Home Gym Equipment

Reviews

I purchased this towel because I needed an affordable, but absorbent hand towel for hot yoga. I did not want to spend the money on the expensive yogitoes version and decided to give this one a try. It wicks away sweat with ease and dries very quickly. I'm glad I chose this towel over a more expensive brand.

Reviews

Just received my Enso Timer. I purchased it for meditation. The good: the chime is lovely and perfect for ending a session. The (very) bad: the backlight flashes right before the chime starts. Based on the prior reviews, this is a new "feature". It does not seem to be optional. Since I usually meditate at night, in the dark, the backlight ends up startling me out of the meditation. This mitigates the efficacy of the chime sound, which is the primary reason I purchased the device. Ironically, the backlight is pretty much useless when setting up a session, as it only stays on for 2 seconds, and does not illuminate the buttons in any case.

I love using the timer for mediatation, and it's nice to wake in the morning to a gentle gong. My only quible is the price - $100 is a lot for a plastic timer/clock, even with all the nice electronic features. But mine was a gift, and as such is greatly appreciated.

The sound chimes are great, it's easy to use, and looks good, but the stop button is HORRIBLE. This may be hard for me to describe so that you can picture it, but I'm going to try. If you see the picture the stop button which is represented by a red square is shaped like a rectacle and curles over the clock a bit- that's the shape... So it's long as far as buttons go. The problem is that the button UNDERNEATH that is what stops the chiming. (virtually all electrical buttons are like this. The button you press is cosmetic and it's really what's underneath that does the job- Like your computer keyboard. You can remove the J button and you can still type J by pressing the button underneath.) The button underneath the stop button is really small and right in the center while the cosmetic button is long which wouldn't be a big deal if when you pressed it, the pressure distributed evenly across the button- but it DOESN'T. So what ends up happening is if I press ANY spot on the button other than the exact center it doesn't do anything and I have to keep pressing it until I hit the right spot. Since I used this primarily for my meditation practice this was a big deal because when the bell chimed and I was all relaxed because it signaled the end of my meditation I would instantly get all stressed again over trying to turn the thing off. It's also not the most robust device. I took it traveling once and it got a little wet. Seriously it was nothing more than just a splash of water that got on it in the rain and I dried it right away. Yet still the backlight never worked again after that. I can't use it for meditation because of the stressful stop button so I use it to time my tea brewing now. If they fixed the button it would be just about perfect.

The clock arrived quickly with no problems at all. The tone of the chimes is pleasant. I love the portability of the clock. The case is great. All in all I am pretty pleased.

This little device is just what I was hoping it would be. Great for a gentle morning wake-up, a gentle end to sitting practice, and a wonderful timer for Yin Yoga practice with, in my case, 10 three-minute holding intervals each followed by a 1-minute resting interval. This is just what I wanted and it fits the bill. I did not find it hard to set up at all, and I confess that I have trouble with programming my digital watch--so there you go. There are only two things I would recommend altering in the design. The first would be the font of the numbers themselves...they are quite thin and small and can not be read from very far away. I would make them bolder for easier reading from a distance. Maybe not a stopwatch font, but something a little more fluid (though I don't know what the mechanical limitations are on this). Also, the little plastic stand that comes out of the back and keeps it upright--I would make that a wee bit wider because it is easily knocked over by the hand reaching in the dark to turn it off in the morning. Those things would make it perfect for me, but I really like it as is. And yes, I realize this is seriously defeating the purpose of an Enso clock, but I kind of wish it was square or rectangular so it wouldn't be so tippy. Maybe an optional model sans the circular display that was flat on the bottom... The bottom line is that--problems aside--I really like it and would replace it immediately and without hesitation if I lost it.

Reviews

This is an awesome product! I have purchased other essential oils before, but nothing compares to this one. It is absolutely great! The oil has an extremely wonderful smell, and it fills the entire room with a wonderful fragrance not to mention that it makes me feel more relaxed. I would highly recommend this to anyone!

Reviews

I wanted to listen to the stories before the kids and it was so calming I went to sleep. We use the CD now on a regular basis as a bedtime tool. Kids are 5 and 3 and even the 3 year old tries the relaxation breathing. Gradually buying more of her products. Just love it!

I gave this CD to my 9 year old daughter who sometimes can't fall asleep at night. She says the stories and music relax her and clear her mind. She never gets to hear the fourth story on the CD because she's always asleep by then!!

My kids are notorious for having a hard time wanting to go to bed. I bought this off Itunes originally but my computer died. Just replaced the CD being without for a couple of months and will be excited to actually get a hard copy! I am not a hippie, or a health food coneseuir and was amazed at how wonderful this worked. My kids were asleep in about 10 min. when it normally took over an hour. Bless you Lori! I wish there were better ones with more than just music for adolecents and adults. Oh did I mention I love you?

What a great CD! The story is one in which children can easily relate. The speakers voice is soothing. I find myself also relaxing when listening to this CD.

This CD is wonderful. I am in my 40s and I wish the Lori Lite CDs were around when I was young. I imagine it would have been a big help to me, given that I was a nervous, worried child. I love the stories and the narration is soft and pleasant. I use other CDs for relaxation and meditation that are geared for adults, but I find this type to be a nice change from those. I find it makes for a good balance to switch off between both types. We've all heard the phrase 'inner child' - this makes my inner child acknowledged and happy. The adult Lori Lite CD is another winner as well.

Reviews

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I ordered this dvd, but it was way more advanced than I expected. I've never taken a formal yoga class, as they just aren't easily found where I live. I enjoy yoga, but this was way more than I planned on biting off. First of all, it is two hours. I don't know too many people that have two hours to dedicate per day to any work-out. Second, some of the poses are far too advanced to do at home, unless you have had a great deal of personal instruction. I was a bit scared to try some of the poses for fear of hurting myself. For crying outloud, this man is Gumby. There should be a disclosure that this is for advanced yoga students, not beginner or intermediate. And frankly, it's a bit creepy.

This guy is an amazing teacher, his dialog is perfect and his descriptions on how to properly build each posture is superb. If you really want to practice the Ashtanga series with full commitment then you will enjoy this video. Everytime you play it you will hear something new, it could be the way you are placing your feet on the mat or where to look in a posture. I know some people think that 90 mins is a long time and I was introduced to yoga doing 90 min practices so for me that doesn't really seem to be a long time (I can easily do 3-4 hours of yoga) so this is somewhat of a disclaimer. However I don't thing a 60 min routine can do yoga justice at all. This is a great video and once you get the Ashtanga Primary series down you will spend less time trying to "figure" out how to get into posture and more time with your breath and meditation. This video gives you a really great foundation to do that. Namaste

Wow. I have practiced yoga for many years to video material, and Richard Freeman is the most inspiring practitioner I've had the privilege of encountering. The practice on this DVD could occupy most of us for a lifetime. It is not beginner material, though the clarity of the explanations could benefit anybody, and it would be beneficial for a beginner to have this exposure from the start, so long as they did not get discouraged. I originally passed over Freeman's "Ashtanga Yoga: Introduction" DVD, thinking it would be too easy for my level of experience, but now I am going to purchase it, hoping that this same quality of instruction will be given, but with a more manageable (for me) series. Particular attention is given to the bandhas and the breath, which are too often neglected in other yoga videos; questions I hadn't even quite articulated about some of these specifics were answered. Body dynamics are also emphasized in every pose. Freeman's mastery inspires confidence in the specifics of his instruction.

