Customer Reviews

Ashtanga Yoga - Beginners Practice

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I teach Ashtanga yoga. Always looking for ideas, I bought this video intending to see how she explains and modifies some of the more difficult poses for beginners. I was both surprised and disappointed.

On the negative side, her voice is really annoying. While narrating the practice, she sounds exactly like the character "Lilleth" from Fraiser or Cheers: cold, serious, unapproachable, monotone. (In the interview section, when she is just talking, her voice is fine. I wish she had just been herself for the practice part of the video).

Then, the practice. Another negative. Ashtanga has a set series of poses. Always the same poses in the same order (the idea is the practice is the same so you can notice changes in yourself). She does not do the standard sun salutations but breaks them down into smaller components. OK, fine, beginner video. But I would like to see the option of just doing them AS THEY WOULD BE DONE IN ANY ASHTANGA CLASS IN THE WORLD, and that is not available.

Also, the flow. Breathing is an important part of Ashtanga. 5 breaths per pose. No fiddling around getting in and out of position or it will be over. She states up front (but not on the cover of the box) that each pose will be held longer for explanation time. Fine. But again, give us the regular Ashtanga flow as another option.

Modifications for beginners: I did not see a lot. This practice would totally discourage my beginning students who have tight hamstrings. She assumes everyone can put their palms flat on the floor but does not thoroughly explain what to do if you can't.

Included poses: Standing poses. What about the rest of primary series?

Hypocrisy: She tells the audience to relax (in that Lillith voice) but the sun is shining so brightly in her face that her eyebrows are pinched together. I can almost feel the tension coming through the screen!

Positives:
This is one of the few yoga DVDs that actually tries to make use of the medium's capabilities. When a special logo appears you can click and get more in depth information about the pose (this would have been a great place for modifications!)

The production values are high; The setting is beautiful and it seems professionally done.

Overall:
I would not recommend this DVD. Someone new to yoga (unless they were already into ballet or something else that makes them exceptionally flexible) might be very discouraged.

Someone who has done other styles of yoga already and is curious about Ashtanga, this might be too watered down. The real practice goes faster and is more flowing. And half the primary series is missing: no seated poses.

If you have done yoga and want to learn the Ashtanga sequence and timing David Swenson's videos are much better. Swenson's production is not as professional the setting not as gorgeous, but his yoga is the real Ashtanga. And, he does give modifications for beginners!

I gave it a star because the setting (Hawaii) is nice to look at, and another because of the excellent production. The yoga...not the best.

I have been searching for quite some time now for beginning Ashtanga videos that are of a slower pace so that I can focus on alignment, breath and the locks. This and the companion video "Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga Introductory Poses" are perfect. I have been using David Swenson's Short Forms DVD and although it is excellent I find the pace too fast to adequately focus on alignment, breath and the locks due partly to the shape I am in. I have recently been doing "Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga Introductory Poses" and on alternate days David Swenson's "Yoga Short Forms" 45 minute routine.
The 1st video in the series "Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga Introductory Poses" breaks down Surya Namaskara A & Surya Namaskara B in to shorter movements so each asana of the vinyasa can be focused on. The second video starts with the Sun Salutations and then moves through the Standing Asanas.
Nicki Doane, the Yogini on both the Beginner's Practice and Introductory Poses, is an excellent instructor and I look forward to her future releases. If you do not already own these 2 videos and want to get into Ashtanga Yoga I highly recommend that you get both videos. You will not be disappointed. Even though the pace is slower if you are like me you will still find both videos very challenging.

I had been looking for the perfect beginners Ashtanga Yoga workout video and this was exactly what I was looking for! The instructor goes through each of the basic moves until the end when you put them all together in a continous flow. But don't be fooled by the word "beginners." It's a hard workout and you may want to try Hatha Yoga first to get stronger. But this video is great if you want to learn more about Ashtanga Yoga while getting stronger and more flexible (especially your arms!). The extras include a step by step guide to the basic moves, an interview with the instructor, an advanced demonstration, and the full workout. I definantly recommend this for all you Yoga lovers out there and for those who want to try a new workout!

I bought the first DVD in this series, Doane's Ashtanga Yoga: Introductory Poses. I thought it gave a great introduction to the Ashtanga system, taking you through suryanamaskar A and B and several standing poses. I bought the second DVD, Beginner's workout. It is the EXACT same practice. There is nothing new. Doane goes through the same standing poses as on the first DVD. I find that to be incredibly un-yogic of the people at Gaiam, just a way for them to get more money from unsuspecting customers who get no clue from the descriptions of the two DVDs that they are actually the same.

Do not buy this. I plan to write to Gaiam as well to complain about this.

...because of the repetition, this is a very valuable introduction to Ashtanga Yoga. If you really want to learn yoga, it takes time, patience, and practice...all things necessary when viewing this DVD/video.

