Customer Reviews

Beryl Bender Birch Power Yoga The Practice [VHS]

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I loved this DVD. The workout is by no means easy. I think that if you either have good endurance or want to improve your endurance, then buy this DVD. This DVD goes no stop for roughly 75 minutes. This is the full primary series she is doing, plus a few poses she throws in. The DVD has no bookmarks or stopping points, it's basically either you do the whole thing or you just fast forward past what you don't want to do.

I know some reviewers saw this this as a hindrance moreso than a help, but the idea is do all of the poses in a certain sequence. The fact that there 8-10 people of different skill levels doing either the full pose or some modification makes up for lack of bookmarks/stopping points. If you do want to just perform segments, then purchase Richard Freeman's Primary Series workout. You can elect to do the whole workout (including opening and closing chants), or just perform segments (sun salutations, standing poses, seated poses, etc.). However, there are no modifications, and Freeman is performing these poses at a near perfect level (check your ego at the door). If you are looking for a shorter more accessible version of Ashtanga yoga, then try either Baron Baptiste's Power Yoga 3 or MTV's second power yoga tape. While Baron offers a condensed (45 minute vs 75-90 minute) version that includes most of the easy to intermediate poses, the MTV version is a loosely based version of the primary series where many of the poses are there, but not necessarily in order, and the instructor uses a lot more creative license.

I found this DVD highly motivating. Seeing people of different skill levels get through the entire workout spurred me to go on. Berly makes the primary series fun and accessible, but you will sweat. If you think that 75+ minutes is too long, then try one of the other tapes I suggested, however, if you want to try to complete the primary series, and want to build the endurance needed to do 1-1.5 hrs of yoga, then buy this tape.

This is a wonderful class -- various levels of students proved to me that I can tackle this kind of yoga practice without being a pretzel, former dancer or gymnast. Beryl is a true expert -- she's no celeb with a few weeks of training. Her matter-of-fact voice and her expert adjustments truly inspire you to take things at your own pace, but to realize that with patience and time all is attainable.

As far as the content of the practice -- this is the primary series of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. You do need some yoga experience -- either having learned basic postures in other hatha classes, or having done some ashtanga, or having a book with precise posture guidance to refer to when you need some clarification.

I liked the fact that there really were people of all body shapes and sizes in the class -- all fit, but not clones. Each person had their own strengths and weaknesses. There is always someone to follow for modifications. And Beryl always suggests care and modifications.

This is the ONLY ashtanga (or power) class on I have done -- on tape or in a live class -- in which the instructor made you feel like everyone belongs here. Everyone, with patience and some commitment, can achieve something more than they thought possible. Especially since Beryl shows you how.

I cannot say enough of about how really good this practice video is -- if you buy no other yoga tape in this style, you will be very pleased.

I am a 41 year old yoga teacher, and I been studying and practicing yoga about 8 years, and doing Bikram-style and power yoga for about three years. My prefernce is a very challenging practice that makes me sweat and try asanas I am not familiar with. This DVD is not for everybody, but I loved it. I also loved Beryl's book which I found at a used book store last winter (which you really MUST get UNLESS you have a great Ashtanga Primary Series class locally) so although many of the reviews were negative, I decided to try the DVD. I am so glad I did! I learned so much just from doing it for a week! I find Beryl very knowledgeable about all aspects of practice, her cuing is very nice but I can see how you could get lost if you are not familiar with the series. I have to modify many of the postures that require lots of hip or shoulder flexibility, but... so what? As Beryl's guru Patthabi Jois is often quoted, "Do your practice, all is coming." It sounds like many of the disgruntled reviewers were expecting to be able to just "DO IT" and were frustrated that they weren't "told" this practice takes TIME (1.5 - 2 hours), Patience, and ongoing practice to master. People -- this is yoga. That's the deal. Yoga is a process of self-awareness. If you just want to jump around and get in shape, The FIRM workouts are nice. Baron Baptiste's power yoga videos are sort of "Ashtanga Lite" and may help prepare you for a more rigorous practice like this. But I think Beryl is a great teacher, and her only mistake was not making a package out of her book and DVD, because they really have to be used together to get the most out of it.

I have been practicing yoga for only a few months. I am definitely a beginner. I enjoy doing this DVD, because for me it is extremely challenging. However, if you don't have much experience, you may feel a bit inadequate. The students seem to know which poses to do before the instructor even says them. I, on the other hand, had to look at the tv often to see what exactly they were doing, and that made it difficult to keep up. Plus, at 75 minutes, it may be a bit long for someone who is not already well conditioned.
If you definitely want to be challenged, and won't mind watching a room full of people doing things to a much higher level than you can do, then purchase this DVD.
Beryl is a wonderful teacher, and I'm sure that if you have the patience to keep doing the practice, you will do things you never thought were possible with your body.