I bought this DVD and have been very pleased with it. Not only is it less expencive then some of the other DVDs on the same subject, but it is very informative. I think that this is a great DVD on Ashtanga Yoga. Well worth the price.

Ok, I will freely admit that I get a little caught up in the external aspects of most yoga DVDs, relishing in the trippy music and gorgeous locations almost as much as the yoga and instruction, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one. The production value is very pared-down compared with many of the other oyga DVDs out there, with just Richard solo amidst a lovely but simple background and there is no background music at all. What you DO get is a level of teaching and serenity that astounded me. You also get the absolute purity of the Primary Asthanga Series as it was taught by Pattabhi Jois. It took me a few minutes to adjust to Richard's energy, it's different, but he's very sweet, very grounded and with a very soft and soothing presence. This is someone who has been doing Asthanga for decades and still loves it so much, he's still very connected to the subtleties and magic of it all. I've heard so many teachers working with the same exact postures and somehow he managed to gives cues, instructions and beautiful metaphors that enabled me to find a new depth and power in every single posture I did, opening to them in completely new ways. The magic is in the details, I often find, whether it's a film, a song or a good yoga class, and the way Richard can guide you through a very daunting series with such tranquility, encouragement, patience and meticulous detail without ever taking away from your own experience or where you are in your practice...well, it's stunning. Personally, while I have done Hatha and Kundalini for over 15 years I'd found Asthanga series to be too intimidating and assumed I had to be in athletic condition to even begin to attempt this. The Primary Series is about 2 hours long in its entirety, and I'd say I can do about half right now on a good energy day. Then it gets into a level of stamina, flexibility and balance I have yet to experience, but with this DVD and his teaching I now have no doubt that daily practice will get me there, in my own time. And instead of the last hour seeming like an impossible dream, it inspires me. That's the magic of a truly great teacher. The series itself is a wonderful combination of Sun Salutations (A & B), standing poses to stretch, open and build stamina and strength, and then the second hour is where the nitty gritty Asthanga kicks in with incredibly deep stretches, arm balances, a lengthy and lovely shoulder stand sequence and a few pretzel moments that I can only imagine must feel liberating and wonderful. I've read and heard that being able to do the Primary Series and master it could take years, and I see why. But I feel even an advanced beginning yogi could benefit from this DVD. Even when I did just the first 30 minutes or so over the weekend I felt tremendous benefits and discovered new layers thanks to Richard's expertise. He glides through every movement as though he were weightless and partially made of rubber, it's really something to see. Such grace and poise can only come from dedication and absolute presence and respect for the work. I'm so glad I heeded the glowing reviews here and bought this DVD. This will be an instrumental tool in my growth as a yogi for years to come.

Reviews

It says there is 2 different tracks with different sounds but I can't tell the difference. Both tracks sound the same...... waves, rain and thunder. Doesn't really matter but I wanted just waves, not thunder. Actually, the thunder made it difficult to relax while meditating, you'd just about get relaxed then BOOM, it would tense you up. It's probably just me, I'm very hyper, but I wouldn't recommend this to relax.

This product came within a few days of purchasing it! I usually have a hard time falling asleep, though I have never been able to listen to the whole cd without falling asleep; very soothing.

Finally, I can sleep all night without waking up 2 to 3 times a night from the noise of city living. Ocean wave on repeat play by my headboard drown out all other noises so I can rest. Best thing I have done lately for my sanity.

I love Nature sounds, this is a very good recording, the sound is clear and majestic, relaxing and healing

My wife has difficulty in going to sleep. We have been playing the CD when we retire and to our surprise she had been dropping off without any trouble. I can't say that the CDis responsible, but am pleased with the changes, as is she,so we are not going to knock it. I must admit that I too enjoy it.

Reviews

Just one of the many teaching videos on golf. Having read and seen other authors, I feel this is particularly confusing. If you are seeing this as the first lesson on golf, it might be useful. I am a beginner and had learnt a bit from other authors which were easy to follow. I was really confused with this plane truth stuff and tried to find which category I belonged to. Unfortunately, I injured my intercostals and have been laid off for 6 weeks. The author alternates between the two types and so the continuity is lost. He should have had separate continuos lessons in each type of swing which would make it easy to follow.

This is the best golf video that I have ever used. His instuction is great and I have adopted the two plane swing for my golf. All of the lessons are explicitly explained with examples. This is the best golf instruction video on the planet. Jim Hardy really is a golf guru and instructor.

Jim does a great job in breaking down the advice into practical repeatable movements for the one plane and two plane golf swings. The tips and drills dvd is really good and gives you something to work on at the range. I started hitting the ball better and with better consistency.

After not playing golf for almost 30 years, I picked it up again when I retired. I have now been playing for three years and will never threaten the PGA tour with my presence. I wasn't very good then, and I'm still a confirmed duffer. (Index around 20) That aside, after a short time of renewing my golfing career, I took a series of lessons from the local pro. He was very good and very patient, but I just never quite felt comfortable with the swing. Deciding to try something a little different, I purchased Jim Hardy's book "The Plane Truth". It had a lot of ideas that made sense and I decided to change my swing to a flatter plane which he described as the One Plane Swing. As he said, I found that a lot of the tips one picks up were not suited to this swing. They can cause "Disasterous" results in his words. True. I then got the videos to supplement the book and they have been very worthwhile. It was very helpful to actually see the lessons which were described in the book. He covers both swing types, the upright swing (Two Plane) and the flatter swing (One Plane), and you can select the type which fits your body, flexibility and temperament. I've found that I hit the ball much farther than ever and can even hit it straight (usually). All in all, I have been very satisfied in the videos. For a price equal to 2 or 3 lessons with the local pro, they cannot be beat.

Jim Hardy's " The Plane Truth for Golfers" is the first instructional guide that I have seen which is easy to follow; easy to understand; has options; and has shown me what I need to do to help my type of swing. Most peoples instructional videos only give one option and that may or may not suit the viewers abilities.

Reviews

I am not a flameless candle kind of person. However, I have a corner on my kitchen counter, under the cabinet, that needed something. Usually I would decorate with a real candle, but this spot is too close to the cabinet, so I opted for this flameless candle. When it is NOT turned on, it is VERY real looking. And quite nice, at that. When turned on, it is absolutely lovely. It has 2 brightnesses- I only use the the brightest setting. I am very pleased with this candle. I have it in a hurricane, with a berry wreath around it, and it looks very real when turned on.

I love candles. I find them very relaxing. Waking up in the morning, with them still lit, imagining housefires, not so much. Leaving the house and having to have friends drop you home to blow out candles; envisioning fried housepets, etc. even less so. So, the search for flameless candles is on. Most 'flameless candles' look fake--it's hard to make plastic look like wax. This though, is a hollowed out candle which uses 4 AA batteries to scent the air. From two feet away, it looks like a real, flickering candle. When it's off, though, it looks like a candle with an orange dot in the center where the candlewick should be. As to this particular candle, the Biscotti scent is a vanilla-ey, spicy scent that is warm without being overpowering. Although the candle is orangeish, instead of off-white as pictured, the effect is very real and very pretty. Nice.

