If you are planning on doing yoga with a DVD, you'll soon find that there are many different types of yoga DVDs available. The following are some tips on what to look for in a yoga DVD.

Type of yoga
There are so many different types of yoga, it can be difficult to know which DVD to choose. Many people picture yoga as all stretching and meditating, but some forms can actually be quite physically demanding. For this reason, it's important to educate yourself about the different kinds. For example, if you want a slow, stretching type of yoga like Hatha, you shouldn't grab a DVD for Bikram yoga, which is as intense as an aerobic workout.

As a general rule, the following yoga types are common and have the following characteristics:

• Slow and mellow - if you want a yoga DVD that is stretching and meditating, consider hatha or ivengar.


• Fast and aerobic - Bikram, Vinyasa, and Power yoga are good DVDs if you want a hard workout.


• Flexibility - For those who want to increase their flexibility or already have great flexibility, Ashtanga is a good type of yoga DVD to choose.

Level of difficulty
You will want to check the DVD to see what the level of difficulty is. If you are just starting out or are new to yoga, make sure you get one for beginners, or one that comes with an instructional DVD as well. If you are advanced or have been practicing yoga for some time, look for a DVD that can challenge you. Doing a yoga DVD that you are not ready for can be frustrating as well as damaging, if you push yourself too hard, and doing one for beginners if you are advanced can be boring.

Length
If you are often pressed for time, don't get a 90-minute DVD that you will never end up doing. Instead, opt for a shorter DVD. And if you'd like to use yoga as a way to relax or unwind, look for a longer, slower-paced DVD that can help you decompress.

Popularity
Purchasing a yoga DVD can be difficult because there is always the chance you won't like it and will have ended up wasting money on a DVD you will never use. However, there are many places online that allow you to read reviews from people who have tried out the videos. Often, the reviews are quite detailed and can tell you whether or not it is a DVD you would like. www.videofitness.com, www.collagevideo.com, and www.amazon.com are all good sites for reviews.

You can also try out different DVDs inexpensively by borrowing them from friends, checking them out at the library, or renting them from a video store or Netflix. Then, if you like them enough you can purchase them for your own use.

There are many yoga DVDs available to choose from. These are just a few important things to keep in mind when looking for a yoga DVD.