can choose to do all or part of the video. The cover looks very strange but the instructor is actually pretty normal… as far as yoga teachers go.

3 Stars Annoying…but good workout
I have done yoga for over 10 years, and have to say that this was the most annoying CD I have ever done. Christine was mono-tone, boring, and like another reviewer said, put in her sales pitch for chiropractic medicine which I found tasteless. The music makes you want to fall asleep. The only think that keeps you awake are the poses. She does a decent job with the yoga…but again, their is no fluidity.

2 Stars too long and to hard for me
i am sure it is a great DVD…

but for women who are expecting a baby and not really working….. 90 minutes it is a lot…

i thought it would be 90 min , but with different parts… to be able to do whatever you have time to do … choose a part… and come back without starting from the beginning… i couldn’t do the all thing…. and i feel i always have to start from the beginning again…. i don’t think it is good to skip the beginning and start from where i stopped the last time.

All the women on DVD are VERY pregnant , and all really comfortable with each exercises… it is amazing!!!

Also i am a beginner, and it is ok to follow the exercises… pretty much…but better to know about yoga …

i also bought the DVD, The Perfect Pregnancy Workout vol. 1 from Karyne Steben for workout and loved it… short , different levels… i could almost do it everyday… better for me.

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The Divine Mother Prenatal Yoga Series with Anna Getty

The Divine Mother Prenatal Yoga Series with Anna Getty



User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars CONFUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have read some REALLY good reviews about this DVD series, so I am excited to order… but, I’m deffinately NOT going to order from here! What is up with the price of the DVD???????????????? I did just a little bit of research and found it for just 11.99 on one website, then 16.99 on another!!!! what is going on here??? there must be some mistake!

5 Stars Despite the cover - this is a great DVD…
I had been doing various kundalini yoga DVDs by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh and loved them. When I needed to switch to something designed for prenatal yoga, it was discouraging that there aren’t many prenatal kundalini yoga DVDs. I bought two - and this is by far my favorite. My only complaint is that it is an hour long, and I wish there was an easy way to break it up (like the matrix option the Ana and Ravi DVDs have). Overall though - I love it!

5 Stars great pregnancy yoga
I am currently 33 weeks along and have been using this DVD for the last two months or so. In the last couple of weeks, I have been using it every day. It is very relaxing and effective, and I have not suffered any lower back pain at all since using this dvd. I found the keep-up exercise very challenging at first, but it’s become much easier and it really does help me focus on my breathing and relaxing through the challenge. Anna might not explain how every single posture is beneficial to the pregnant body but they are all postures that I have seen in either pregnancy books or in other DVDs that are meant to facilitate pregnancy and/or childbirth.

5 Stars Wonderful DVD!!
I used this DVD through my entire pregnancy and as a way to get back into exercise post-partum. I credit it with opening my joints, keeping my body stretched, and teaching me how to get to that place of focus that is oh-so-necessary during birth. I had an extremely long homebirth (and eventual hospital transfer) but I still managed to have a natural childbirth because of the focus and sheer strength I had gained from a regular yoga practice.

4 Stars very relaxing
i only used this video a fe wtimes whne i was pregnant because well i just was kind of lazy and tired alot after working, also being very overweight it was hard to get on the floor some days. but when i did watch it, it was very relaxing, especially the music. i was thinking of starting to use it again because i have a bad back and it would probably be at the right pace for me. Some things i couldnt do because i wasnt flexible enough and haven’t done much yoga prior, but then i would just continue with my breathing instead.

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Getting Started With Prenatal Yoga

Getting Started With Prenatal Yoga




Getting Started with Prenatal Yoga includes routines from 20 to 60 minutes in length, and is the perfect yoga program to help keep you and your baby healthy, fit and feeling well throughout your pregnancy.

Whether you are new to yoga, (or just new to prenatal yoga), the Getting Started program provides expert, step-by-step instruction, to allow you to safely and comfortably experience the benefits of yoga in each trimester and as you prepare for childbirth.
Getting Started with Prenatal Yoga Highlights:

- 20 customized and target routines
- Routines designed specifically for each trimester
- A special section on yoga and fertility
- Yoga practices from 20 to 60 minutes
- Guidance and cautions specific to each trimester
- Routines to alleviate morning sickness, lower back pain, digestive issues and other common pregnancy issues

For your comfort, safety and to provide the maximum benefit, the following items may be used: Yoga mat, folding chair, blankets, pillows and a belt.