Reviews

I was greatly surprised at how much fun I had while doing this workout. I have only done Level 1 so far, and found it to be challenging and fun all at the same time. I am definitely feeling the soreness today! I am looking forward to doing this again today, which is saying a lot because I HATE working out. What's also great is it's only 30 minutes, so it's very easy to fit into a busy schedule. I never do reviews, but thought this one worthy to recommend to anyone considering getting this dvd!

I am a huge fan of all of Jillian's DVDs and have taken my fair share of yoga classes, so I thought this might be a nice change from the usual cardio/strength circuit training. Unlike some reviewers, I never had a doubt that yoga can be a great workout. Unfortunately, this is really not a yoga DVD. It takes yoga poses and tries to cram them into a workout, but it lacks instruction on alignment and even breathing. The vinyasas are incomplete. I also generally love her yelling encouragement at me when I'm jumping up and down or lifting handweights in my living room, but her style just doesn't work for yoga. On the upside, it is challenging strength-wise, and it's yoga-like, so it's not the worst yoga video I've ever tried. If you want to try yoga as a workout, go to a class or two before deciding that this yoga DVD is for you. Instructors are there to correct your alignment, so even if you think you're doing it right, you may not be, and it's good to work the poses out in person before you try to practice at home. Unfortunately with a DVD, Jillian can't tell you you're doing it wrong. If you reaaaally don't want to go to a studio, check out DVDs from more established yoga instructors as other reviewers have suggested. Their guidance will definitely help reduce the risk of you hurting yourself.

I've dabbled in yoga, pilates, P90X and other various work-out dvds over the years and this one is fun but challenging at the same time. I agree with some of the other reviewers, it is hard to see some of the variations of the poses at times. Also, she doesn't do a great deal of verbal description of each pose or what is next, so you have to look at the screen, sometimes while in some awkward positions. I like that she does admit that she has a hard time with many yoga poses, it makes her a bit more human. I enjoy the relaxation and physical benefits of yoga, but also enjoy a good old fashioned work-out (not that traditional yoga isn't challenging). I wouldn't recommend this for people brand new to yoga, as she doesn't have enough basic instruction to get into some poses properly, but if you already have some yoga experience and like to also get in some cardio, this is the dvd for you. The Level 1 workout is a decent challenge, Level 2 is a bit more advanced, but if you combine them, it is one heck of a work-out! I'm sure they don't recommend it, but if you are feeling saucy and want to wear yourself out, doing both levels back to back will take care of that for you. But, the fact that each work-out is only 30 minutes, you can work in a work out into just about any schedule and feel as though you accomplished something that day. Her method of "repping-out" some of the poses is one of those ideas where you think "why didn't I think of that." After repping-out some of the poses and then holding them for 15 seconds, you are feeling the pose (especially, for me, the goddess pose and wheel), but it gives you something to work towards. I'm glad I added it to my rotation.

She adds her own style to basic yoga moves making this video fun and challenging. You really feel this the next day. Highly recommend this one even if you're not a fan of other Jillian videos.

Well, this is definetely a stray from Jillian's other videos. If you have used 30 Day Shred, Banish Fat, and/or No More Trouble Zones, don't really expect the same thing. Jillian still does have her great, encouraging, down-to-business attitude. There are no real circuits in this video, which I was totally prepared for; she mentions circuits once, but it's nothing like the other clear-cut 6 minutes... 5 moves, repeat each move twice (if you're familiar with Jillian, you know what I'm talking about) I also just have to comment on how pretty she looks in this DVD :) No, but seriously, I love Jillian to death, but my kid says she looks "manly" in her other videos, but even my kid said... she looks less mean and manly in this video. This video is comprised of 2 30 minute workouts. The first one is the reccomended starter and is a little easier than level 2. I was able to keep up with most of the advanced in Level 1, but was dying in Level 2! I could not do the move where you put your elbows on your knees and balance. I was surprised because I am in good shape, but I have never done much yoga at all. My balance is lacking, so I'm hoping that by incorporating this video into my routine, I'll improve. Jillian tells you not to be intimidated, she wanted to give you something to work towards. You can expect to see two gals in the background... one doing advanced and one doing beginner modifications. As always, the advanced demonstrater makes me writhe with envy. I can't comment much on the technical yoga aspects because as I said, I'm pretty new to it, but don't expect somethig slow moving here. She has taken traditional yoga poses and added movement. You know it wouldn't be Jillian without a little cardio and elevated heart rate, but it's nothing like the heart rates you feel in her other DVDs. She calls it "rep it out." Then you hold the poses for 15 seconds at the end. Some of these feel like MUCH longer than 15 seconds! There are a few Sun Salutations mixed in there, which I was familiar with. There is a nice warm up and cool down included, but the cool down in mainly for the lower body, hips and back. Make sure you do your own thing if you feel the need to stretch out your arms, chest, neck, etc. Overall, I was happy with this. I think I just have to "get comfortable with being uncomfortable" as Jillan says. I'm glad I tried something new and can fit it into my rotation. It's something for me to work towards :) If you like Jillian, go for it. If you're not sure and you want a unique workout with an encouraging, no BS instructor, then go for it too! Good luck to all! Oh, by the way, you don't need any equipment except a mat is helpful. It really doesn't require much space either, so you should be fine if you have small quarters.

Reviews

This DVD really helped me learn yoga well. The instruction is clear and the cues and recommendations for adjustments were easy to follow and worthwhile. Very good use of the different angles to show what the teacher was speaking about throughout the poses. As a beginner, this worked out very well for me.

This video just didn't interest me. I've done a fair amount of yoga at the gym, but really wanted a good workout video to use at home. Unfortunately, this video wasn't it. I only ended up using it 2 or 3 times and was so bored with it, I didn't want to go back. I would suggest trying something else -- If I find something better I'll gladly post it here.

I went to my first yoga class while visiting NYC and enjoyed it so much that the very same day I ordered this video and AM/PM Yoga For Beginners, bought a yoga belt and mat. I live in an isolated area with no access to classes or other practicers and based on reviews and "Beginner" in the titles, I thought this would be the best for me. The class I went to in NYC was intense, I was sweating by the end and felt incredible for the rest of the day and a similar glow stayed with me for several days. I've done this video more than once and thought it was kind of boring and not challenging at all. Some of the descriptions could have been better and the quality of the video as a teaching tool is low. Sometimes there are shadows when she's on the floor and it's difficult to see if she's lifting herself up, a lot of transitions are bad - suddenly she's in a new pose and most importantly: there should be multiple shots and multiple frames at once so you can see what the teacher is doing from multiple angles - this way you know what you're doing is correct. When I first started to do this video, there was a lot of stopping and going, since I'm new to it and I wanted to get the basics right. At the same time, I was looking for something that was at least a little physically challenging - like the class I went to in NYC and this was not challenging... but it WAS comforting to my body (and maybe Barbara's constant patient comments and alternatives if you aren't flexible has me thinking I'm much better than I am). I DID enjoy this video and wouldn't return it, I think it's a valuable assess to a beginners collection, however if I'd been able to rent it first, then I would've gone with something else to purchase. So now I've ordered Yoga Shakta and Shiva Rea: Daily Energy, which I'm hoping will be more challenging.

