Yoga Conditioning for Women
Teacher: Suzanne Deason
Location: Hawaii, USA.
Time: 55 minutes
Level: Beginner / Intermediate

This video is divided into four sections: Breathing, Posture, Centering and Relaxation. It starts with Suzanne Deason lying on her back with bent knees. She talks us through breathing, bringing in small movements of the pelvis, then leg stretches, increasing in intensity to spinal twists. The breathing and movements are closely co-ordinated and this ten minute section not only prepares us for the more vigourous postures to come but, by helping to free up a stiff back, can be a useful routine in its own right.

The Postures section start with downward dog, lunges and forward bend, followed by three balances. A six minute sequence of side bends, intersperced with forward bends, is followed by more balances. Centering takes place on the mat, with locust moving into upward dog and bow pose. Cat movements are followed by pigeon and squat pose, seated twists and forward bends. The Relaxation section is, in many ways a more extreme form of the Breathing section, conducted on our backs, with leg stretches and twists and ending with a couple of minutes in corpse. The entire routine is performed on the Hawaian coast, with the instructions given as a talk-over. Having guided us into each pose, Suzanne Deason describes breathing and where to direct our effort and relaxation. A separate, three minute modifications section at the end of the video illustrates how to use props to make the positions less extreme.

All the postures in this beautiful video are expertly demonstrated and described. The sequence flows between postures and areas of the body, building on themes, with Hawaian seascapes in the background and Suzanne Deason's relaxing voice guiding us. She makes it clear that yoga practise is more than a physical workout, that it can be used to enhance the deeper emotional and spiritual levels of our lives. She explains that "as you move into the pose, your mind is focussed on your body and your breathing, but as you settle into the pose, your concentration expands past the physical level, towards stillness"

Is this meant just for women? Well, it is hard to understand why, unless it is the frequent instruction in the standing sequence to move our hands to our belly. Suzanne Deason explains in the introduction that "Women especially can benefit from a yoga practise that concentrates on the powerful energy in the belly, our centre of gravity". Another feature intended for women is the 20 minute "Bonus Monthly Practise". This illustrates some less extreme and more appropriate postures, making extensive use of props, with practical advice on yoga and period problems.

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