This is a wonderfully produced DVD. Beryl's voice is pleasant and I enjoy that there is a range of body types in the "class". There are also a number of modifications shown, although occasionally I think the camera cuts too quickly so it may be difficult to see enough of them.

But this is a fast-paced, complete Ashtanga primary series. It is wonderfully useful for those like myself who have had some Ashtanga instruction and practice already but who maybe are not quite advanced enough to have memorized the entire practice and do it without cues. Or for those who enjoy feeling like they are in a class setting now and then instead of solo practice every day. It does NOT give instruction on how to do the poses and it is NOT for beginners or for anyone who is not used to a vigorous practice. That instruction is best obtained from a class, (although BBB's book is very good, I found I was doing many poses incorrectly once I branched out from her book to live instruction).

I've had the pleasure of having practiced with Beryl in NYC for the past four years and having this video has enabled me to bring her special brand wisdom and expertise right into my living room for those days when actually practicing in person is impossible. For anyone who hasn't been lucky enough to see Beryl in action, this workout is a must.

Beryl breathes this practice (no pun intended:) And because it is so much a part of her, so integral to who she is, you feel like you are in the hands of a true expert. Her presentation is calm and clear and you truly get the feeling that wherever you are in your practice, in general or that day, it's ok.

The fact that there are many levels represented on the video makes it easy to feel comfortable, no matter what level you are or how you're feeling at the moment. Even after practicing for years, it's helped me to push to the next level being able to watch those on the video that are more advanced than I am, which is great.

Bottom line, I can't recommend Power Yoga The Workout enough. It's a rare opportunity to practice with a rare yogini. Don't miss it.

This is a unique approach to Yoga, which intermediate to advanced students are likely to enjoy. Ms. Birch's tone of voice is calm and soothing. The video provides a sense of maternal guidance throughout the workout. The atmosphere is professional, taking place in a wood-floored dance studio, with realistic sounds (cars driving outside). The setting provides attention to the smallest details (you can hear the participants breathing).

The workout itself is intense, starting with a 15 minute warm up and progressing to some wonderful twisting poses. I've been doing Yoga daily for two years, and it took me a few weeks to do all the asanas.

The only complaint I have, which is quite problematic, is the design of the DVD itself. There are no chapter markers throughout the workout. I suppose Ms. Birch expects students to complete the practice in its entirety, but few of us have 90 minutes a day to practice yoga. If you want to fast forward to, for example, twisting poses, you will have to hold down the fast forward button to reach the desired section. I found this very annoying. This is in direct contrast to intermediate tapes by Stephanie Foster (and others) who split their workouts into 20-30 minute segments.

While this DVD offers one of the comprehensive workouts available, I still find myself doing Gaiam's Total Yoga more often.

Yes, it is the ashtanga primary series in its entirety. No, there is not a lot of instruction.

If you want instruction on yoga poses, look elsewhere, like Shiva Rea's Yoga Shakti. She gives very good instruction, especially on the more difficult arm balancing and inversion poses.

If you want to do a real ashtanga primary series, then this is the DVD for you.

This DVD is an excellent resource for practioners of the ashtanga yoga primary series. She takes you through a primary series practice with many students of various levels so that this DVD can be accessible to all levels of yogis, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced, there is something for everyone. However, to utilize this DVD to its fullest potential it helps to have reviewed Beryl's Power Yoga book, which is a must for the serious ashtanga yoga practioner (see also her book Beyond Power Yoga to take a deep look into the spiritual benefits that can be obtained from practicing ashtanga yoga).

I recently was blessed to have attended one of her yoga weekend workshops and I can easily see why she is one of the top yoga teachers in the world; she can quickly assess you to determine where you are at in your practice and take you to where you need to go.

I've got three months of yoga under my belt and I couldn't do half the moves. Maybe a year from now I'll be able to give this a try again. Three things prospective buyers should know. First, Beverly Woods uses the original language of yoga to instruct and you may get lost. Second, she goes very quickly, going through the sun salutations twice as quickly as Bryan Kest on his Power Yoga DVD. Third, there are a lot of advanced moves that she does not describe or give you detailed instruction. She assumes you know the moves from her book or that you are advanced and already have a familiarity with them. If you're a beginner or transitioning to intermediate, you may find this DVD discouraging and frustrating. Wait until you're advanced. At my level I've had more success with the power yoga of Bryan Kest and Rodney Yee.