Search - Yoga Link: Shoulder Shape-Up with Jill Miller on DVD

Amazing pain reliever

E. Hilburger | Arizona | 03/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I do a lot of different workout videos (my favorites are Amy Bento and Jari Love). Recently, I've been experiencing painful pressure in my left shoulder blade. I think it has something to do with working in front of a computer all day. While looking for some new workout videos, I stumbled across the Yoga Link series. I purchased all three of them (I was also having hip pain, and I can never say no to a new abs workout). I have been really surprised by the effectiveness of these videos. I've used the shoulder shape up video twice and both times, it's instantly alleviated the pain. The hip one is also fantastic - again instant relief. I have not done the core one yet, but I'm sure it's also great. This is a really innovative series and I definitely recommend it."

Yoga Meets Physical Therapy

C. Point | Troy, Mi | 07/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have shoulder issues than this DVD is a helpful inexpensive and highly instructive guide on the market. After watching the exercises performed step by step, you will be able to do many on your own on a regular basis. When feeling tense or sore, a few will bring instant relief. Others work by consistantly doing them. By watching this video, you will be able to see the intensity needed to perform these exercises correctly. Using books on the subject did not convey this information effectively to me."

Great shoulder loosening tips

Louis Cortese | New York City | 06/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found the 45 minute shoulder exercises portion of the DVD very useful. Once I went through it with the DVD, pausing it, rewinding etc it became instilled in my head so I now do the exercises on my own. The other part of the DVD which explains the various movements that the shoulders can make and the respective terminology is very informative and acts to bolster one's knowledge, which for me gives the shoulder actions more intelligence when practicing them."

Very thorough shoulder practice

Jenny G | Wisconsin, USA | 05/14/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I completed the Workshop in one sitting prior to completing the Practice. Although the DVD doesn't include traditional strength exercises, I did experience some very light muscle soreness after completing the Workshop but for some reason not after completing the Practice. The Workshop is 38 minutes with the following chapters:

Shoulder Warm Ups: (7:54)
* Epaulet Arm Circles - arm circles with arms bent at elbow
* Pranic Bath - difficult to explain but a very nice fluid movement
* Anahata Arm Swings - swinging in front and in back, first touching hands and then clasping
* Pendulum Arm Swings - swinging up and over, each arm going in opposite direction
* Danda Kriya - using a rod for three different stretching/flexibility exercises. I did not have a rod that was long enough so used a strap instead, although a rod would have been nice for the last movement.

Flexion/Extension: (5:46)
* Arms in Flexion - movements with arms raised overhead, including arm circles
* Double Extension - arms clasped in back and raising up as high as you can go
* Yogini Mudflap Girl & Andrey's Rack - two poses sitting on floor with arms extending in back of you
* Shoulder Shrugs
* Lat Lengthener - uses a table or ledge to stretch the lat muscles as you lean over

Internal/External Rotation: (5:06)
* Three uniquely named poses with emphasis on rotation of the shoulder. The last pose (Holy Cow at the Trough), is done leaning forward with your elbows bent and resting on a ledge, pressing a yoga block between your hands, and slowly walking your elbows closer and closer together. A second version of Holy Cow is done pushing back and forth with your hands.

Protraction/Retraction: (8:15)
Protraction is drawing shoulder blades together; retraction is reaching forward for separation of the shoulder blades
* Protraction/Retraction Pushups - The emphasis here is on protraction/retraction of the shoulder, not on pushups
* Prone stretch with arms crossed in front of body
* Body Surfing - prone with arms stretched overhead, pulling yourself forward and then backwards across the floor (you will need a blanket over a smooth floor for this)
* Open Sesame - lying prone, spread arms out, roll over on to one shoulder so arm is stretched in back, adjusting hips to put feet on ground, and reaching the other arm up and over to try meet with the other hand in back

Detraction: (2:56)
* ¼ upward bow at wall - looks like an overhead tricep stretch, pulling your elbow in towards the head with the other hand, except that your upper hand is against a wall

Dolphin/Downward Dog: (4:07)
Putting everything together to show how it is used in these common poses.
* Dolphin with external rotation
* Downward Dog with Bent Elbows - challenges the strength of external rotation as your elbows rotate in
* Dolphin to Dog Pushups - Start in Dolphin with external rotation, and move through bent elbow Dog into straight arms, back into Dolphin

The Practice is 43 minutes, putting each of these moves together and adding a few reps.

Round out the practice using the extras on the DVD to work the forearms and hands:
* Forearm grips (2 min)
* Wrist/Palm/Forearm Stretch (2 min)
* Blackberry stretch for the thumb (1 min)
The final Extra is arm circles on the wall (3 min) to stretch the pectoralis muscles.

There is also a Directions of Movement Primer (2 min) that explains the 12 directions of movement for the shoulder.

All in all, I really enjoyed this DVD. I felt it did a great job of working the shoulders from each possible direction and feel that it may help prevent future issues. I liked the focus on mobility versus strength. I don't really have shoulder problems, so the difficult part will be finding a way to work it into my rotation. But I am glad to have in in my library.
"