There are a variety of routines on this DVD, and that's good (though if you do them all you'll start to see that big chunks are repeated), but the cadences between the visual, the breathing, and the instruction are off. There are many instances in which you cannot tell if you should be breathing in or out, and if you glimpse the video, you will see the instructor doing something that she isn't describing yet. I would not recommend this DVD if you are an absolute beginner.

I've tried yoga once or twice before, but I definitely needed a beginner's video. This does the trick. It has plenty of exercises for beginner, then some for intermediate too. I like how it has about 8 20 minute sessions in just the beginner part too. So far I've only done a few but I haven't had to go into crazy positions or anything yet. In terms of the look and feel of the video, its oki. It plays a waves ocean sound and uses a woman's voice for instruction. It's pleasant to listen to, and the setting the instructor is in is calm looking (on a beach in front of waves). My first yoga video, but it so far works for me.

Reviews

"The Biggest Loser - Weight Loss Yoga" DVD is a great way to get into yoga without spending a lot of money on it or risk looking like an idiot in public when you fall over. You'll be dripping with sweat when you're done and if you already have some experience with yoga, you'll still be getting a good workout. Bob's instructions are clear and he keeps you motivated throughout the session. If you(like me) like keeping in shape with minimal time and effort spent, you should definately consider this dvd. The only negativ I might say for this product is that it may get a bit onesided and boring after a while - but by then you will hopefully have supplemented your exercise with additional workouts. Definately worth the money I spent on it!

very pleased with the dvd... it isn't for the faint of heart (no pun intended)... very much a cardio workout using yoga techniques... you will sweat!

This is a very good workout, it is more intense than I thought it was going to be. I guess I should of read closer about it being a Weight Loss Yoga, instead of thinking it was just regular yoga. If you want a more intense yoga workout I would suggest this one.

I've done yoga for years (just as exercise and stress-relief, not to become one of those enviable hard-body professional trainer types.) Having gotten myself completely out of shape and broke over the last year, I figured I'd check out this DVD. How hard could it be if folks who were 100's of pounds overweight were doing it? Famous last words. This is an excellent workout, both for those who regularly practice yoga and for beginners, as the instructor - Bob Harper - tells you how to turn the intensity up or down depending on your fitness level. Another thing I like is that Bob pretty much hits the ground running, the warm up is quick and effective, no chanting or time spent on philosophy (if you're doing this before work, running late and hoping to squeeze in a cup of coffee afterwords this is much appreciated.:) Also it is surprisingly easy to follow along and correct your form if it's off - I found it easier than in classes, where you are craning your neck around the other students to figure out who is doing it right. Three small caveats, none enough to individually or collectively detract from the five-star rating: (1) might be worth exploring the notion of breathing a little more. Bob does some of that, but breathing is so intrinsic to a good and productive practice that an additional minute or so would be well spent. (2) For the beginners, a few of the poses are unexplained and might be confusing the first couple of times. Eg, Going right from stretches to downward facing dog - if you didn't know what that was you would have to watch the video and figure out the best way to do it without explanation (and dfd is one of the most important poses there is.) (3) I've only been doing the DVD for a month, but I imagine it would get very repetitive after a while. But this is applicable to ALL exercise DVD's, I would think. Also, it is well worth keeping on the shelf, this is one a yoga fan would likely come back to over and over again.

If you have never done yoga before this video is a great start. I enjoyed the intervals that allows users to move on after 2 weeks. I would suggest purchasing this video.

Reviews

I purchased the DVD after purchasing the book. The book is great for those with scoliosis and those who want a great yoga DVD that focuses on the spine. I, like some other reviewers, can see and feel a NOTICEABLE reduction in the curve of my spine. My waistline was almost totally straight on one side and now, although not even, bends inward almost as much as the other side does - so it is far less uneven. Also, when doing the leanover test (from the book) (like the test from gradeschool), the S is not as exaggerated as it was. Best of all, I no longer have a continuous lower back ache. I do the spine straightening exercises along with a power walking video almost daily. (After a few times, you may not need to actually watch the DVD - but, can add the relevant exercies to your own workout..) I had trouble understanding a couple of exercises and emailed the author. Someone promptly responded and was very helpful - when it talks about decompressing the compressed/curved side of the spine, they mean to bend the opposite way of your natural curve - think about stretching/straightening out the inner bend of a letter C. For example, my lower back is naturally a bit to the left, so on one exereice I am to bend at the waist to the left (making the lower spine curve to the right) - which I had a hard time wrapping my mind around. I do have some difficulty doing the straightening exercises for the upper curve (secondary curve in my case)(I believe it is just me) - so I plan to purchase a power gym/bar so I can just hang from it a few minutes a day. Essentially, I believe this will help achieve the same affect of stretching the upper spine..

This is a well done dvd. Exercises are very well explained and easy to follow, and do not require any equipment, other than objects easily found at home.

I was delighted with the DVD. I have a soclosis and have paid a fortune on physiotherapists, chiro's and on pilates classes. I feel this dvd was my best investment. while a lot of the poses are similar to what i do in my yoga class there are also subtle differences which are very benefical to someone with a scoloss, also lovely bonus stretches at the end of the DVD.

I very much enjoy how this video is broken down into 3 sections that can be done individually if I don't have an hour to set aside. Poses are nice, a little slow for someone with previous training, but nice and detailed for beginners. The only thing I don't like is the long intro if you don't select scenes and just play the video straight through. Overall, I would recommend!

Yoga for Scoliosis / B000AB0Z4K I just want to insert a warning: Though the video title is "Yoga for Scoliosis", these exercises are for scoliosis sufferers who have NOT had the spinal fusion surgery. In other words, if you are like me and underwent the corrective surgery in your youth, and are looking for yoga exercises that you can safely participate in or for pain management techniques, the exercises in this video are not appropriate for you. I am still looking for a good set of yoga exercises to relieve my back pain, and if anyone knows of a "Yoga for Scoliosis, Post-Spinal Surgery" resource, I'd be grateful to know of it. Beyond that, I'm sure this video is quite good for non-surgery-corrected scoliosis sufferers, but I do wish the title and/or product description had made that more clear, since this is a very important point - it needs to be made very clear that post-surgery patients can harm themselves with these exercises. I also thought it was a bit deceptive (though maybe normal in the yoga video industry) that a whole list of "extras" was listed once the video started - some people can't afford yoga balls and yoga mats and yoga belts, and it seems wrong that that need isn't presented "up front" before dropping $30 on the video itself. Caveat emptor, I suppose.

Reviews

Everything was fine good instructions were included along with an extera decal to learn on.

Reviews

If you kids like Yo Gabba Gabba they will love this toy. It is pretty large and my kids plays with it everyday. It plays music and is exactly like DJ Lance's Boom Box so it was a huge hit. My twins love playing with this and it plays music which is a plus. They dance as the music plays and have a ball.

This toy was purchased for my daughter this Christmas. YGG is her favorite show, so naturally she loves the songs she can play when she presses the buttons. She basically just plays with the buttons. The extra blocks just stayed inside the box until one day I realized all of the pieces were compatible with the Lego Duplo blocks. Now all of the building pieces are in her Lego bin, and she can carry around a much lighter boom box. True, she is not using it for what it was originally intended, but that's okay!

