Customer Reviews

Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series [DVD]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being an owner and user of all what is available of Ashtanga Yoga videos and DVD I can without hesitation say that this is, if not the best, then among the best practice DVD that is available. It's suitable for both the beginner and the experienced practitioner, who want to gain new insight to there practice.
Darby is an excellent Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher, and a very reliable authority in his area. His deep knowledge and insight to the Ashtanga Yoga is brilliant served in this production, and everyone doing Ashtanga or has any interest in it, should treat them self to this experience. Here you don't just get a demonstration, you also get cues and advises that are coming from somebody who really knows his business, and also have the skills to teach it to others.
The video is very professional made, nice setting, two persons practising, Nicole Bordeleau doing modifications, so that the novice can follow, and Darby in the back, gracefully demonstration the movements and positions of the Ashtanga Yoga first series. There are lots of verbal cues and advices that make it easy and very insightful to listen to while practicing. Amongst others, the goodies include a break down of the Sun Salutation, and advice to teachers, that everyone practicing can benefit from learning.
A must to own if you practice, or want to practice the art of Ashtanga Yoga.

For several years I have practiced either with Darby or at his school (and elsewhere). This DVD is the closest thing to training personnally with him. It is bilingual (English and French options) with 2 types of Ashtanga sessions, 45 and 90 mins. It has a simple presentation yet with all the benefits. So far, I have been unable to find a better DVD to assist my practice.

This DVD is a real find for anyone who loves ashtanga but isn't advanced enough to do the entire Primary Series. Unlike most other DVDs of its type, this one has two instructors doing the routine simultaneously -- one of them providing variations for less advanced practitioners. Like Swenson's "Yoga Short Forms" (which I also love), this DVD also contains not only the full routine, but also an abbreviated 30 minute version that lets you focus on fundamentals. The production values are high, and the instructors provide lots of useful commentary without being too chatty. I wish there were more yoga DVDs like this.

Terrific product. Easy to use, not too silly. Follows the primary series well, without being too patronizing, and still provides plenty of options/suggestions for alternative poses, without compromising the demonstration and explication of the longer ones. Terrific video. Only, very minor, complaint is that the 'short' series suggested for when one doesn't have much time are both a little too short--but one can adapt as need be.

I LOVE this DVD. I was unable to attend classes for some time and this was a perfect replacement for me. It goes through Astanga just like in my class. And Mark Darby is absolutely fantastic. I'm so inspired by his rubber-like body!

Excellent practice video, 2 levels, still challenger, I have many years of practice, this is not for absolute beginners, some postures are easy, to keep on moving for more than an houre is a hard workout, it worth the time you spend, your body will thank you.

Little background: been doing yoga off and on for a couple years now and this was what got me back into one of my "on" periods. So while I'm not a newcomer to yoga I was one in reference to how flexible/strong my body was.

This DVD does have a lot of really good stuff for the beginner or advanced. The 90 minute series is truly where this DVD shines as they do a complete body "stretch" and the two person setup allows for showing the beginner an alternative pose to one which Darby (the main practitioner) is doing (sometimes the positions are simply impossible for the new/intermediate level). Combine this with the 10 minute "Sun Salutation" section for the quick "morning wake up" and this is well worth the 4 stars.

So why not 5? The 90 minute version is bit long (it actually stetches almost to two hours) which as a person with a fairly hectic schedule means I almost never do this portion of the DVD. The 30 minute version (which start to finish really takes about 45 minutes) might seem to a good middle ground (and for the most part it is), but I have found it to be lacking in several aspects. The forward facing portion of the legs (quadricep mostly) is completely ignored and excepting the cobra position of the numerous sun salutations the same can be said for the stomach area. Outer hips area, neck/shoulder area fall victim as well (though the latter to get worked, just not as heavily as others). If however you want dramatically increase you're hamstring/groin flexibility and get a ton of push-ups in the 30 minute is for you.

Basically I just think they did an excellent job on the 90, but ended up skimping a bit on the 30...truly a 60 minute instead of the 30 would have been ideal with the 90 for someone who wants a heavy work over

I had been practising Ashtanga yoga for 6 months when I picked up this DVD to take abroad with me where I knew I would not be able to access any formal classes.

Mark Darby is brilliant at guiding you through the primary series in this video, with his partner showing some of the easier options to take. What I enjoyed was that he does not shirk away from the difficult poses which I found very motivating and through using this DVD have improved without a personal teacher. This is not a commercialised version of yoga and is not some kind of patronising hippie version filmed at the beach. It guides you through the real primary series.

The DVD includes a 30/40 minute shorter version which is excellent at developing your body to work towards all the ashtanga poses whilst being easier to fit into a busy day.

I would recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys Ashtanga and wants to practice the primary series with a view to moving on to the intermediate series.