I've read and heard many criticize Nicki's voice as monotone and boring...and I almost didn't buy the DVD because of those reviews.

I'm glad I did buy this DVD. Her monotone voice allows me to focus on the many elements of each pose and not become annoyed by a "sing/song", chirpy aerobics instructor voice. I've taken a few introductory classes in yoga - Iyengar and Ashtanga and stretch regularly - and I still found Nicki's explanations very helpful. I especially enjoy being able to spend time in each pose and really explore it.

I also have a Power Yoga tape that does not provide any pauses, teaching, or other instructional aspects - but does zip through the entire Primary series at good clip. This DVD with Nicki will prepare me for that tape - while learning, I value the pace of this DVD.

This DVD is a beginner practice. It takes one through Sun Salutations A and B and several standing poses with time and patience and instruction. It does not go through the entire Primary Series. If you cannot complete this DVD - then you may not be ready to move on to a more advanced - faster - yoga tape IMHO.

If you're looking to be entertained by your instructor - this is not for you. If you want to learn Ashtanga Yoga - get this one.

I was curious how Yoga Journal would present Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. Traditional this is a system of hatha yoga poses that are done in a specific order while continiously moving with the breath. Originally, each individual pose was given to a student one by one when their teacher felt that they were ready. Now the Ashtanga Primary sequence is often taught in a class that goes through the first series in one session(which is 90 mins to 2 hours long and has some fairly intense poses).

There are a number of ceritified or authorized Ashtanga teachers (given this distinction by the co-founder of this system who is still alive) that have videos of the whole first series. The three I know of are all quite good and are done by David Swenson, John Scott, and Richard Freedman. So what could another video have to offer? Well, as Nicki Doane herself states in the interview, she feels that a lot of these videos are overwhelming for a complete beginner. What she does instead is focus on the Sun Salutations; the very beginning of the first Ashtanga Series and breaks them down. She then continues on to a few standing poses. I believe for someone who wants an introduction to Ashtanga and cannot get to a good teacher, this video is actually quite a nice alternative and would recommend it. In fact, if you want to go futher in the series than she does; it is highly recommended that you study with a qualified teacher to cut down on the risk of injury.

I have studied with Nicki Doane and ask potential viewers of the DVD to ignore the negative remarks about her voice; there is nothing wrong with the tone or pace of her instruction. This DVD is not an aerobics class or entertainment and that should not be a deciding factor when choosing to view this instruction. While the DVD is beautiful, it is an authentic and careful demonstration of Ashtanga yoga as taught to Nicki directly from Sri K. Patabhi Jois.
It is a true beginner's practice as she carefully explains each asana while offering reminders and other information about Ashtanga yoga. It is not, however, the full primary series. The entire primary series is too advanced for real beginners to learn on this DVD. It is slower than what one might encounter in a lead Ashtanga class. That is to fully instruct beginners as to the correct positioning of the body. It includes Sun Salutation A and B, most of the standing poses (no tree pose, for example) and very few seated poses. I was pleased to see the DVD includes the opening prayer, begins and ends with an "Om", and ends with Sivasana.
I can recommend this to anyone who wants to augment a beginner or primary series practice at home, while traveling, or any other time you aren't in class.
Namaste.

What a letdown. I have done a lot of astanga, but bought the "beginners" DVD because I am not terribly flexible and have had some injuries. According to the box, it's a 1 hour, 40 minute program, which would be a normal time to get through the entire astanga first series poses. But in reality, only 55 minutes of this DVD is poses, and she only gets through some of the standing poses -- at a glacial pace. I felt like I'd barely gotten warmed up, and she was laying down for sivasana. I do not recommend this DVD unless you have literally never done an astanga series.

This is the worst yoga video I have seen to date. Nicki Doane's voice is awful to have to listen to. Fifteen minutes into the workout, her voice just seemed to grate my nerves. Her voice also just seemed to have a tension behind it, which caused stress. The workout wasn't terrible in itself, so I suggest memorizing the sequences and doing them without the video.

This supposedly is a beginner's video. But there is no information on using yoga props, and no warning about not trying to reach the full pose right away, so as not to injure yourself. There is the option of watching the video with extra pose hints, but they are not very helpful. I would have expected more on how to make sure that you are properly aligned, or doing it properly.

I would strongly recommend a different video. I wish I would have rented it before I bought it.

I have done Ashtanga many times at the yoga center - but it would be nice to save the $15 per session and be able to do it at home. Especially, since Ashatanga is the same every time.

Well, this DVD didn't help me out much at all. It doesn't go through the whole routine. It doesn't follow the Ashtanga breathing. And her voice is annoying! I have turned the volume way down and it is still grating.

The workout itself is actually not too bad. It is strenous in parts because she goes through A and B many times and very slowly. However, as an Ashtanga workout - it really fails miserably.

For the workout it is - it could have been improved with a pose-only narration track.

Save your money, there are better DVDs out there.