Product Details

• Actors: Leslie Kaminoff, Megan Garcia
• Directors: Human Kinetics
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Human Kinetics
• DVD Release Date: October 5, 2010
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002UZWJPM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,045 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle, therapeutic yoga routines accessible for all levels, November 6, 2010

By 

Beth Cholette "doctor_beth" (Upstate NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breath-Centered Yoga with Leslie Kaminoff (DVD)

NOTE: I received a free copy of this DVD to review for the web site Metapsychology Online Reviews; you can read a more complete version of my review on that site.

This DVD features renowned yoga instructor Leslie Kaminoff. Although he does not subscribe to a particular school of yoga, Kaminoff teaches a therapeutic style, and he describes his work as having been inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar, founder of Viniyoga. This style of yoga differs from other hatha traditions. Kaminoff's alignment cues are specific to his teachings (for example, a much shorter stance is used for the warrior poses), and for the majority of the postures, he cues dynamic flows rather than static holds.

This DVD offers four practices varying in length from 18 to 29 minutes. These practices are described in the DVD insert as follows:

*The Flowing Sequence is a complete workout, from standing to final relaxation (29 minutes).
*The Standing Sequence is a wake-up and a warm-up for the feet, legs, and breath (18 minutes).
*The Warrior Series is a strong vinyasa with no stress on the hands and arms (25 minutes).
*The Floor Sequence is a relaxing cool-down for the spine and breath (20 minutes).

All four practices feature Kaminoff teaching live to a class of four students; Kaminoff walks around providing instruction and adjustments as the participants follow along. The students, three women and one man, come from varied backgrounds which are described in detail in the DVD insert. You won't see the class members moving in sync here: Kaminoff encourages individuality, which includes moving at one's on pace and starting on whichever side of the body feels right for that person. Listed below I have provided additional details on the included postures for each sequence.

FLOWING SEQUENCE
Kaminoff has his students start this practice with arm spirals, gradually moving into a flow to awkward chair, forward bend, and back to standing. The long standing pose sequence includes warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle, revolved triangle, and warrior 3, finishing with wide-legged standing bend before repeating on the other side. Kaminoff uses a squat as a transition to the floor, where he first has the group practice pelvic lifts with spinal rolls. This is followed by revolved stomach pose, adding a unique moving torso twist to this posture. After a final few pelvic rolls, Kaminoff cues a short (2 minutes) savasana to finish the session.

STANDING SEQUENCE
For this practice, Kaminoff has his students warm-up with knee bends and toe raises, and he then leads them into arm spirals with a similar flow into awkward chair and standing forward bend that was featured in the Flowing Sequence. He spends more time instructing wide-legged forward bend, adding arm spirals and a twist in this posture. This session concludes back in a standing position with additional arm spirals and a final forward bend.

WARRIOR SERIES
Again beginning with the arm spirals, here Kaminoff cues a standing warrior sequence very similar to the series featured in the Flowing Sequence: he leads the class through warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle, revolved triangle, and warrior 3, performing wide-legged forward bend before repeated the sequence on the other side.

FLOOR SEQUENCE
The students begin this practice in a squatting posture. Kaminoff then has the class come to a lying position for both single and double knees-to-chest pose. This is followed by pelvic lifts with spinal rolls and revolved stomach pose, again adding the unique moving torso twist featured in the Flowing Sequence but also including a leg extension and quad stretch as well. Also similar to the Flowing Sequence, this practice finishes with a few final pelvic rolls and a short (2 minutes) savasana in which Kaminoff uses a beach/wave visualization.

There are several unique features on this DVD. First, from the Main Menu, you can select "Program Your Session," which allows you to play any of the above four sequences in any order. The Main Menu also offers an "Audio Commentary" option. Choosing one of the commentaries allows you to listen to an alternate audio track while viewing one of the practices. For example, if you select Channel 3, you'll get "Leslie and Megan: Modifications for the Curvy Body," while Channel 5 offers "Leslie and John: Real Man Can Do Yoga." Although these commentaries are educational and informative, I found that they do not work as alternate practice tracks: the problem is that (much like bonus commentary that you might find when you purchase a film DVD) Leslie and the others are simply talking over the main audio track, and the bulk of the commentary tends to be conversational rather than instructional.

In summary, this DVD provides gentle, therapeutic yoga routines that are accessible for all levels. More advanced yoga students might lose interest in the slow pace of these practices, but those looking for a more measured approach are likely to appreciate Kaminoff's breath-centered focus. The feel of this DVD is similar to Gary Kraftsow's Viniyoga (Viniyoga Therapy for the Low Back, Sacrum & Hips with Gary Kraftsow and Viniyoga Therapy for the Upper Back, Neck & Shoulders with Gary Kraftsow), but I thought that Kaminoff's live instruction made these practices more engaging.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, November 19, 2010

By 

Mr. Nice - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breath-Centered Yoga with Leslie Kaminoff (DVD)

I have never practiced yoga before using this dvd. I actually came across it quite randomly, but decided to give it a shot. I found that at first it was hard to keep pace and i was very sore in my legs and back (good sore though), although while doing the routines you dont feel like its a workout. After you get used to the routines, they seem to be perfect for the novice yoga practitioner. They are not so demanding with poses and the like. Some parts of the routines are difficult but once youre used to it they are great. All the routines have helped my posture and breathing very much. I would recommend this to all.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional coverage of for complete forms that can be done anywhere at any time, by any age user, December 17, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breath-Centered Yoga with Leslie Kaminoff (DVD)

Breath-Centered Yoga provides an exceptional coverage of for complete forms that can be done anywhere at any time, by any age user. Detailed instruction on breathing and movement pack a DVD that also includes five alternate audio tracks with specialized details, and original music from Robert Spalding Newcomb.