My son received this for his birthday. He likes to carry the boom box around and listen to the songs. He could care less about the rest of the toy. I think there's too much going on with this toy for the younger age group. The boom box alone would have been perfect. He could care less about the rest (aside from the characters). Plus, there are too many pieces to keep track of. Not a good toy for the targeted age group. It's a Yo Gabba fail.

My son loves the show and he loves this set! It's a lot larger than I thought it would be, so I was pleasantly surprised. If I would have known how big it was, I probably would have payed more for it. I've found that our friend's children who aren't familiar with the show don't "get" this toy and don't know quite know what to do with it. If your kid loves the show, this is a great set that will get a ton of play.

Reviews

I got this for my 3 year old son. But I think my 4 year old daughter likes it better. It is easy enough for her to put it together just by following the picture directions. I don't like that there are so many pieces, but that is my own personal pet peeve. This is one of the better Yo Gabba Gabba toys I've bought for my kiddos. I might even try the other Mega Block Yo Gabba Gabba accompanying items.

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I love it and so does my daughter:) it matches her duplo blocks too:)

Toy is very cute and each characters arms move up and down which was nice to see. I thought because this is mega blok it would match the other mega blok block sets I've gotten and it doesn't. So it has to be kept separate. Which is fine, it justn't wasn't clear when I purchased them.

Reviews

Purchased this item for my husband, as the bands he was using kept on breaking. He uses it every day and likes it much better than the band.

I am a fitness professional and currently live in a building that has only single purpose machines. Having exercise tubes is an easy way to add possibly infinite number of exercises to your routine at a good price. I wouldn't pay more than $15 for any exercise tube, but it is a good investment.

This Exercise Band is OK but could be a lot better with a few simple improvements. The handles need to be a little bigger with more padding. Additionally, the door attachment ball (which holds the band to a door frame) definitely needs to be bigger. It's too small and occasionally slips through and can cause an injury. With these few simple improvements, this band would be rated 5 stars.

the door attachment is poorly made I didn't notice I had a 1/2 inch gap on my doors when i placed the door attachment on top and i had a pretty long stretch when doing pull-downs with it the door attachment wedge through door and whacked me in chest leaving a very large welt from bands and door attachment so please see that your doors dont have any gaps cause ball from door attachment is made poorly and ball will slide through gap through door and most likely inflect severe pain I was lucky that it didn't hit me on face

Suppose to be heavy duty, but really the resisitance is more on the "mild" side,also there are 2 pressed metal pieces that help hold the handles on and one has come loose already (after a months use)I had to take some pliers and press them back together- I didnt pay much for this and you get what you pay for- wouldnt recommend

Reviews

Mat had some smell to it at first, but after an airing out for about a week it was gone for the most part. Ordered burgundy, looks more like a tone of purple though.

I got this Mat for my fiance, who's been practicing Yoga for seven years, as a replacement for her old one. She uses it and hasn't complained. It's your standard mat, good quality, and services one's basic Yoga needs. I use a similar product.

i recieved my mat very promptly, and it did not have a chemical smell like some people complained of. the yellow is absolutely gorgeous, and it is perfect for when i practice my yoga!

I ordered the green one. Very light chemical odor which aired out mostly in a day and then totally when I started using it. It has good grip and is pretty comfy. Very cool and durable excercise mat.

Don't buy this mat. You will slip in downward dog even if you're not sweating. I wish someone told me this before I bought this mat. Now I have to get another one!!

Reviews

Purchased this item for my husband, as the bands he was using kept on breaking. He uses it every day and likes it much better than the band.

I am a fitness professional and currently live in a building that has only single purpose machines. Having exercise tubes is an easy way to add possibly infinite number of exercises to your routine at a good price. I wouldn't pay more than $15 for any exercise tube, but it is a good investment.

This Exercise Band is OK but could be a lot better with a few simple improvements. The handles need to be a little bigger with more padding. Additionally, the door attachment ball (which holds the band to a door frame) definitely needs to be bigger. It's too small and occasionally slips through and can cause an injury. With these few simple improvements, this band would be rated 5 stars.

the door attachment is poorly made I didn't notice I had a 1/2 inch gap on my doors when i placed the door attachment on top and i had a pretty long stretch when doing pull-downs with it the door attachment wedge through door and whacked me in chest leaving a very large welt from bands and door attachment so please see that your doors dont have any gaps cause ball from door attachment is made poorly and ball will slide through gap through door and most likely inflect severe pain I was lucky that it didn't hit me on face

Suppose to be heavy duty, but really the resisitance is more on the "mild" side,also there are 2 pressed metal pieces that help hold the handles on and one has come loose already (after a months use)I had to take some pliers and press them back together- I didnt pay much for this and you get what you pay for- wouldnt recommend

Reviews

Great idea, but poorly made. Material is thin and very restrictive. They seem to be sized for a very petite foot with long skeleton toes. The toes are tight, way too tight, and I bought both my "correct" size and a pair a size larger. I don't have fat feet, webs, or extra toes ;-), but I do have a wide footprint with short toes. The stiching doesn't "give" at all, there are seams at the toes, and they actually cut off circulation to the toes. Beware if you don't have "perfect" model's feet, or if foot care for a health issue like diabetes is a priority for you. I'm sure they probably fit perfect on some feet, but they didn't work out on mine.

This socks worked great. Really anti-slip, comfortable once you get them on (a little bit had but that's always the case with socks that have separate toes). Could use them for a whole yoga class and they really kept my feet warm, and helped me keep my positions and balance.Loved them. Will buy another color eventually.

These socks are comfortable and I can do yoga with or without a mat on any surface. The grip is good and I like the toe separation.

I bought these because we our yoga class is on a hardwood floor. While barefoot is best, I'm a little squeamish about how clean the floor is. Also it can be a little slick when we're off the mat. Socks work great for yoga. So I tried them in a NIA class - which involves lots of movement and dance moves. No slipping! Last night someone called them my movable, portable yoga mat. When using for the NIA class on carpet, I noticed the socks shifted a little on my feet, i.e. my toes started slipping out. One tug and they were fine. People ask, "Don't your toes feel strange?" I don't notice any strangeness or discomfort. I'd recommend them highly.

I appreciate the organic fabric but could have used some extra spandex at the toe joint...too tight for toes to fit all the way so I cannot wear for long period of time. They do okay as far as griping the mat. I probably wouldn't buy this type again.

Reviews

This product works very well, but doesn't hold up. I bought two pairs, and both started falling apart after about the fourth yoga class! The sticky stuff cracked and then started coming off in pieces. The socks were far too expensive to be crumbling the first week.

The product started coming apart after 1 Yoga session. Would not recommend or buy again. Company offered no refund. Totally disappointed !!

I searched for a product that appeared to have the best traction and ordered them. I wore them twice to a theraputic yoga class and the heel cracked. They are still wearable, but very disappointing. I plan to contact the company, but from reading other reviews that have been posted since I purchased...not much satisfaction!

Received these as a gift, bunching at heel, but I figured that would change after the first washing. The blue sticky part cracked in several places the second time I used them. When I contacted Aleva Health about this they told me there were no guarantees for this product. I could exchange it for a credit at Aleva Health only. They have no other yoga socks. Considering the cost, this was a disappointment. I will not purchase from this company.