The routines on Getting Started with Prenatal Yoga were specially designed to ensure that you will be able to Get Started with prenatal yoga throughout your pregnancy.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Exactly what I needed
I am nearing the end of my second trimester and this is my second pregnancy. My first was very easy and I was happy to continue with a modified version of my fairly intense pre-pregnancy fitness program. This time around I wanted something more nurturing and something I could do at home.

My midwife suggested yoga. I had done some post-natal yoga however I would say I am a beginner. I purchased 2 DVDs and we reviewed them together. She felt both would be fine for me. I am using both of them although I find myself reaching for this one more often.

There is plenty of material on this DVD and it will take you through your pregnancy. It offers routines for each trimester and has been very helpful with dealing with not so wonderful symptoms that can come with pregnancy.

There is only one model demonstrating the routines. (A different one for each trimester). These woman seem to be very experienced and not just pregnant models. I prefer to have only one person to watch.

The instruction is very detailed but easy to follow. This isn’t a fast paced workout so you have time to follow the direction, get into the pose, adjust as needed and you won’t feel rushed to move along to the next one.

5 Stars Very safe for at home yoga
I started with Iyengar style yoga classes about 6 months before I became pregnant. It’s a type of yoga that relies a little more on props and you spend more time getting in and staying in a pose. Being not so flexible and having some back issues it was a good choice for me.

I had hoped to take pre-natal classes at the same studio, but at the beginning of my pregnancy I just wasn’t up for going after a day at work. I wish I’d have found this DVD sooner (I’m at the end of my 2nd trimester now). The ones I did get were much faster moving and didn’t use much if any props. I wasn’t comfortable with that on my own.

For any pregnant woman who is new to yoga or looking to use yoga to relieve pregnancy symptoms and be more comfortable, I think this is a good choice. There are routines for each trimester that deal with specific issues we face during those times and offer modifications that make it very safe for you and your baby.

I also appreciate that I only have one model to watch doing the routines appropriate for where I am in my pregnancy. With other DVDs I found it difficult to keep my eye on the one in the room at my stage.

5 Stars It Is Working
I picked this up to continue my yoga and hopefully help with some issues and so far it is working - the routine for morning sickness has really seemed to help the last 10 days or so and that alone makes this worthwhile to me even if I do not use anything else. I had bad morning sickness the first time I was pregnant and it was happening again.

There are sections for all trimesters (I am only using the first right now) and like Denise Austin’s video, this one seems very focused on keeping exercises safe. There is alot of good information about how to use the DVD, proper positioning of your body with support where needed, and other items.

A quick look at the later trimesters looks good and they look tailored for proper physical support, but I have not yet used them.

5 Stars Very Good
As I started my third trimester I was happy I bought this DVD even though I had some others. This one seems to really understand what I am going through as my body changes (okay, I am bigger now) and the issues in the trimesters with a selection of routines for each trimester and the changes.

Very well thought out DVD and addresses what I feel. The backache routine is helpful, and I am also really enjoying the energizer and general routine. I am actually still able to do some yoga now, it is easy and gentle.

1 Star too slow, and has no flow!
I’m no where close to a yoga expert, but I have take a few classes. That said, this dvd was very frustrating for me. They take SO much time over explaining the poses that there is no time to really relax into them. Plus, the poses do not flow together (which to me is one of the most important aspects of yoga). The whole dvd is very “stop and start” and really too easy. The modifications for the 1st trimester portion are almost completely unnecessary, as well as many in the 2nd trimester portion.

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Pilates During Pregnancy Vol 1

Pilates During Pregnancy Vol 1




Pilates During Pregnancy with Niece Pecenka - An inpiring Pilates based routine adapted for busy women in all trimesters who want to feel fit, healthy, and fabulous.

Pilates requires you to move consciously - using the breath to revitalize and energize - something you will need to depend on during and after childbirth. Every movement in Pilates emanates from the “center” - helping you focus on those muscles necessary for labor and delivery.

This routine is comprised of two distinct sections to make the most of you time.

Section I - abdominal and breath work = 15 minutes

Section II - side leg series, lower body work = 30 minutes

Sections I and II can be combined for a longer workout depending upon your time and energy level.

You will need a minimum of three blankets, folded and stacked. So Let’s Move!

