Best Prenatal Yoga DVD with Exercises for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced (Julie Schoen) Vinyasa Fitness Video Workout for Pregnancy All Trimesters Natural Childbirth - Meditation and Maternity

I am writing this review because I really enjoyed this DVD, and to clear up some of the misinformation that is in some of the other reviews. First off, I think that this workout is perfect for anyone, regardless of if you have ever done yoga before or not; it is not complex and she shows you exactly what to do. Though sometime she uses terminology of experienced yogis (which I am not, for the record), the moves are basic and if you watch the DVD closely once or twice while practicing the moves you will be able to enjoy it without having to turn to the screen during future practices. Also, though some props are required, she goes to great lengths to explain options you definitely have in your home so that you do not have to go out and buy a bunch of expensive yoga equipment - for example you need a blanket or two and some pillows (I use my body pillow that I heard was a "must" for all pregnant ladies but 2 regular bed pillows would definitely suffice), some yoga blocks (sturdy shoeboxes are a great alternative), and perhaps some sort of strap (belt, dog leash as per the instructors recommendations). She even explains modifications for all of the more strenuous or harder poses that would better suit the less physically fit, those further along in their pregnancies or just for those days that you are tired and want to feel like you at least tried. That being said, I would consider this routine very low-key in that it is heavily focused on meditation and even when I am doing the "hardest" version of all poses I still don't really break a sweat or feel very worn out. It provides a great whole body stretch, some helpful mental conditioning to aide in getting through monotonous and uncomfortable muscle fatigue (which may come up again during say...labor, ha!) and is absolutely excellent at getting you to take just a little bit of time in your day to focus on your relationship with/feel connected to your growing baby (I found this most useful in the first trimester before I was showing and felt movement and as a first time mom felt sort of like, "hmm when will this feel real?"). I would like to note that I have been using this DVD regularly (basically daily) since receiving it for Christmas but I like to pair it with a 1-3 mile (hey, it depends on my mood!) brisk walk beforehand to really feel like I got some good exercise. That being said I realize that nearly two hours of working out doesn't fit into all schedules and this routine is very nice in the morning as a sort of "prepare yourself for your day" kind of thing. It is tolerable to watch repetitively; Julie's voice is moderately pleasant, her flow is good and I have yet to get sick of it so there you have it: five stars for an excellent prenatal yoga routine with restorative poses!

I have used this DVD throughout my pregnancy, and it definitely hits all the right spots! It's a great gentle yoga flow to stretch out all the parts that tighten up from growing a baby! I use this DVD a few times a week. I never get bored with it, and the time passes quickly for me, though sometimes I don't do the meditation at the beginning.A few things to consider:1) I have been doing yoga on and off for about 5 years (I'm of average ability), so already know all the poses on the video. If you've never done yoga before, I imagine you will have to practice some of the moves a few times, use the suggested modifications, or be prepared to use some reference sites or materials on poses (especially half-moon. She gives great suggestions on hand under shoulder placement, but you don't have to lift your other hand in the air if the balance is too hard). Overall, it's not too bad, but something to think about. (Also, if you are a beginner, when they say things like "strong arms" or "lift your knee caps"... they mean to flex your muscles! LOL, it took me a bit to figure that one out when I started.)2) You need props for this video! She uses a bolster (firm pillow), 2 blocks (you could use books or something else of similar shape), a blanket (for one pose she uses 3, but I just use towels), a strap (any rope-like item to help you stretch), and a chair (I just do the seated pose on the floor). The props are suuuuuuuper helpful for managing the extra body weight.3) She is seriously great, but she does get some of the rights and lefts mixed up, narrates a few of the transitions late, or doesn't narrate when to switch directions. I'm not too anal about this kind of thing, and once I figured it out, I just fix it on my own. The flow feels too good to get caught up on that! Just pay attention to what she's doing the first time or two you watch.Overall, this DVD has really helped me, and I've recommended it to all my pregnant friends!

Prior to pregnancy I was an avid yoga and Pilates "student". I was placed on "pelvic bed rest" for my first trimester, meaning no intimacy, no exercise, and as much bed rest as possible. Now in my second trimester, I'm looking for something to make me feel less like a blob. I am used to a more structured exercise.What I am used to: Each workout will have, say, 2-3 sequences. In each sequence, each pose/move within the sequence is (one-by-one) presented, explained, and then practiced a few times so you can get the hang of it. This is done for each move in a sequence. Meanwhile, the instructor narrates which move you are doing AND about to transition to (which eliminates the need to look at the TV every 15 seconds). After all the moves in the sequence are practiced, we start from the very beginning and finalize THAT sequence by starting from move 1 of the workout. Then after the 2-3 sequences are done, we finalize the whole workout by start at sequence 1, move 1 all the way until the sequence 2 or 3.What this DVD does: moves right into the move/pose, instructor says what it is AFTER she's moved into that pose and continues with the exercise. That doesn't work for me. I am 5 months pregnant and cannot move as quickly as I used to so I am forced to look at the TV to see what the heck she is doing. Not to mention, there is extra equipment that is not specified on the product description (I just noticed someone else said the same thing).I'm sure this may be suitable for someone else, but I need something that does more than basic stretches and has better instruction.