Customer Reviews

Ashtanga Yoga: Primary Series with Kino MacGregor

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In this video, Kino MacGregor demonstrates the entire Ashtanga primary series. Her demonstration is a tour de force: for precision and technical virtuosity it's simply breathtaking. This is perhaps the only yoga video I've seen that one can simply sit back and watch for its pure "performance value." As an instructional video, it is also very good. Kino takes the series at a comfortable pace and accompanies it with concise, effective commentary throughout. For advanced practitioners, she offers non-traditional variations that increase the difficulty level, while for advanced beginners she offers many simpler variations. The advanced options appear conveniently in boxes in the corner of the screen as the series progresses, but the beginners' variations unfortunately (and less conveniently) are confined to a separate part of the DVD to which you have to fast forward. As an "advanced beginner" myself, Mark Darby's and Melanie Fawer's videos will probably remain my favorites for now simply because they contain more variations and instruction aimed at less experienced yogis. For more advanced practitioners, this DVD will no doubt shoot to the top of the list, along with John Scott's recent excellent DVD of the primary series.

This is top notch Ashtanga yoga practice. I am working exclusively on the primary series right now and have Freeman and Swenson's DVD's. The pace of this practice is a little quicker and more dynamic that Richard Freeman's. I find Kino to be a wonderful teacher with a soothing and relaxing voice. I disagree with the other reviewer and find the static camera angle to be perfect for this series. Yoga is not about scenery it is about the mind and the quality of the breath. A static angle allows us see the poses as you would in class. The extra material at the end is perfect for beginners. A must own Ashtanga practice.

If you are not familiar with ashtanga yoga, do not buy this item.
David Swenson DVD's are more friendly if you are a beginner.

This is a great DVD for anyone who already has some experience with the Primary Series.
I was a little disappointed because there aren't any options to choose from and the explanations are NOT integrated in the practice of the Primary Series. You have to watch them separately.

I feel kind of uncomfortable to rate a yoga dvd but it has to be done. Though I think the yogi teacher is a good one, the quality of the video isn't. It takes a lot of discipline and motivation to do yoga at home. This dvd doesn't inspire and encourage for home practice. For starter, she talks a lot to the point that it becomes dizzy at time. Her voice is robotic, nothing smooth about it. Also, it must be a low budget video because we always get the same static angle. I've been used to dvds of Shiva Rea and Stéphanie Snyder where there's fluidity and a variety of angle. I'll say it again, I'm positive the teacher is good (face to face), but her dvd doesn't keep you focus, nor does it motivate to have a daily practice. Ohm peace!

While this is a good dvd I must admit that I so much prefer doing yoga to CDs. Kino goes way too fast for me and after doing David Swenson for some time now I just don't think she compares in my mind. Somehow something seems missing.