PraiseMoves: The Christian Alternative to Yoga

I have done exercise videos since 1990. I recommend this dvd highly. It is professional, with good camera work, sound, background music, and instruction. The main workouts are a touch on the dark side, but nothing major. I don’t find them dated.I really admire Laurette Willis. I am SO glad for an alternative to yoga that is full of scripture, encouragement, and physical movement. Laurette has a bubbly, cheerful personality with intelligence. For the 20-min and 60-min main workouts there are 4 background exercisers—one modifying for beginners, one for advanced. The instruction here is really nicely scripted and voiced over by Laurette.There is a 5-min and 15 min walking warmup for the 2 main workouts. Laurette gives live instruction here. Includes jazzy instrumental hymns like All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, Crown Him with Many Crowns, and Blessed Assurance. The workouts have softer background instrumental hymns like He Leadeth Me and It is Well with My Soul. There is a nice add-on 20-min instructional focusing on more detailed form pointers for some of the postures. A 10 minute introduction includes instruction on body alignment and breathing.Scriptures are displayed onscreen and seem to be NKJV. Tons of great scripture from all over the Bible. There is some prayer and praise and personalizing the scriptures as affirmations.Another section is the Scripture Sequence Flow-Through. The pace here is brisk; about 1:30 for the Lord’s Prayer, and 1:45 for Psalm 23. There is no instruction, but the I believe the postures are taught elsewhere. Another section is WWJD Relaxation Meditation, about 8 min with scripture, talk, prayer and praise. It’s quite uplifting From her website, postures include:1. Mt. Zion (Ps. 125:1)2. The Reed (Is. 42:3)3. The Eagle (Is. 40:31)4. The Rainbow (Gen. 9:16)5. The Star (Dan. 12:3)6. The Angel (Ps. 91:11)7. The Tree (Ps. 1:3)8. The Tallit(1 Thess. 5:16-18)9. The Prayer Warrior (James 5:16)10. The Runner (Heb. 12: 1-2)11. The Scroll (Luke 4:16-18)12. David’s Harp (Ps. 108:2-3)13. The Little Child (Mark 10:15)14. The Vine (John 15:5)15. Flapping Tent (Job 33:4)16. The Tent (Is. 54:2)17. Rest and Stretch (Matt. 11:28)18. Peter’s Boat (Luke 5:4)19. The Altar (Rom. 12:1)20. The Cross (Mark 8:34)21. The Dove (Matt. 3:16)22. The Lord’s Prayer Scripture Sequence (Matt. 6:9-13)23. The 23rd Psalm Scripture Sequence There is A LOT more scripture than this, though. One warmup includes Ephesians 6:11-17, and Laurette sprinkles verses throughout. Some of the above poses have additional verses (I recall some from Zechariah and Revelation).I also own Power PraiseMoves, PraiseMoves AM/PM, and PraiseMoves Hebrew Alphabetics, Slow-Cadence Exercises, Power Promises Walking workout, and the book Fit and Fabulous With PraiseMoves and I really like them all. To tell the truth, you could buy any of the DVDs for the scripture and praise and music alone, (although the PraiseMoves postures and instruction are GREAT), and do whatever stretching, exercise, massage, or whatever else you want to along with it. Some of these can be purchased as downloads.

Excellent exercise DVD

This workout is great. It is energizing to your body, mind & soul. This is the 1st workout video I have ever purchased. Most workout videos are body beautiful people in their skimpy clothes. That is just not for me & is the reason I have never purchased one. This workout with Laurette Willis & friends is very inspiring to get up & move your body, renew your mind, be happy, smile, think on scripture from the Bible & praise God. And she ends the workout with a peaceful relaxation time for your mind & body while she talks to you about God. It will leave you felling wonderful! The 50 min. workout goes by so fast but if I'm running short on time I'll do the 20 min. one. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone wanting to improve their health & mind. Patty Z.

I had hoped to encourage the woman at work to stop doing yoga together and start an alternative Praise Moves class. In one way it worked great. All of the woman have stopped going to yoga and have joined me in Praise Moves. But they are not in there for the exercise but to laugh hysterically at me. I feel like a fool.

This is MUCH improved from her first video. The music is not annoying, she's got good people demonstrating proper positioning, and I really like how she narrates instead of talking while doing the routine. I think more videos should do that! I love her opening prayer and how the moves really put me in a spirit of praising God.This routine just seems too easy, like for senior citizens. It's nice to do on a rest day to keep myself limber and for meditating on the wonder of God.I will look for her new power version looking for something more challenging for the muscles. Keep it up Laurette! We all learn from trial and error.

I love this program! It’s so fun and my kids love doing it with me every morning. Yes, some of the warm up moves are a little cheesy, but the scriptures and stretches are invaluable! I’ve been doing it for a little over a week now and I’ve regained almost all the flexibility I lost from basically not stretching at all for over a year.

It you have never done yoga or maybe you have done some simple beginners yoga, this is a good 'christian alternative' to yoga. I feel completely relaxed and at peace when I'm doing this DVD. To be honest though, when I first did it I thought it was kind of cheesy. The filming is old quality and Laurette (the instructor) not your typical fitness coach. But when you forget about that stuff and just do the workout along with her it is very rewarding. I actually also use the little booklet that has all the moves in order accompanied by photos as a guide to doing the workout by myself without the DVD. And when I do that I'll put worship music. This is very good too.

This is a great alternative to yoga workout. So far I have only done the 20 minute workout, but I can really tell it speeds up my metabolism and has helped with my back and neck problems. I love the scripture that she uses during the poses. I think the one about your body being a temple is starting to sink in. I have never done yoga before and I would recommend this for other beginners. Great to find a workout that focuses your mind on God!!!

It has great stretching exercises and is based upon scripture and music that suite my lifestyle. Would highly recommend this video.

Brilliant for anyone with posture/circulation problems such as myself. Love the bible verses too as it makes the praise moved more fun to work through. I have recommended this to other members at my church.