Best Yoga DVDs for Beginners 2015

As a full-time blogger I regularly sit in the same position for many hours of the day. Yoga is a way for me to relax, lose weight, and improve upon my flexibility.

That being said advanced Yoga is something I just simply cannot do, so finding a Yoga DVD that is easy enough for me, as a beginner, is important. I spent a few months trying lots of DVDs and below is a list of DVDs I'd recommend for those of you who, like me, are beginners.

Did you know that yoga has been around for more than 2,000 years? Yoga was originally a form of meditation that increased focus and discipline, but it's used widely today as a form of exercise. Yoga's a good choice for anyone who's looking for a low-impact exercise that increases strength and flexibility. Don't be intimidated by professional yogis who can bend themselves into all kind of contortions--beginning yoga is easy and fun.

1. Yoga for Beginners:

Yoga for Beginners, led by yoga expert Barbara Benagh and produced by Body Wisdom Media, is not one of the DVDs included in the boxed set below, although the boxed set is produced by the same company and two of its discs are led by Ms. Benagh. This disc includes eight routines, ranging in length from ten to 60 minutes, that will help you improve your flexibility, increase your strength, and improve your well-being. It's set on a lovely, relaxing beach to help you get your yoga flow going.

This DVD is perfect for anyone who is new to yoga. It will teach you several easy poses, along with a few that you might have to work up to. It also includes instruction in deep breathing. If you've never done yoga before, I recommend watching each routine through before trying it, so you get familiar with what each pose should look like; then try the routine along with the video. If some of the poses are still too difficult for you, don't worry--the instructor mentions several modifications for anyone who might be struggling. This DVD is great as a starting point for learning a relaxing, gentle style of yoga.

2. Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners

Rodney Yee used to be a professional ballet dancer; he's now a well-known yoga instructor. Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners is a little bit different from other popular yoga DVDs. It does include two yoga routines for beginners-one energizing morning routine and one relaxing evening routine-but that's not all. Along with the workouts, you'll get detailed instructions on how to do each pose, solutions for common yoga mistakes, and the option to do each routine with full instruction or with the poses only.

This is another DVD that is perfect for brand-new yoga beginners. The routines are gentle and use the most basic yoga poses. And if you're a beginner, but you have a little yoga experience under your belt, you will still enjoy this DVD, as it reinforces important basic yoga concepts.

3. Jillian Michaels Yoga DVD for Beginners

You may know Jillian Michaels as one of the fitness trainers from TV's The Biggest Loser. In this DVD, which is not produced by The Biggest Loser, Jillian consulted with a yoga expert to combine powerful yoga poses with Jillian's own training style, giving you an effective weight-loss workout. This is not the type of yoga DVD that focuses on breathing exercises and calming your spirit; it has a faster pace that will get your heart rate going and your blood moving. Yoga Meltdown includes two 30-minute workouts, Level 1 and Level 2, plus warm-up and cool-down routines.

One thing I like about this yoga DVD is that the intensity of the yoga is stepped up, but the yoga poses are still basic. Jillian uses the poses to create an interval-type workout, which is great for your heart, and a good way to increase stamina and lung capacity. This would be a great DVD for anyone who is familiar with some of the foundational poses, but who doesn't consider themselves beyond the "beginner" stage yet; it's also great for anyone who feels like normal yoga routines are too slow.

4. Do Yoga with Bob from the Biggest Loser

Last but not least is a DVD that I use regularly. Bob states that just because it's beginning Yoga doesn't mean you won't get a good workout. I am usually sweating heavily by the end of it!

Weight Loss Yoga is produced by the popular TV show, The Biggest Loser, and led by one of the show's popular trainers, Bob Harper. This DVD includes three workouts, plus five-minute warm-up and cool-down routines. The warm up, cool down, and workouts can be chosen from the DVD menu in any order to create your own personalized routine. This DVD uses yoga poses that are at a beginner level; however, like the Jillian Michaels DVD, it moves at a heart-pumping pace.

Bob is a very encouraging instructor in this DVD, and he does a great job of reminding you to breathe. I love the fact that the yoga "class" here is not made up of perfectly toned bodies-instead, you'll see people who look like you and me, including some former contestants from The Biggest Loser TV show.

This DVD may not be the best choice for you if you're brand-new to yoga and you'd like to learn at a gentle pace; however, if you're a newbie and you're up for a fun, fast-paced challenge, this may be a great choice.

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