If you don’t have the time and money to enroll in a Vinyasa yoga class, a DVD can fix your problem. The best Vinyasa yoga DVD should offer a variety of routines in different lengths and levels. It must also be easy to follow with the instructor’s guidance.
To make it easy for you to pick the best title, I’ve compiled five of the best DVDs that focus on Vinyasa yoga. Here are my recommendations.
Quick Answer:
1. Daily Energy- Vinyasa Flow Yoga
I like this DVD because it offers several programs to customize. The customizing function is very easy to do and it shows you the duration of every segment to fit in your schedule. Shiva’s directions are very straightforward, and I love her calm energy all throughout the program.
This DVD is a comprehensive program that demonstrates the flow and power of Vinyasa yoga. Zyrka’s careful guidance makes this session a rich experience whether you’re a beginner or intermediate level. I like this DVD because it allows you to select your level.
3. Fluid Power-Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Shiva demonstrates the power of fluidity with this DVD providing more than three hours of Vinyasa yoga. The program is divided into segments so that you can choose any number depending on your free time. I love this DVD because the beautifully executed moves from downward dogs to up dogs.
Editor's Pick: The Best Vinyasa Yoga DVD
Who Is Vinyasa Yoga For
Vinyasa is suitable for people who want to achieve strong muscles and bones, as well as keep a high metabolism to keep an ideal weight. Since some Vinyasa flows at a fast pace, this practice is also perfect for those who want to burn more calories. This yoga style is also recommended for older people who want to improve strength and balance to do still basic things like reaching a cupboard.
Vinyasa might suit you best if you’re already familiar with yoga poses. It would help if you had a good fitness level because some moves can be challenging. The fast-paced ones are perfect for looking for good cardio and strength training.
Vinyasa Versus Other Yoga Styles
Also known as flow yoga, Vinyasa is described as a string of postures that move seamlessly using breath. The pace can vary, depending on the instructor. A fast-paced Vinyasa practice can be really challenging to the body.
Vinyasa vs Hatha Yoga
Both yoga styles focus on controlled, conscious breathing to enhance your fitness and get you relaxed. However, Vinyasa works at a faster pace and needs more breathing control than Hatha yoga.
Vinyasa vs Power Yoga
Vinyasa and power yoga share the same principles of moving the body together with the breath to make fluid and seamless movements. The only difference is that power yoga is way more physical and robust.
Vinyasa vs Bikram Yoga
Heated Vinyasa involves more fluidity than Bikram yoga. While Bikram always observes a particular sequence of yoga poses, Vinyasa might consist of sequences made by the instructor’s knowledge.
What To Look For On A Good Vinyasa Yoga DVD
Pace
Vinyasa can either be slow or fast-paced. If you’re a beginner, make sure that you choose a Vinyasa session slow-paced to keep up with the movement sequence. If not, then you can challenge yourself with a fast-paced Vinyasa program.
Good Instructor
Most of the time, instructors forget to mention the transition of moves in detail. Unless you’re an intermediate or advanced level student, look for an instructor that explains each sequence in detail. You don’t want to miss a move just because you focused on the pose too much.
Segments
Typically, Vinyasa sessions on DVD are long, so you want something divided into short segments. The best Vinyasa programs are divided into 20-30 minute sessions, so you can pick any session to fit your busy schedule.
5 Best Vinyasa Yoga DVD Reviews
1. Daily Energy- Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Shiva Rea’s Daily Energy Vinyasa Flow Yoga offers seven 20-minute sessions to help you fit them into your busy schedule. You can tune in to different sessions each day using the yoga matrix feature, so you’ll never get bored with the same routine. I also like the music background because it’s very energizing.
Don’t worry if you’re a beginner because Shiva’s instructions are easy to follow. I just love her calm energy because it makes the session more relaxing. She starts with an easier posture and demonstrates the progression, so you can do all of the moves even if you’re not flexible.
However, Shiva doesn’t mention when it’s time to move, so you’ll get lost when you don’t look at the screen. She also uses some technical terms, which might be foreign for beginners.
PROS:
- Divided into 20-minute segments to fit your schedule
- Provides an easy yoga matrix feature to customize the workout
- It has a revitalizing music background
- Instructions are easy to follow, even for stiff people
- It begins with an easier pose then shows the progression
CONS:
- Uses technical terms
- Won’ tell you when it’s time to change pose
Best For:
The Daily Energy- Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD is perfect for busy people because the program is divided into several 20-minute segments that you can choose to fit your schedule.
2. Yoga: Gentle Vinyasa Flow
If you’re a beginner, then this Gentle Vinyasa Flow DVD might suit your capability. This DVD features six yoga sessions, each containing different difficulty levels and lengths. I like that you can select the level and duration that you want to fit your schedule.
The moves are easy to follow because Zyraka communicates very well using a soothing voice. Both the music and natural background are relaxing, so the video is pleasant to watch. My favorite is the special Pose Guide section because it’s a helpful guide for the basics of every pose.
However, the video quality is a bit grainy because it has an old release date. The audio volume is also hard to hear unless you play it really loud.