My feet are always icy cold in yoga class and I found it incredibly annoying to wear socks since they would slide all over the mat. I was really delighted to find these socks since they both keep my feet warm and don't slide all over the mat or twist on my feet in an aggravating way. The sticky part is really sticky and I don't have to keep reaching down to adjust how the socks are aligning on my feet. My only tiny criticism is that the hole for my pinky toe is too high up so the fabric rubs a bit between my last 2 toes. However, it is only mildly annoying and not really uncomfortable. I wasted nearly $20 on another pair of yoga socks that were completely worthless since they slid and twisted all over my feet, so I'm very grateful these stay in place nicely. That greatly compensates for the less than perfect cut on the pinky toes.

Reviews

This video on Yoga is the best one I have ever seen. His voice is so soothing and the moves you do are difficult enough for most people. I just really enjoy doing this yoga video.

Great product. I wish they wouldn't be discontinuing, b/c this is something that should win another Exercise Video of the Year, which I believe it did so in 1994.

Great video to practice hatha yoga with at home! I usually practice in a class, but when I can't make it this is the only video that keeps me focused. I tried many yoga videos and I keep coming back to this one.

I absolutely love this DVD. In fact I first bought this many years ago on VHS and still find that I keep returning to this program. The setting is beautiful and the instruction is a very mindful yoga practice by Erich Schiffmann. This DVD is in fact more about yoga as a practice than as a workout. So while it will improve your health, it is just as much about your mind/spirit. If this is what you're looking for, then you'll enjoy the DVD, if not, then you might be disappointed. Personally, I originally bought it as a workout video and then discovered that I loved the mental benefits of yoga as much as the physical. Also this has the best savasana of any yoga DVD that I've done, or live class that I've taken for that matter. I see that there are a lot of comments about the music, both positive and negative. The soundtrack is by the group Dead Can Dance from their album Into the Labyrinth. You can listen to samples here on Amazon and see how you feel about it. (I know for sure that "The Spider's Stratagem" and "Yulunga" are on the DVD.)

This video was the first yoga instruction I ever had and I absolutely loved it. While it does appear to be a bit more advanced, the benefits are not lost on beginners. I began using this video when I was only 12 years old and still didn't have an issue with it. In all honestly, I enjoyed this video more than the beginners yoga classes I attended in the following years. Just remember to pace yourself and never push yourself further than your body can handle. If you make it through, I promise you'll be the most relaxed you have ever been at the end of the video.

Reviews

This is an excellent yoga practice. No surprise. Rodney Yee is an excellent instructor. I enjoy his low-key approach. He starts you out slowly, letting you warm up, and then you do what you can do. As you practice, you'll be able to do more of it and do it better. Even though I'm not a beginner, this is a great, refreshing workout which I probably will never grow out of. I recommend it!

Purchased a used version of AM/PM Yoga - the listing stated was in very good condition - It could have passed for brand new condition! The contents of the video's were what I was looking for too!

This video is appropriate for people who have no interest in a yoga workout whatsoever. It is slow, ineffective, and short. More time is spent reading the warnings than doing any real yoga. The am portion is so slow it will put you right back to sleep. Save your money! Buy a real yoga video!

When I cannot get to a Yoga class this short (20 minute) tape is very helpful. I was especially pleased to be able to get a VCR tape since I don't have a DVD player in my room. I like the AM Yoga, but found the PM Yoga tape too difficult for me.

These videos each have their strong points, and I've used and enjoy them both. The biggest flaw is that, as a set, they are so out of balance with each other. As other reviewers have mentioned, the A.M. video is substantially easier than the P.M., so folks who want a good workout dislike the first, and those who are a bit out of shape dislike the second. I use the A.M. when I feel like I need something easy and gentle, and when I lapse in practicing yoga for a while, this is invariably the tape I come back to, to get me going again. (I move on to the Yoga for Energy DVD in this Gaiam/Yoga Journal series, once I loosen up again, though.) The P.M. video just about killed me when I first tried it. However, the moment when all that vigorous stretching is finished, and you finally go into relaxation feels sooo good. (Like the old joke: "Why are you hitting yourself?""Because it feels so good when I stop!") So, I come back to this tape, when I have time in the afternoon. And I've improved enough so that the poses don't seem too difficult now, but they still push me to my limit before that golden moment of relaxation.

Reviews

I've had it for years & keep returning to it. Good instruction, not too hard (intro/interm level) & after 30 minutes I can stop it & feel peaceful & stretched for my day.

I've been doing yoga for about 11 years, and this was one of my first tapes. It was challenging at the time, but even when I was doing yoga every day for months, I still found it very rewarding and never boring. This tape and I have been through a lot. I've bought perhaps a half-dozen other yoga videos and never even watched them more than a couple times, always preferring this one. In high school, I let someone borrow it and never saw it again. Luckily, though, I had dubbed an audio recording of it, and could then practice anywhere I could bring a portable stereo. And I did. Through college, and several subsequent moves, I always practiced with that old ratty tape. After being pregnant with my first child, I was ecstatic to find it again, and begin practicing again, but it was too old and crumpled to be used anymore. Unfortunately, it had been ages since I'd seen the original VHS tape, and couldn't remember what it was called or even the names of the people involved. But here it is, after just a short search. (I would have bought another copy years ago if I'd known it was going to be that easy!) It must be a pretty popular item to be so easy to find with a generic 'yoga' search on Yahoo. It's absolutely worth every penny, I wish I had it right now.

I've tried so many exercise tapes, including yoga tapes, over the years and this is actually one of the better, less-obnoxious ones. It's a fairly tough workout but is very well-explained throughout, has no goofy music, narration or ugly sets getting in the way. The biggest problem with this - and it was a big one for me - is that the tape goes logically from a less to more strenuous workout but, at 70 minutes total, there is no clear way to break the workout up. Other tapes will maybe put 3 20-minute workouts on one, so that you can do one, two or all three workouts and customize it for yourself. Not the case with this one, and that's a pain. What it means is, if you don't have over an hour to workout, you will have to just stop the tape, interrupting any sort of flow and progression. Frustrating!

I have done yoga sporadically over the past few years and found this video slightly jarring. I think it would be perfect for a person who likes arobics or who is adverse to anything "new age-y." The narrator has a very slight Texas accent and moves from position to position in a very matter-of-fact way. I prefer the more mindful approach in Rodney Yee's videos. As an alternative, I would highly recommend Ali McGraw's video which I think is appropriate for a beginner (although some poses will always be challenging), provides good guidance, it is "modern" and very mindful.

I had no yoga experience when I picked up this video. I loved it, and within two months was in better shape than I have ever been. I am rarely inspired to exercise, and hardly keen to do a 60 minute routine. However, I loved this so much that I went out and bought some new DVDs of other instructors to vary the pace a bit. I thought, "I'll try that Rodney Yee guy, maybe that other girl that my sister likes." Everything else I have purchased sits on the shelves. I think she's charming, physically inspiring without being disgustingly thin or over the top, and soothing. I love the pace of this video, and have had to re-purchase it (I wore it out!!) and move into her Total Yoga series in order to vary the routines a bit. I cannot recommend this video or instructor strongly enough, although beginners will benefit both from patience and outside instruction.

Reviews

I wish I listened to recommendations I had been given and bought this mat prior to trying two other brands. I am using the mat for a cardio/plyometric workouts as well as for yoga. My knees need a little TLC and they are so much happier since I have been using this mat. I think this is a great option for at home, but it's a little heavy to be carting to classes on public transportation.