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars An awsome workout!
This was a very pleasant and yet challenging Workout. The Breathing and Core excercises were perfect for me and I am 5 months pregnant. The legs exercise was really good. If you are wanting to tone and target your leg and butt area this is a really good excercise program. You will feel it…I did ! Also Niece is really pleasant but not cheezy at all like some workout videos I have seen. Hope You enjoy as much as I do.

4 Stars Pilates for Pregnancy
I have really enjoyed this video. The intructor is pleasant to listen to and seems to move at an almost perfect pace. I enjoy the moves very much, even though the leg work tends to hurt and really work, but that’s what I wanted! I would recommend this video to any pregnant woman!

3 Stars Less than I expected
The video is good, but it lacks guidance and explanations or modifications for different trimesters, especially the third one. Also the background is very dark, and if you were to watch it on a computer, like I do, the details are hard to distinguish, such as the proper leg positioning etc.

In terms of difficulty, I have done Pilates before and did not think it was difficult.

Another concern is the stretches which are almost none for legs.

In terms of recommending, I would say buy it if you don’t find anything better. Otherwise, buy something else.

5 Stars Love it. Buy it. You won’t be sorry.
I’m 22 weeks along and I’m THRILLED to have found a pregnancy pilates video that isn’t terrible. In fact, I was surprised with how much I liked it!

Before getting pregnant I went to a regular class on the pilates beds, so doing mat work isn’t my favorite - but the DVD is great. I appreciate that it’s still somewhat challenging, yet enjoyable AND that the instructor is pregnant, as well. You can do as much (or as little) as what’s comfortable.

Do note that the two sections: abs/lower body do not include any arm/upper body works. That’s my ONLY complaint. But, I’d buy this DVD again if given the choice.

5 Stars Great Workout for the lower body
I love this workout! For those who would like a break down of the pros and cons, here they are.

Pros:

-The instructor is pleasant but doesn’t talk too much

-breathing is explained and easy to follow

-well organized, good length

-Can be broken up into two smaller workouts if you are feeling tired

-Will definitely tone the lower body

Cons:

-While I do not find the moves difficult, this DVD is not for the newbie to pilates. The moves are not broken down as they would need to be for a beginner. Also, technique is not given in detail. It seems that it is expected you are familiar with pilates.

-Took a LONG time to get to me. This is a popular DVD and was hard to get my hands on. From the time I ordered it from Amazon it took almost 3 months to get to me….ORDER EARLY!

I will definitely be adding this to my pregnancy workout routine (and postnatal!). For those who are worried about reviews that say you are on your back too long, this is not the case. The ab work is done while being propped up (the instructor uses blankets, I like to use pillows) and at no point are you flat on your back. Aside from feeling I nice burn in my bum during the leg work, I was comfortable throughout the whole workout.

I will definitely be recommending this DVD to anyone who asks for pregnancy workout tips.

Buy/More Info

Prenatal Yoga A Complete Home Practice for a Healthy Mother and Baby

Prenatal Yoga A Complete Home Practice for a Healthy Mother and Baby




Selected by Fit Pregnancy magazine as a 2006 Editors Pick, this program has three yoga routines and three guided relaxations to help you be more comfortable now and prepare you for childbirth. The routines can be done separately or linked together for longer practice sessions. Equal emphasis is given to movement, breath, and relaxation. OPEN: seated and kneeling poses to connect your body, mind and breath. Breathing lesson — full flowing breath. (25 min.) FOCUS: standing and seated poses to energize and build strength. Breathing lesson — deep ‘ocean’ breath. (35 min.) SURRENDER: floor poses to help you relax and release. Breathing lesson — space between breaths. (20 min.) Use the 10-minute guided relaxations to end your practice, or do them on their own for a restful break in your day. FLOWER, FEATHER and CLOCK appeal to different senses to help you relax, release tension, connect more deeply with your baby, and replenish your energy. “As the former editor of a yoga magazine, I’ve seen a lot of yoga videos. This is one of the best — pregnant or not. It’s clear and concise, and the relaxations at the end are fantastic for overwhelmed moms-to-be.” Hillari Dowdle. [See also our companion DVD "Prenatal Sun Salute: An Energizing Yoga Practice" and CD "Deep Relaxations for Pregnancy."]

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Prenatal Yoga for beginners
This DVD is good for pregnant women who have never done yoga before and are also in bad shape. If you have experience in Yoga or if you used to excercise regulary before your pregnancy, this DVD is not for you.

