by Ransom Noble

Created on: January 25, 2009

Yoga videos bring this ancient practice into your home. However, there are good and bad things about doing yoga to a video. Many of the arguments for videos are also used against them. The important thing is to learn what works for you or, if a gift, the recipient.

Benefits:
Practice on our own. You don't have to fit a class into your schedule so you can practice at any time, in whatever clothing you choose. There are no distractions from other people in the class, like the instructor correcting you or another student telling you about something you're doing wrong.

You are in control of your practice. You can pause or stop the video if something important comes up. You can rewind if you need to hear an instruction again. The video is the same every time you play it, so you can get accustomed to the rhythm and flow of the routine. If you want to understand a pose better, you can play the video without attempting the pose and see what the instructor says and does.

You pay a one-time fee for the video. There is no guilt if you decide it isn't right for you or if things come up and you're too busy to practice.

Drawbacks:
Practice on your own. You miss the camaraderie of taking a yoga class with other people you know. You don't leave your home, so your family or others who share your home space have no qualms disrupting you, not to mention the phone ringing. You can't get the instructor's advice about how to get into the proper position or make sure you're using the proper muscles.

You are in control of your practice. If you haven't scheduled it on your busy calendar, it's very easy to skip. No one is expecting you to be somewhere and it can easily slip your mind.

You pay a one-time fee for the video. Since the routine is always the same, if you get bored you buy another one. If you choose one that is too challenging, you might frustrate yourself out of the mindset to practice. It might also be too easy for your current fitness level.

One last thing is many videos neglect to include a relaxation portion at the end, instead favoring more of an exercise approach. This ending part is generally boring to watch, but is also an integral part of yoga as a discipline. An easy guideline is about five minutes of relaxation in Corpse Pose (Savasana) for every twenty to thirty of yoga practice.

The best case scenario for yoga videos is to supplement a beginning practice with a class. With an experienced teacher to point in the right direction of a video to provide a challenging, but not frustrating, program. It provides a guide to practice outside of class with similar poses to get more of the benefits of yoga: strength, flexibility, and relaxation, among others. Some teachers make outside practice materials available in the form of videos or printed/audio guides. Take advantage of them and ask what video might be best for you.

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