The New Method Baby and Mom Prenatal Yoga
The New Method Baby and Mom Prenatal Yoga
Relaxing, strengthening, and allowing oneself to feel rather than think have long been associated with ancient yoga practice. Instructor Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa expertly ties this essential combination of physical experiences together in a gentle exercise video for pregnant women of all fitness levels. Prior to the 45-minute routine, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa discusses the role of yoga in helping with pregnancy; the calm and security that develop through guided breathing and gentle movement are transferred from the mother’s body to her growing baby. The nonimpact routine itself provides ample warm-up, toning, and conditioning portions, as well as a deep, head-to-toe relaxation and visualization segment. Ten pregnant students (all pleasantly unrehearsed) stretch, bend, and learn along with the viewer, to the peaceful sounds of a live band consisting of wood flute, bass, quiet drum, and shimmering bells. Every bit as enriching for the soul as it is for the body. –Liane Thomas
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Not What I Was Looking For in a Yoga DVD
I have been practicing yoga for over seven years now with a studio, through various classes, and using home DVDs when my schedule is hectic. I did a fair bit of reading about prenatal yoga once I found out we were pregnant, and I knew my body would be very happy to have the yoga continue to help my back and my poor sciatic wonky-hip pain. My yoga studio has a prenatal class, but the schedule does not work with mine so I thought I would get a DVD to supplement until I could make it to classes again.
This was not the right video for me. There was too much discussion, too much commentary, and not enough actual yoga going on for my taste. I did not appreciate this woman attempting to facilitate my relationship with my “bay-bay” (hug your bay-bay, dance with your bay-bay, your bay-bay loves it when you do this move, etc). I have my own special time 24/7 with this beeb in my belly, and I did not get this dvd to inform me of the fact that I’m supposed to hug and love my belly. I needed some quiet time (she never stops talking) with some gentle moves to keep my back happy, my body moving, and my mind at ease. This DVD is currently sitting by the door as I will not use it again.
I’m not sure why I didn’t just go with the Gaiam dvd… it is now on order.
1 Star Creepy
I watched for 10 minutes and I had to stop. They make you chant at the beginning as a part of the workout and it’s really creepy. I was looking for a nice workout, not an introduction to a new religion.
3 Stars A very easy exercise
I was at my 16 weeks when I started to use this DVD. This is my first pregnancy. I enjoy exercising and before I got pregnant, I go to the gym at least once a week. I enjoy challenging lower-body toning exercises, bodycombat (high-cardio) classes, machine-weights to tone my upper body. I have done beginner to intermediate yoga classes and do not have a very flexible body. I now swim twice a week (20 minutes) and exercise to this DVD every other day.
The instructor is not pregnant in this video and looks very “zen-ish” with her head dress (a white turban looking thing). The video starts out with a 10-15 minute clip of her talking about how yoga is good for the mother and the baby.
During the next 5 minutes or so, she instructs the class to sit in an upright cross-legged position, with eyes closed and chant to a language I do not understand. Apparently, it means “I bow to the divine power in myself” or something to that effect. I find this section disturbing and do not like the sound of it at all, so I typically fast forward to the point where the lesson proper begins.
The class has a live band playing at the back of the room. Music is okay. The venue looks rather old-fashioned. However, lighting was okay. You will see some camera man moving behind the flowers and pillars once in a while. The women were dressed in big T-shirts and tights, others in full body suits. They have make-up on, and some look quite pretty and attractive. Nothing fanciful or appealing about the set, in general.
The next 30-minute section has very good exercises to help a pregnant woman stretch and relax her body. Gentle stretches and exercises that are only enough to get my heartbeat up by a little. However, even though the exercises are simple, I feel very good after at the end of it. I feel good to have stretched the thighs, arms, toes, calves, lower and upper back, neck, kegel muscle. All in all, if you are looking for a non-strenuous and gentle stretching exercise to help you to remain flexible and to relief stiff joints and aches, this would be the DVD. One thing to note, the instructor in this video emphasizes a lot on “feeling” the movements in the body and to release all inhibitions.
This is not the DVD if you are looking to tone those hips, butts and thighs and sweat it all out.
The video ends with another session of chanting (which I skip). Apparently, the words are supposed to heal and give you strength or something like that. And after that, we all lie down and close our eyes to relax, as with all yoga classes.
I am still waiting for two DVDs to arrive:
1) The Perfect Pregnancy Workout
2) Shiva Rea Prenatal Yoga
2 Stars Helpful exercises drowned in silliness
I was looking forward to a gentle challenge for my last month of pregnancy when I popped this video into the VCR (It was a hand-me-down tape from a friend). After losing my patience with the turban and muu-muu wearing instructor’s long monologue that opens the tape I fast-forwarded until I saw the typical exercise-video setup.
This was the beginning of the end for me. I resisted completely turning off the tape but couldn’t help laughing as I watched some of the overly-enthusiastic participants writhing around while the instructor croons “Your baaaaby loves to mooooove this waaaay.” It made me feel ridiculous.
The reason I gave it two stars is that there are a few truly useful exercises that can be learned if you can ignore the instructor, participants, and music to get to them. If you’re interested in trying this video, see if you can borrow it from the local library before you spend any money on it.
4 Stars Great for labor prep
Kinda silly looking as I guess it’s “look” is quite outdated now. But this video is wonderful. It’s very gentle and easy but felt great when I was 7 months and beyond during my pregnancy. I feel it’s focus is much more towards preparing and opening a woman’s body for birth rather than a typical yoga workout.
Retrospectively, it was this video and all the yogic philosophy that goes along with it that allowed me to birth naturally.