5 Stars Good pick for pregnant women.
I have been using yoga videos for 6 years. Now that I am late in my second trimester of pregnancy I have found some of the traditional yoga poses are becoming difficult and uncomfortable. Prenatal Yoga seems to be more gentle and appropriate for the pregnant body, while still providing opportunity for muscle tone. I have also liked how there are three routines that each last between 23 and 32 minutes, so one session is a perfect length for me to fit into my morning schedule. I have not tried any of the breathing relaxation exercises, but imagine that this woudl be useful preparation for childbirth.

3 Stars Ok Yoga Video
I ordered this DVD when I was at the end of my second/entering my 3rd tri-mester. I tried the 3rd session, which is recommended for the 3rd trimester and I found one of the positions very uncomfortable and not able to do it. I am not overly big, and I have only gain 24 1/2 pounds, and I am on my 35th week, however, I found this one particular position unobtainable. Besides this I would suggest for viewers to have a soft floor to lay on and lots of room to move around.

5 Stars Great Preparation for Labor
I am so glad I bought this DVD, it has everything I wanted plus some stuff I didn’t know I’d want. Before I bought it I used only Shiva Rea’s yoga DVD almost every day for a few months and I needed variety. It has done a lot to lessen my hip pain (which was making it nearly impossible to move around before I started) and done a lot to help me relax and deal with anxiety problems and practice relaxations I will use in childbirth.

Pros

- It does a fabulous job of training you to move with your breath, which is what yoga is all about and is a great preparation for labor.

- The exercises are challenging but not too hard.

- The exercises really focus on positions that will help you during labor.

- There are three stand alone routines of about 20-30 minutes each so you can do just one a day or do a few in a row if you want a longer workout. After four or five months of doing the exact same workout every day this is a huge bonus.

- There are special features so you can choose to listen to just the music or just the instructions once you’re familiar with the exercises.

- The way they put it together is very relaxing.

- It also contains three separate guided relaxations so that you can rotate around and do different ones on different days.

- This DVD was put together by a yoga center instead of an individual yoga teacher and as a result I think the routines are better and the DVD overall has a lot more to it.

Cons

- The exercises may not be challenging enough earlier in your pregnancy if you already have been doing a lot of yoga. I didn’t get this until my 3rd trimester and it was great then because it’s so hard to move around when you’re so big, but it might be too easy if you do it in the beginning. Even if this is too easy for you at first, I still highly recommend you give it a try in your 3rd trimester.

- If you’re not into the more spiritual side of yoga the quiet relaxations and things that are so great about this DVD may not appeal to you.

5 Stars My friend loved it!
I got this for my friend who is pregnant and was bummed out when her Yoga class got cancled. She really seems to enjoy it and has used it quite a bit! From all I can tell she loves it and was super happy to get it!

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Classic Kathy Smith Pregnancy Workout

Classic Kathy Smith Pregnancy Workout




Features both Pre and Post Natal routines with an in-depth FAQ segment with childbirth experts Raul Artal, M.D., Paula Bernstein, Ph.D. and Gary London, M.D. that provides informative and reassuring answers for expectant mothers.

Prenatal Workout begins with an energinzing warm up leading to a comfortable low-intensity, low-impact cardio routine that can be done throughout your entire pregnancy. Toning routine will keep arms, legs, abs and legs in great shape. End your workout with a special active-relaxation period to cool-down.

Post Natal Exercises teach you to pace your workout routine for a safe and strong recovery, broken out into 2-week stages, Kathy has designed several levels of workouts to take you through the first six weeks after delivery. Perfect to regain the energy and stamina you’ll need in taking care of your ew baby!

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great pregnancy workout
This is a GREAT pregnancy workout. Not to strenuous, not to easy. I was able to complete this workout until my 7th month (I got really huge). I even used this workout to loose the baby weight after the baby was born, but it can be annoying to workout with pregnant woman on the screen when your not pregnant!

I was in reasonably good shape before I started this program. May be too strenuous if your pregnant and starting from scratch.

I’d recommend this to any pregnant woman who wants to exercise. It will help you feel a lot better through your pregnancy!

4 Stars For those who complain about it being outdated…
I did this workout when I was pregnant with my first child, when it was only available on VHS. (I now have 3 children, and my oldest is now 9 years old, so I was doing this workout 10 years ago.)

It was recently put on dvd format, and many are complaining that the music, leotards, and decor are outdated.