PROS:
- It offers six yoga sequences for a variety
- It allows the selection of your level
- Easy to follow with Zyrka’s clear instructions
- The instructor has a soothing voice
- Calming music background and backdrop
- It teaches the proper positioning of every pose
CONS:
- It has a poor video quality
- Low audio volume
Best For:
The Gentle Vinyasa Flow DVD is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics. This DVD has a particular section dedicated to citing proper positioning and common mistakes.
3. Fluid Power-Vinyasa Flow Yoga
This Shiva Rea’s Fluid Power DVD is similar to the Daily Energy one. It’s a unique yoga matrix menu which lets you customize your session. You can pick from 20 segments, totaling more than three hours of yoga. This version makes you sweat a lot because Shiva keeps you constantly moving, hence burn more calories.
Like all other Shiva Rea DVDs, this one got flows that are wonderfully done including lunges and warriors. Thankfully, there are preset routines of different lengths, so I can decide to do a shorter or longer flow anytime. My favorite is the magnificent White Sands National Park scenery because it adds motivation to my practice.
However, it’s a bit challenging to move from one Asana to another if you’re just a beginner. You also need a large space to do all the poses comfortably.
PROS:
- It Burns more calories as you sweat more
- It has plenty of segments to choose
- It can be customized to fit your free time
- It offers wonderfully done flows
- It has a breath-taking scenery
CONS:
- Too challenging to follow for beginners
- It needs a lot of space to work
Best For:
The Fluid Power DVD is ideal for advanced level students looking to sweat more. It’s also perfect for those who want to burn more calories.
4. Strong Vinyasa Flow Yoga
This DVD is more than three hours long, composing different routines of varying lengths. The flowing practice is a bit powerful, so get ready to sweat a lot. I love the music and the beach scenery because it helps you concentrate and have a peaceful yet powerful exercise.
The narrator, Jenni Rawlings, is so great with narration that she keeps you moving. I don’t even need to watch the video constantly after doing the moves several times. Her voice is also soothing, and I like that she reassures the viewers that it’s just fine wherever you are in the poses.
However, the difficulty level of the routines might too hard for beginners. It’s also too fast to focus on proper breathing and pose.
PROS:
- It has appealing music and beach scenery
- Jenni gives excellent narration to keep you exercising
- Jenni offers great reassurance to students
- It makes you sweat with its challenging moves
- Has many routine choices at different lengths
CONS:
- It might be too hard for newbies
- Too fast-paced to concentrate proper breathing
Best For:
The Strong Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD is suitable for intermediate and advanced level students who want a low-impact cardio workout.
5. Sacred Yoga Practice Vinyasa Flow Pure Tranquility
This DVD is a 30-minute video showing a gentle practice of Vinyasa Flow. I love the setting of this video because it offers the beautiful beaches of Maui. Rainbeau Mars is also a good instructor because she provides basic reminders of proper breathing.
Doing this session is very relaxing because all you need to do is sit down and lie down to balance your mind and body. I like Rainbeau Mars’ voice because it’s soothing that it helps me relax faster. All the moves are easy to do, so they also fit beginners.
However, the moves lack variety because it’s more floor-based. The duration is a bit short because it only lasts for 30 minutes.
PROS:
- Gentle and easy to follow for beginners
- It helps you relax after a stressful day
- It keeps reminding you of proper breathing
- Rainbeau Mars has a soothing voice
- It has a pretty background scene of Maui’s beaches
CONS:
- Lacks variety on moves
- A bit short
Best For:
Pure Tranquility is great if you’re a beginner or want to slow down from vigorous power yoga. This video helps you relax after a stressful day or before bed.
FAQs:
Q: What does Vinyasa yoga do for your body?
Most Vinyasa moves are challenging, so doing them regularly can help improve muscle strength and overall fitness. They can also help burn calories and keep your ideal weight.
Q: Is Vinyasa yoga difficult for beginners?
While doing Vinyasa flow needs a little knowledge about the yoga poses, this yoga style can still be good for newbies. There are many Vinyasa yoga DVDs catered for beginners.
Q: Can I do Vinyasa yoga daily?
The standard is to practice Vinyasa between 3-5 times weekly. Rest is essential to recover and keep good health.
Conclusion
Vinyasa is good to build strength, endurance, and stability. If you want to find the best Vinyasa yoga DVD, I highly recommend Shiva Rea’s Daily Energy- Vinyasa Flow Yoga because you customize any routine you want to suit your schedule. I like that the instructor starts with a simper pose then progresses into a challenging one.
If you’re a newbie to Vinyasa yoga, Yoga: Gentle Vinyasa Flow is a good alternative because it features easy moves that are easy to follow. There’s also a special section to teach you the basics of Vinyasa yoga poses.
Allen Wei is someone who believes in living his best life, focusing on balance, happiness, and relaxation. He fosters a positive lifestyle in terms of his body, mind, and environment, and he is a huge proponent of learning to be balanced via relaxation techniques integrated into our busy lives.