Lovely, high quality mat. Manduka provides great customer service, and the mat has a guarantee no matter where you buy it. Manduka mats have the longest break-in time of any mat I've owned, but they are sooooo worth it!

This is a great mat, I really recommend it, but if you are from the ones that sweat too much, it's slippery with a lot of sweat! Still I love it because I mostly bought it because of the cushion. :)

My mother is the hardest person to buy presents for. However, she started to take yoga classes last year and really likes it! So, when Christmas came around I knew exactly what she would like- a yoga mat. I looked on Amazon and this mat seemed to have the best of everything- it's thick, long, and had great reviews. When I gave it to my mom, she was so excited. Her mood after yoga class was completely different however. She told me that she had the worst experience with this yoga mat. She couldn't hold her positions because she was slipping and sliding all over the place. We contacted the company to see why this was and they simply told us that the mat needed 6 months to be "broken in". In my opinion, you shouldn't have to put up with slipping and sliding for on a mat even if it is a new one. This was a definite disappointment!

There is a huge difference from this mat and the standard yoga mat. Love how thick it is. Would reccommend to anyone who does yoga on a consistant basis.

Reviews

I ordered this size because I wanted it to use at my desk at work. I used a co-workers ball - same size but different manufacturer and his was very comfortable and was the right size for my height. This one is about 2 inches shorter and that really makes a difference when I try to use it to sit on. I've put about as much air in it as I feel comfortable doing and I won't be using it as it hurts my back when I do. Very disappointed.

good quality product at a decent price. Make sure you purchase the right size for your body!

I have had plenty of fitness balls but out of all of them this one is the best. The material used to make this ball is very strong and I believe it will stand the test of time. I ordered the 75cm ball because I am 6 foot 3, this is very important when picking out a fitness ball. When looking for a fitness ball make sure you buy one based on your height because it will make a difference in your workout routine. TKO anti burst fitness ball is a great addition to my workout, I recommend it to anyone wanting to buy a fitness ball that will be very reliable. Plus it comes with a hand held pump which is a great addition.

Does everything it says it does. Wan't expecting the color to be a true blue.

I have two exercise balls -- one for home and one for work. This is the ball that replaced my office chair at work. I sit on it daily, frequently bounce on it when no one is around, and it has rolled around my floor with coworkers a couple of times. I've only inflated it once (the initial time) in the time I've had it -- over three months!! I weigh about 130lb (+/-) so I don't add a *ton* of constant weight on the ball. It has lost *some* air (it's not perfect after all), but it's still very firm. (I will probably re-inflate it this week or next.) Three additional bonuses about the ball: (1) since it's a dark color it doesn't pop out at people as they walk by me at work; (2) it's neither sticky nor overly smooth; and (3) it's anti-burst. The ball has a good texture that keeps you in place but doesn't pick up lint/dust. Some balls seem to attract it. Also, if you've seen that episode of "The Office" ([...]) you can appreciate the importance of an anti-burst ball. I haven't tested out this feature (and don't plan on it!), but I am glad that it is there since ANY stability ball can be popped. The exercise ball that I have at home (GoFit) has lost air much quicker and I don't use it 1/10th as frequently! When I replace my GoFit, I'll definitely go with another TKO!

Reviews

This mat works well and was a great price. I recommend it to anyone.

Very pleased with this mat, i bought it for a gift and it is good quality and was a great price.

I really like this mat - it's a little thicker than I am used to, but that is fine. It is nice and long, and just sticky enough. The only problem I have with it in any way is the color. TAN it is not! It is the most horrid pale peachy flesh color - it is almost embarrasing. I feel like I should put some tanning lotion on it!

They said that this mat weighs 4 lbs but the shipping weight is 3.5. How is that possible?

Mat is great. No chemical smell and no coating to wash off. Color advertised doesn't exactly match what I received, but it's OK.

Reviews

So you are in your thirties, recently divorced and just out of a tumultuous rebound relationship ending in a crippling depression, the first thing you do is head abroad for a year, right? Sound a little crazy? Well that is just what Elizabeth Gilbert did, and she chronicles her journey in her spiritual memoir "Eat Pray Love: One Women's search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia." The book was engaging and easy to read and enjoy. It is something that would be a great book to read on the beach. However it also ended up being quite superficial and hard to believe. In the midst of her divorce Gilbert takes a journalism assignment in Indonesia that will prove to change her life forever. While in Bali she met Krueit Lieyer a ninth generation Balinese medicine man who told her minutes after meeting "You will come back her to Bali and live here and teach me English. And I will teach you everything I know" (28). She decided she would spend 4 months in Italy, India and Indonesia, specifically Bali. After her divorce is finalized she heads first to Italy and rents an apartment in the City of Love, Rome. There is one stipulation of her trip that defies "the word of Rome, SEX" (103) she vows to be celibate for the trip. Instead of having sex she chooses to satisfy herself by eating decadent and fattening food. While the events of this section are believable the names of people are a little out there. She has a friend for example named Luca Spaghetti. The name seems a little too ironic to me. I found the third of the book describing her time in Rome to be by far the most interesting. She spends her time eating, traveling, and learning Italian. However she did not dedicate time in this country to her spiritual and faith journey, which is of course the entire purpose of the book and her travels. The only serious part of this section was the process of overcoming loneliness and stopping her usage of anti depressants. Elizabeth is an over exaggerator of sorts, but her description of depression and loneliness is incredibly believable and the reader is able to really see how she is feeling. These are feelings that are easy to relate to. The next part of the book was much duller. The events seemed unrealistic and the way in which it is written is hard to follow. While in India she spends her time at the Ashram of her Guru. Her Guru is her spiritual leader, yet she has seen her only once while she was speaking in New York. She is not in actual contact with her at all; the guru is traveling abroad and doesn't communicate with the students at the ashram. How can someone who you have never even had a conversation with guide you on how you should live your life? This path is completely about her spirituality and the journey she makes. She spends almost all of her time there meditating and trying to get closer to god. This section was the least believable to me. Some of the events just don't seem realistic. At one point her roommate forgot and padlocks her into their room. She jumped out her window two stories to get to morning prayer on time, a prayer which she in fact hated and was always trying to avoid, and skipped on many occasions. Bali came next and was also a more exciting part of her trip; however, it also showed Gilbert in an obnoxious way putting herself on a pedestal. While in Bali, Gilbert was able to show a balance between her spiritual journey and also her ability to enjoy herself in other ways. She was able to study meditation, with the same medicine man from over two years earlier who told her she would return. He teaches her more about spirituality and happiness, telling her to just sit and smile while meditating (231). At one point she got into an accident and scraped up her knee. The medicine man for some reason could not help her, so she had to find someone else who, surprise, became her best friend. This seems almost scripted to me; why wouldn't her friend who is a medicine man help her? She wants to make a point of how great a person she is with her donation to Wayan her new friend, and how she is trying to help her. Wayan is slow to be a house with the donated money so Gilbert lies and says she will take the money if a home is not bought, she then wants pity and reinforcement that she is doing the right thing and is not a bad person. Elizabeth Gilbert's book chronicling a year of soul searching is clearly a spiritual memoir. The purpose of her trip was to become closer to God and to have a greater understanding of that voice that speaks to her. She seems to start off as a Christian but her spirituality takes many unconventional twists and turns in her path to "enlightenment." As this is a spiritual memoir of it is course all about Elizabeth Gilbert. Her writing however is a little to self absorbed for my taste. When she has conversations with people it is always about her and her problems, never the other person. This at times turned me off from Gilbert. I started out reading this book very excited. I was quite disappointed, while I like the book; I wanted to like it more. As someone who is only twenty and still in college it should be no surprise that I did not connect well with the book. Gilbert is not writing to the twenty-somethings, but rather to women in their thirties and older. I believe that if I was in that age group I would have enjoyed it more and been able to connect and relate to what she went through.