I wanted to comment that Kathy Smith filmed this workout when she was pregnant herself, so unless she gets pregnant again, there is really no way for her to be pregnant and lead a pregnancy workout…

So yes, the leotards and hairstyles are outdated, but I don’t think Kathy wants to get pregnant again 15 years (give or take) after she had her last one just to make an updated dvd. *smiling*

The workout, however, is effective, and safe for pregnant women-which is what it all boils down to.

5 Stars Great Workout!
This dvd is not at all boring and it is challenging (29 weeks pregnant). Kathy Smith makes it fun and easy to follow along… the music is upbeat.. and I agree that rap part is a lil bit corny, but not at all enough of a reason for me not to purchase, it definately made me sweat a bit .. Oh and let me just state that I was in excellent shape pre-pregnancy… meaning I would workout at the gym 5days a week 2 hours a day… people need to realize that you canot workout at the same entensity level as you did before, because you body is much more prone to injury.. i got the sense by all the reviews that everyone with negative reviews thought it wasnt enough of a workout.. which almost made me not purchase this dvd.. but Im very glad I decided to try it for myself :)

4 Stars Easy to customize!
It’s really easy to skip from chapter to chapter on this dvd and make the workout as long or short as you want. There are three 20 minute aerobic segments to choose from and then several target toning segments. I would like more stretching (a few yoga poses would be perfect!). It does get your heart rate going. If you can get over the cheesy early 90s color scheme/decor, its a good workout.

2 Stars Meh.
The workouts are okaaayyy (and I do appreciate the fact they’re segmented), but it is clearly for those who are new to exercising. If you’re just starting to work out, this will be a great DVD. If you’ve been exercising prior to getting pregnant, this DVD will bore you.

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Rockis Prenatal Yoga Vol 2 Labor Preparation 1

Rockis Prenatal Yoga Vol 2 Labor Preparation 1




Mom, dad and unborn baby work together in this unique program. Rocki gently guides couples through breathing techniques, yoga positions and accupressure points designed to minimize pain and maximize comfort. Emphasis is placed on the support of the partner to calm, comfort and relax the mother-to-be during labor. These empowering techniques increase concentration, flexibility, strength and stamina, helping labor and delivery become an experience to remember with joy, awe and respect.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars great for partners!
My husband is a lovely affectionate sort of person, but had virtually no instincts about how to make a person in pain feel better. Rocki’s video was perfect for us- it gave him concrete, hands-on suggestions, with easy to follow instructions. She suggested things I wouldn’t have thought of, or been able to explain half as well. It was highly recommended to me, and I am delighted with it. Better than birthing class!

5 Stars Unbelievably helpful!
We’d taken a Bradley class with my first baby and it didn’t do much for me. I got this for my second and what a huge difference! I used so many things she teaches on the DVD-breathing, different poses, movement. The last hour before I started pushing was me moving my hips with my husband massaging my back-and I’m convinced that’s why it only took 2 pushes for my son to be born. Rocki really seems to know alot about childbirth and her techniques helped me immeasurably. Great DVD. (I feel the same way about the next one in the series-Labor Prep 3.)

5 Stars Better than a Lamaze class
I got this DVD because I love Rocki’s Prenatal Yoga routine so much. I’m really glad I did. She has a ton of information about how movement and breathing affect the baby during labor and ways to get more comfortable. I’ve actually gotten my husband to do this with me and as corny as it sounds, it’s really given us some time to get closer. He now knows what I like and want during labor and I think we’ll work better together as a team. Thanks, Rocki.

4 Stars Good material, but short
This isn’t so much as a workout video as it is an instructional video. This is really a guide for how to accomplish workouts. I think there is decent material in this video for methods that can be used for easing the labor process, but I think that the video is a bit short. In fact, I see no reason that Volume 2 and 3 could not be on the same disc. For that reason, I can’t give this a higher rating. If this disc had been arranged in such a way that workout parts could be accomplished, then it would be fully worth it, but noting that all it does is explain the various positions and does not go through as a “workout video”, it falls short of its purpose.

5 Stars Fantastic!
I’ve told every one of my pregnant friends to get this DVD–it was SO helpful for my delivery. It really helped me focus on what worked for me and what didn’t. After practicing the positions, we knew when labor started that I liked this pose and not that one. When I started to freak out during labor, my hubby helped bring me back by suggesting a position. I love that it gets your husband involved in the labor process. (He has more to do that just hand you ice chips and say “good job!”) My husband really got into the exercises–he said it made him feel more of a partner than an assistant. Invaluable!

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