If you are interested in experimenting with yoga but find the idea a bit intimidating, Stephanie Foster's Yoga: Beginners Level is an excellent starting point. While she emphasises that her tape is not a replacement for a class, it's still a comfortable way to familiarise yourself with many of the positions, which you can use without the video to stretch and relax. The first half of the beginners' portion of the tape defines the poses, with two students demonstrating each posture as Foster explains the movements; one student demonstrates the full position while the other shows how it may be performed while seated or using a wall for support for those who aren't yet supple enough for the full pose. The rest of the beginners' section uses the postures in a moving sequence, stretching and working each part of the body. Hatha yoga can be a wonderful tool for improving posture, increasing flexibility and enhancing relaxation. Foster recommends viewing the entire tape at least once before attempting the poses. This tape is a nice respite from a hectic day, and many of the movements, once mastered, can be discreetly performed while sitting at your desk. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com

This semi-comic 1961 film by legendary director Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon, Ran) was inspired by the American Western genre. Kurosawa mainstay Toshirô Mifune (Seven Samurai) is cast as a drifting samurai for hire who plays both ends against the middle with two warring factions, surviving on his wits and his ability to outrun his own bad luck. Eventually the samurai seeks to eliminate both sides for his own gain and to define his own sense of honour. Yojimbo is striking for its unorthodox treatment of violence and morality, reserving judgment on the actions of its main character and instead presenting an entertaining tale with humour and much visual excitement. One of the inspirations for the "spaghetti westerns" of director Sergio Leone and later surfacing as a remake as Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis, this film offers insight into a director who influenced American films even as he was influenced by them. --Robert Lane, Amazon.com