I have never taken the time to do a review of any book online... but I absolutely think this book is crap and boring that I had to go to Amazon's website to write a review. I think the author is so self-absorbed that she has not really done any justice to researching and thinking what search for self and life's meaning really is. Granted that it's her book so she can talk about herself all she wants, and for some reason, a lot of people have bought her book that it has become a bestseller, there are so many more books that are more insightful on the same topic! I will be more wary next time when I see a New York Times Book Review that says a book is irresistible. Her book's a New York Times Notable Book... and I suddenly had this thought on whether author's can pay to get such accolade.

I enjoyed this book at the time of reading. I had been going through a similar process myself, and it was wonderful to follow Elizabeth's journey of self-deprecating wit and humor amidst a rather turbulent mental breakdown.

Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love chronicles Gilbert's yearlong sabbatical in hopes of healing from her recent divorce, discovering herself, and achieving the balance between pleasure and spirituality. In lieu of her recent messy divorce from her husband, Gilbert begins to look for a meaning beyond her superficial life in her little personal 14-mile wide world, known as Manhattan. She journeys to three very different countries in the pursuit of three equally different aspects of life: pleasure, spirituality and the balance between the two. Gilbert's talent as a writer is undeniable. She has a witty and refreshing writing style that makes Eat, Pray, Love a very entertaining read and what makes her book so entertaining are Gilbert's mini-adventures throughout the book. However, Gilbert develops story lines leave the reader questioning the authenticity and truth behind her story. In the first stop of her journey, Italy, Gilbert discovers the art of pleasure. In Rome, she develops a steamy, passionate love affair with gelato and pizza. She learns the language, meets new friends and immerses herself in the Italian culture. She embraces the romanticism that makes Italy one of the most unforgettable places on earth, and leaves Italy free of the chains of depression she was bound to in Manhattan. In India, Gilbert studies the art of devotion. She works with a Guru to guide her spiritual journey. Gilbert sets out to separate herself from the luxuries and chaos that she has padded her life with and separate herself from materialism in order to reach spiritual understanding. Gilbert, frustrated with the difficulty of meditation, spends endless hours in her cluttered mind trying to reach the divine state of cognitive peace. Finally, after weeks of silent meditation, she has a spiritual breakthrough. Gilbert writes, "To know God, you need only to renounce one thing, your division from God" (192). This quote illustrates her realization that in order to be at peace with your spirituality, your must realize that God is not your superior, but a part of your spirit. Gilbert's last stop is in Bali, Indonesia. In Bali, Gilbert reconnects with an elderly medicine man that teaches her the importance of balance between the art of pleasure, and the art of devotion. In her quest for this balance, she finds herself living out a spiritual love story of her own. Eat, Pray, Love is a book that could easily be found in the travel or self-help section of a bookstore, however it is considered a spiritual memoir. From the beginning of Gilbert's journey she makes it clear that she is seeking spirituality beyond the Christian belief of one sole and singular God. Instead, she is looking for a more personal and self-reliant god, one who is within Gilbert and accepts her for who she is. She is searching for a God who loves and appreciates her positive traits and accepts and embraces her negative flaws, all at once. Gilbert writes that she, "always responded with breathless excitement to anyone who has ever said that God does not live in a dogmatic scripture or in a distant throne in the sky," (14). I enjoyed reading about Gilbert's understanding in the Buddhist and Hindu faith, however I felt myself constantly waiting for more insight. While reading Eat, Pray, Love I prayed (no pun intended) that Gilbert would tear down her walls of narcissism and superficiality. Yet despite her spiritual awakening in India, she never reaches this resolution, this aspect made it difficult for me to like and relate to Gilbert as a person and the heroine of her novel. Gilbert's writing style, riddled with her clever humor and vibrant attention to detail, make for entertaining storylines. I felt like I was walking the crowded streets of Rome with her or perched seaside in India, deep in meditation. I often found myself laughing out loud at her witty commentary. Her unique and witty metaphors/similes such as "Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it's what you want before you commit," (67) made her book enjoyable. I found it refreshing that the author of a spiritual memoir could interject borderline cynical and self-deprecating humor without steering too far off the spiritual path. Despite Gilbert's humor and wit, it is Gilbert's lack of authenticity that made me dislike the book. Every event seems to be prepackaged and wrapped in a bow, leading to a realization and stepping stone for the next event to come. Everything seems to fall in Gilbert's favor. As an avid traveler, I have found this to be true: when travelling, not everything, if ANYTHING, goes according to plan. Gilbert writes "...to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice," however I did not see any sacrifice in Gilbert's journey in between drinking wine on the sea in Italy and meeting her soul mate. It was all a little too Hollywood for me, as if Gilbert wrote her memoir with a future screenplay adaptation in mind. A memoir clearly geared for women in their mid 30's to early 40's, at times it felt as though I was reading recycled Sex and the City plots. Gilbert's stories were complete with the same rising action, climax and resolution that is expected in a 30 minute television show. Trite quotes such as, "In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely," (147) made me roll my eyes and made me at how obviously she was preying on middle-aged women on the cusp of a mid-life crisis, looking for a spiritual guru to lean on. For a reader looking for a spiritual memoir, I would not recommend Eat, Pray, Love. Gilbert's book has an entertaining plot and story, but Gilbert's book as a whole is just that: a story. Her lack of authenticity and superficiality make this book just another New York Times Bestseller, not a staple for bookshelves or a tool for spiritual enlightenment.

I read a bunch of reviews before purchasing the book. A friend highly recommended the book as well. I had read one review that mentioned Elizabeth being selfish and complaining a lot. My response to that review is that Elizabeth is supposed to be selfish! She is on a journey of self-discovery! She isn't traveling to save the poor in 3rd world countries. She specifically traveled to write the book about her own personal experience on how she wanted to figure out her place in life and how to heal a broken heart. This book wasn't meant to be a self-help book for others necessarily. She wanted to figure out her own problems and the reader could probably relate in one way or another. I also considered how she did some complaining, but who cares?? Again, that's part of the process towards how someone learns and grows. People fight the truth and reality and on that journey, the learning process can be tough because you are discovering new things about yourself which is why Elizabeth complained a lot. But notice by the end of the book she was A LOT more calm and relieved and satisfied. That's why it's such a great book, because you start to really learn and grow with Elizabeth and feel that sigh of relief in the end. My favorite part was in the end when she talks about the tree wanting the acorn to grow into itself. It really made sense of the book as a whole. The one reason why I gave 4 stars and not 5 stars was because i did find myself browsing over some overly-descriptive thoughts or hypothetical ideas that didn't have anything specifically to do with the actual storyline - i felt the same about DaVinci Code - which i loved too, but would have again only given 4 stars for a similar writing style reason.