Barbara Currie's Yoga Power DVD > Reviews > 2 blondes and a curry

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Advantages:	It's for beginners and those more advanced, and barbara talks you through everything
Disadvantages:	Not enough info on complimentary stretches .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Barbara Currie is an expert yoga teacher of indeterminate age, with such a deep, 'I-love-you-guy's' kind of voice it sounds a bit affected. You just know that after each workout she picks her leotard out of her butt, shoves the cameraman out of the way and screams to her assistant 'Get me a fag, I'm frigging gasping 'ere!!'.

But on to the video... She gives some very good advice at the beginning about doing yoga at least 2 hours after eating (trust me, you should heed this), inhaling and exhaling with every movement (but like she say's, if she forgets to tell you when to breathe out, listen to your lungs or else keel over), not to perform if you're pregnant and to consult your doctor if you're not sure you're up to it for another medical reason.

First, we have the 10 minute tone up. This is a series of stretches that may look easy, but after a nightmare pregnancy and labour is quite hard to do with such a weak back like mine, so always go easy on yourself. She has 2 other women doing the yoga with her, one of whom shows us beginners and unfit people how to do it, so instead of bending down with your head on the floor between your legs, you can bend down slightly and in a half assed kind of way with ease.

This section consists of lifting your arms up and stretching to re-align your spine, bending forwards to increase blood flow to your head (which gives your skin and hair a much better condition), and bending backwards to stretch and strengthen your spine, with variations on each movement.

Yoga is great for those with an aversion to 'real' excercise because you slowly flow into each movement and only as far as it is comfortable. After a week of doing the 10 minute tone-up I noticed a slight but obvious improvement, so it really does work, and I was able to progress onto the next level. Also, I find that although yoga de-stresses you and chills you out, it gives you energy immediately afterwards.

I used to do my yoga using a book but this video is the next best thing to having a teacher, as you can see how it should really be done to get the benefits of it. You should also have a mirror or big window like mine, to admire yourself in and check that you're doing it right, especially for the next stages which are a bit more complicated.

Section number 2 is the 10 minute power workout. This begins with the famous 'Salute to the sun' sequence which stretches and benefits every part of your body. Also, it includes an advanced set of stretches, that are harder to do than the first lot. But they are obviously more beneficial, helping to firm your body and make it more supple.

The only disadvantage to this video compared to my book, is that the book stresses how important it is for balance, and to always compliment one stretch with another either on the other side or in the opposite direction. The video doesn't do this, and if I was a complete beginner I'd worry about why my back was killing me so much. So I'd advise you to improvise and stretch your back whenever you feel the need to.

Level 3 is the power toning for chest and arms, mainly helping to firm the muscles under your breasts and in your arms, but the stretches also help other areas. You shouldn't even think about doing this, or the other levels until you've done the first 2 for at least a couple of weeks.

Power toning for tum's and midriffs is stage numero 4, which flattens your stomach and even helps constipation. Heed my earlier warning and ALWAYS do these excercises in particular on an empty stomach or else you'll feel sick.

Next up, we have power toning for bums and thighs, consisting of balancing poses and excercises that tone your bum and give you lovely lean legs, and power stretches which are the more commonly known yoga poses - the ones Geri halliwell was doing the other day, minus the headstand.

Lastly, our Barb gives us a lesson on meditation, with her deep, relaxing voice spurring us on and a cheesy water effect on the screen.

Yoga does amazing things for you and won't knacker you out or do an injury like jogging or similar excercises, and if you can't attend the classes, this is the video to buy.