Product Details

• Actors: Bryan Kest
• Directors: Randee St. Nicholas
• Producers: John Hopgood, Diane Sillan, Greg Isaacs
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: May 11, 2004
• Run Time: 162 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (556 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001WTWYC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,840 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #63 in Movies & TV > DVD > Exercise & Fitness
• Learn more about "Bryan Kest Power Yoga Complete Collection" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Anyone wanting to get in shape like the stars need go no further than Bryan Kest's home-video workouts. Kest teaches wildly popular yoga classes in Santa Monica, California--so popular that stars like Rhea Perlman, David Duchovny, and Elisabeth Shue willingly sweat alongside the hoi polloi in Kest's packed, ancient loft studio. If you don't happen to be in the neighborhood, not to worry: Kest's yoga videos are nearly as good as being there. Volume 1, Energize, is a beginner-level class that nonetheless is smartly designed to provide challenges for all levels of users. Kest's Jersey-boy voice at first seems in contrast to the serene environment and inner-peace objectives, but it gradually becomes soothing and hypnotic in its own right. Stretches and strengthening moves are alternated with just enough repose to keep even first timers on track. After mastering Vol. 1, practitioners can go on to Volume 2, Tone, in which Kest turns up the intensity, holding a variety of twisting poses for long stretches of time. It's OK to take it easy, rest, or modify the routines to your ability, which is part of the reason the tape is so useful. You won't be turned off as a beginner-to-intermediate practitioner, but there's plenty of room to challenge yourself as an advanced athlete, too.

Volume 3, Sweat, is a slightly shorter version of the challenging class Kest teaches in person. There are still all the gentle, firm admonitions to listen to your body, not to feel competitive with anyone else in how you do the pose (and as long as you heed them, you'll do fine). But Kest combines the classic warm-ups and longer-hold poses with a rapid succession of sun salutes, which will be gratifying to the advanced yoga student, but may make a first timer feel as though he dropped in to a Rockettes rehearsal by mistake. But if you keep at it, the workout is very easy to follow, and Kest's gentle, gruff voice is so soothing you find yourself relaxing even as you're pushing your body to its limits. As long as you keep in mind his personal mantra--"If you're doing the best you can, you're doing this class perfectly"--you and Kest should have many satisfying years of workouts together. --Anne Hurley

Product Description

1. Energize - Beginner Level
Feel the power. Be the power. Unlock the strengthening, slimming, detoxifying and reenergizing of Power Yoga. Bryant Kest leads you in vigorous workout based on the robust Ashtanga style of yoga.

"If you're doing the best you can, you're doing this class perfectly," Kest explains. After instructions on proper breathing, the session begins, taking you and an on-screen class through a variety of flowing, dynamic exercises (salutation, lungs, balancing, spinal stretches and more) augmented by Kest's demonstrations of the poses.

2. Tone - Intermediate Level
Challenge your muscular strength aerobic endurance, flexibility, balance and mental stamina with Tone.

An innovative series of lunge moves provides the primary activity in this workout that emphasizes finding your personal edge - the maximal yoga pose that still permits proper yogic breathing. Kest guides you and an in-studio class in a total-body regime that helps maintain flexibility and suppleness while building strength and well-being. Features comprising various poses are described so that you can add elements as you become more adept.

3. Sweat - Advanced Level
Looking for an advanced yoga routine? Then get ready to sweat.

"This program is definitely challenging," Kest admits about this maximal power-up session that builds upon the strength, stamina and flexibility cultivated in the first two Power Yoga programs, combining a vigorous lung series with extended standing balance and floor stretch moves, the routine flows from one pose to the next while working toward total body/mind harmony. The brisk pace provides instruction, encouragement and commentary to assist you and the on-screen class.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

205 of 212 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Video October 16, 2000

By Art

Format:VHS Tape

Brain Kest's videos genuine, effective,powerful. Kest has a real concern for his students including those who watch his videos. Those who snipe about him posing or being shirtless are simply missing the point. Its ok to have a beautiful, healthy body!

