Restoring Fertility by Drs. Brandon Horn, PhD, LAc (FABORM) and Wendy Yu PhD(c), LAc (FABORM)

In my line of work I pretty much sit most of the day. Logically, that is not that great for my fertility (although some women obviously get pregnant easily even though they spend most of their time sitting). I'm not athletic, and I don't get any exercise otherwise. I find that this Yoga set helps makes me feel like I'm actually getting some exercise. I'm sure this helps with fertility and overall well being.Each phase starts with setting an intention for "today" which corresponds with your cycle phase. For instance, during the luteal phase the intention is to "soften any tension and create warm and welcoming environment for the embryo." The lector also explains that if implantation doesn't take place, the uterine lining will shed. When I first started doing the sets, I found that to be anxiety inducing. I felt pressured to feel relaxed/achieve relaxation, and guilty about not creating a warm and welcoming environment for the embryo. Eventually it was helpful for me to think of them as simply the intentions with which the yoga sets were created, and that because I completed the set of poses and exercises for the day, my intentions and energy were sent in the right direction.There are three women performing performing the poses in each set, each of the women is representing a different level of advancement. One of them twists herself into a pretzel in every single phase of the set, and the other two hold the poses in a much less advanced way. Watching this one women holding the poses in such advanced way (seriously, she could perform as an acrobat for an audience) can be intimidating and anxiety inducing if you're just starting, or/and are new to Yoga and you are not able to hold the poses the same way (or even close to the way) she does, but keep in mind that you're supposed to pick the level you're most comfortable with, and I suspect you can work from there to higher levels if you wish. It would be more helpful to be able to select the level you are at, and watch only that woman in the video. My advice is to try to challenge yourself a little, but be realistic about your abilities and limitations. The first few times you'll do these exercises in each of the sets you'll find yourself staring at the screen, and you might feel clumsy and silly (I did). After few times your confidence will increase, you will be able to focus on the exercises instead of nervously glancing at the screen. Now that I know how to hold the poses, and my own limitations, I like to close my eyes, focus on my breathing, and on the rhythm of the exercises, and it feels quite nice and peaceful. Dr.Horn emphasizes in the Introduction, that you don't have to be able to twist yourself into a pretzel to reap the benefits on this yoga set. As long as you're stretching, and keeping the poses as best as *you* can, you will benefit from the exercises.The menstrual and luteal phases of this Yoga are mellow and relaxing. You will do a lot of stretching (which can be challenging but is attainable especially with the three different levels of difficulty available to pick from) , breathing and some meditation. They last about 30 minutes. If you have regular cycles, these are the phases you will most likely spend most time with. These are my favorite two sets.The ovulatory and follicular phases are much more intense. You will actually be challenged (unless you are already a Yoga pro) by them more than by the other two phases. You will use the breath of fire (intense breathing technique that you will learn when you watch the Introduction) a lot during these phases. They are also few minutes longer than the other two phases (they are around 40 minutes long each). I felt more tired and physically challenged by these sets of exercises, and I wish I could do them in the morning because they energized me (they're supposed to energize the ovaries so I guess it makes sense). I have a very mild form of IC (painful bladder), and I noticed that these two phases aggravated it a little.Each phase starts with some breathing exercises, proceeds to the more intense poses, and follows with a relaxation and then ends with deep breathing again. My complaint is that the relaxation isn't guided. Basically you're asked to close your eyes, and relax for few minutes at which point the lector stops talking and you only hear the music and drums in the background laying on your back for few minutes. It would've been helpful if there was a short guided meditation included at that point. I find that my mind starts to wonder without it.My final complaint is that there are five (if I remember correctly) true Yoga poses introduced without any instructions. I didn't know what downward dog, tree pose, turtle dove or one other pose mentioned which name I can't even remember were. I watched the women in the DVD, and I figured it out, but it would've been nice if they were also explained in the Introduction the same way ujjayi breathing and breath of fire is.The instructions say that you don't need to have any extra "gear" to perform these exercises, but I strongly encourage you to get a yoga mat (holding the poses is much more comfortable that way), two yoga blocks (they are often mentioned in this yoga set), and a rolled towel. The yoga mat and the blocks, if you don't already have them, are an additional expense (you can probably get them for additional $30 total), but they are nice to have. That being said, you can still perform the exercises without them.Some people have complained about the cost (I guess we are nowadays used to paying less for DVDs), but I honestly feel that the cost is minimal because it's just an initial investment. Any gym membership or yoga classes will cost you way more because you have to cover the cost every month (or up front for the classes). By comparison, $40 total seems like a pretty small price for what you are getting.This DVD gives you the option of performing the exercises from the comfort of your home for as many months as you want/need. No one will hear (or worse, smell!) if you pass gas while stretching, loose your balance thirty times before you actually hold the "tree pose" or look more like sweaty whale than downward dog. You can simply close your eyes, and enjoy the exercises without any added peer pressure. You have the advantage of choosing time every day that's good for you. Finally, you can have your partner exercise with you (my husband and I do this yoga set together). It's a bonding experience, and (s)he will get benefits from it as well. Plus, you can motivate each other to stick with the routine.

Having not worked out for a while, it took me a month to get used to this DVD and it's intensity. After the first month, I started getting more used to it and loved it; and now it's the highlight of my day. I love that it has 4 phases, ie the Menstrual, Follicular, Ovulatory and Luteal Phase. I was diagnosed with cystic ovaries when younger; have been pregnant naturally last year (prior to finding this wonderfully amazing relaxing enjoyable DVD) but miscarried within a few weeks. We had been trying for over a year prior to getting pregnant as well, so that's two years off our lives with high stress of trying to conceive.I get ovulation cramps and pains regularly though since using this DVD, all that has either reduced or gone. I had to stop using the DVD for a couple of months as I was ill and things happened in my life, and the cramps and pains returned. I've resumed the DVD this month and within days of resuming it, the pains and cramps have gone and I feel amazing within.I have been using the DVD for about 5 months (2 months of which I didn't use it). Within the first month of using the DVD, my cervical mucus changed from hostile to fertile and my libido changed and increased. I'm using it now mainly for the ovulation cramps and pains. Initially bought it as we had been trying for a baby for 2 years and age wasn't on our side (we are in our mid 40s). The continued disappointment of my period coming every month for a year since the miscarriage eventually got to me, and a few weeks ago, we decided to let go of wanting a baby as the heartbreak of having my period come each month was too disappointing. We'd love it if we did get pregnant though have let go of the expectations as it's very stressful and distressing to keep getting a big fat negative on the pregnancy test.I have other fertility yoga DVDs though always use this Restoring Fertility Yoga DVD as the sessions last about 35 mins, which works for me and I find them extremely enjoyable, especially as my cramps and aches disappear, I feel more energised, happier, and relaxed and my stomach no longer bloats out monthly and gets more toned, which makes me feel so much better within myself. I can see this DVD being a part of my life for a very long time.Getting into a routine is important for me to keep up the momentum and I've taken my yoga mat on holiday with me just so I can keep up my restoring fertility yoga practice. I'm glad to be resuming it again as I feel the benefits already after only a few days and wish I'd started again much sooner than I did.