Unlike my colleague who has masterfully succeeded in the art of being anti-meditation and perhaps anti-zen, I am caught somewhere between drinking Pabst Blue Ribbons on alternate weekends and trying out new-fangled health drinks and old-school aerobics videos. Today, and not for the first time, I entered the world of Yoga Zone with Alan Finger, which is the perfect tape for a yoga beginner looking for some relaxation as well as some strength and conditioning. I first purchased the video series in the late 90's and have since upgraded to the DVD versions which are available at Amazon here.

I won't lie to you-part of the attraction is his name. Alan Finger does have a certain ring to it, but the main reason I like the series is that it kicks ass. I'm taller than average and have had problems with my posture on and off since about the third grade. Every time I've done the "Strength and Conditioning" tape, it became monumentally easier for me to both stand and sit up straight for about 1-2 days afterwards which is an amazing experience for someone with posture problems.

The positions are very basic, so would probably bore the more advanced or more flexible students. However, for someone new to Yoga or less physically adept than some yoga practitioners, the Yoga Zone series is perfect. Each position is also demonstrated in a modified fashion by his "assistants" for those with flexibility issues or people with weak joints. You wouldn't know it after joining a yoga studio in Seattle, but not everybody is a human pretzel by nature. I also have a lot of tension in my neck and like his simple exercises which actually do alleviate some of the stress from that region. In addition to the gentle postures in the series, there are a few more difficult postures that increase your muscle endurance, which have left me sore on more than one occasion.

Throughout the series, Alan's voice is calm as he guides you through the postures. Usually, my mind has a tendency to race, but his gentle meditation guide at the end of the DVD has relaxed me on more than one occasion. For someone that has tried and failed at more than one kind of meditation, anything that can slow this mind is a God-send. In addition to the DVD I usually do, the series includes a Beginner's DVD, a more difficult Flexibility and Conditioning DVD, and a MeditationDVD.