Yoga Zone - Flexibility and Tone (Beginners)

Everything about the video, the spartan studio, the low-key music, the slightly pudgy, sweet faced, pleasant voiced instructor Alan Finger, his two beautiful silent assistants, is soothing to me. Not to imply that this tape is a snooze-fest! In fact, it's quite strenuous as my aching muscles can attest after returning to this tape after my two month hiatus. When I finish this routine my mind and body feel refreshed and de-stressed and I always feel like I've done something incredibly good for myself.

The instructor and his assistants lead you through a (roughly) 50 minute routine that stretches and strengthens nearly every muscle in your body using seated stretches, downward dog, cat pose, sun salutations, proud warrior and many other challenging (but not overly difficult) poses. The tape ends with "corpse pose", where I must admit, I usually fall asleep because I'm so relaxed at that point. However, I don't think beginners should start out with this tape without first trying one of the Yoga Zone videos made specifically for the beginner. This tape sometimes flows rather quickly from one pose to the next and it may be confusing and possibly slightly discouraging for the new yoga student especially when you're in a sideways (or upside down) pose and can't get a gander at the tv. But once you've mastered the basics it is very easy to keep up with the instructor's voice cues.

While you may not see overly drastic physical results with this video the emotional results and the flexibility you'll attain can't be beat! I highly recommend my beloved video!


Great workout!   July 31, 2000
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

I own all of the Yoga Zone series videos, and this is one of my favorites. Alan Finger is a WONDERFUL instructor; his voice is very soothing, and he's not intimidating in the slightest. He is not overly buffed; he's just your run of the mill pudgy 50 year old, but if you watch the clips at the end, you'll see that he has amazing strength and can contort himself into some very twisted poses. If you're new to Yoga, I'd suggest working with the Introduction to Yoga video in this series. I used that tape 3-4 times a week for about 2 months before I advanced to this one, and by the time I finally did, I found that I was very ready. The Introduction to Yoga teaches you most of the basic postures, and this video expands on them, but it's also a lot tougher. Having done the ItoY video though, I could progress through most of the poses easily and fluidly. And yes- you WILL feel the stretch in your muscles. Alan also guides you through a great breathing introduction in the beginning and a relaxation at the end.


Excellent, well-rounded yoga program   January 13, 2001
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

I have done yoga off and on for over 20 years and this is one of the best videos I have found--good for beginning-intermediate yoga practitioners or someone like me who is restarting yoga after some time off. Alan Finger does a wonderful job of patiently guiding you through the poses. But the best thing about this videotape is that by the time you are finished with the 55-minute program, most all the muscles in your body feel stretched and loose and you feel great both physically and mentally. It's a very well-rounded set of poses. I would recommend it highly.


very nicely done   July 25, 2004
S. smith (Texas)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I really like the pace and instruction in this video. Alan stands or sits in the back and tells how to get in the pose, etc and has a very calming voice. 2 ladies demo..I think one is Lisa Bennet and not sure of the other, but the modifies (except on the one pose I needed a modification!). there are some seated stretches (ahh!) then the more vigorous standing ones. one called cow's head there is absolutely no way I can do the legs like they do..they bend the knees with feet on the floor and then pull on under with heel near the hip an the other on top with the heel near the hip...maybe I just have too much fat in the way! anyways, I felt nice after doing this workout...he talks a lot with the instructions but no needless chit chat. this was also filmed indoors, not outdoors like their tv series20 minute dvds. I really like this one and will do it when I have an hour or so to spend on yoga.


Alan Finger and Yoga Zone, Flexibility and Tone   January 28, 2006
Yoga Dad
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I recently got the four tape Yoga Zone Beginners Set. So far I've done three of them (Introduction to Yoga, Conditioning and Stress Release and this morning Flexibility and Tone).

By way of background, I've been doing Yoga every day for the past 9 years, both with an extensive collection of programs (over 90 VHS/DVD) and many years with an amazing teacher!

I can't express enough how great a teacher Alan Finger is and how great Yoga Zone programs are in general. From these longer programs to the shorter ones (which usually have 2-20 minute programs) they are masterfully sequenced and lend an incredible amount of variety to enable one to keep their practice interesting, to fit them into one's schedule and to choose one that best fits one's needs on any given day.

This program in particular is about an hour long,which allows the pace to be very relaxed and the poses to be held nice and long. Of the three I've done from this set it is the most physically challenging while still being very doable. For someone who is a stone beginner I would recommend starting with either Yoga Zone "Basics" or "Introduction To Yoga" to get a feel for what Yoga is about. Still, it wouldn't take long before they'd be ready for this program.

This particular practice session has Alan Finger leading Michelle Carillo (who shows modified postures) and Lisa Bennett (Matkin) through the practice. They both have a beautiful practice and I find them inspiring to work with along w/ Yogiraj Finger.

It starts with seated ("Potted Palm") movements to gently warm you up into the practice. After that you move into all fours for cat stretches, lunges, dog pose etc. eventually leading to Sun Breaths and Sun Salutes (he calls them Sun Worship on this program) and then standing poses (Triangle, Intense forward bend (Parsvottanasana), Side angle pose and Warrior 2 pose). You then work back down to the floor and end in Cow Face pose, seated Forward bending and end with a nice guided Savasana. I'm sure I left quite a bit out, this is merely an overview of the structure of the practice.

I find Alan Finger to be a true master teacher and a true Yogi (as opposed to a fitness person doing a Yoga program, though some, such as Kathy Smith and Janis Saffell, have excellent programs).

If you have an hour to spare and want to take yourself on a wonderful Yoga Journey then I highly recommend this program.

Namaste