Kest teaching style is motivational, yet compassionate.He urges the user to modify the exercises to the user's body type rather than a precise replication of the asana urged by "old school" yoga teachers. Kest understands that most students (especially westerners) cant readily adapt their tight, rigid bodies to an Iyengar level of perfection. For them to do so would put them out of harmony with their body and possibly cause injury and needless duress.I bring this up as one reviewer ( a yoga techer) complained that some of the students in the video were not in perfect form.

Anyway, his video vol 1, is best for those who have some exercise behind them, particularly some yoga.These tapes are based on Ashtanga yoga, the most physically difficult system of yoga. An out of shape beginner will find this tape very challenging.

For those stick with it they will experience a body transformation unlike any exercise program they have or will work with. Hang in there. Youll love the way you look and feel. Namaste A

152 of 163 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn by listening and doing June 9, 2004

By Reine des Coeurs VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a yoga novice and ever since I purchased this DVD, I have consistently used it three times per week. The first few times I was unable to maintain the poses for long, but I listened carefully to Bryan's instructions and when it got to be too intense, I sat down and watched. He's a wonderful instructor and getting this DVD and learning from it was better than some live yoga classes I'd paid for and been disappointed by.

81 of 87 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rewarding Video March 16, 2000

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase

Reading the varied opinions of this video reminds me that we all have different needs and tastes. That's good. It makes life more interesting. I think this is a beautiful video. I have the series and have thought the producers allocated more of their budget to Video 1 than the others with the idea that "beginners" need more motivation. I liked that the class includes participants who appear to be relatively new to yoga practice. The class members display some variety of strength and flexibility. This was not an easy video for me. The first time I tried it I got through 20 minutes and thought, "No way!" Fortunately, an injury forced me to incorporate some intense stretching into my training or give up my running addiction so I kept at it. Now after more than a year doing Videos 1 & 2 several times a week I am addicted to power yoga too! Just wish these videos were available on DVD. One more thought: I am fairly flexible and had little upper body strength before I began this doing this video. This workout challenges your flexibility, strength and balance. In sharing it with others I have found that it seems more difficult for those with less flexibility to stick with this video in the beginning.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Workout Will Test Your Limits August 18, 2005

By M. JEFFREY MCMAHON TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Many have criticized Kest but I don't care that he's a performer. A great yoga leader has to have a larger than life persona so I don't criticize him for his approach. Besides, these are great workouts, no doubt about it. I get into a huge sweat and feel great afterwards. At first I was turned off by the brassy instruction but I've grown used to it. This DVD is for people with a background in exercise, not overweight inactive people who are just starting. If you want to test your limits, Kest does a good job. One small flaw: The moves are done so quickly and the camera shots are so close-up, that it's impossible to replicate over 40% of the exercises. But after a half dozen times you can follow it.

For a beginner's level, easier-to-follow yoga workout, without check out the Yoga Zone Premiere 4 Pack Collection.

Post Script: After viewing dozens of other power yoga DVDs I have to say this is the best one. So kudos to Bryan Kest. One more positive point: Unlike some of my yoga DVDs, this one, to its credit, does not require blocks, belts, chairs, etc. All you need is a mat. I hate yoga workouts where they don't warn you that you'll need a bunch of equipment. Suddenly the instructor is sitting in front of you with blocks or a belt. Happily, Kest's workout is streamlined and doesn't surprise you with sudden equipment requirements.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beginer's advice January 9, 2003

By S. MacIntyre

Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great video.
If, and I mean IF you're experienced with yoga. This is not a beginer's set of videos. I wanted to try some yoga that was more powerful and advanced than the Yoga journal's AM PM yoga tapes. I didn't really consider myself a slouch at it, but my goodness! I got the Bryan Kest - Power Yoga set for myself for christmas. Yoga that involves pushups! Had me panting and sweating heavily, and that's the first tape..but dispite the fact I didn't keep up with the class of Gumby like perfect people I felt like I got a good workout and it woke me up.
It's impossible to watch the tv and follow along with the tape, so you -have- to know all the asana's before you start so you can just listen and follow. It's a good work out, but let me repeat, this is NOT for anyone just starting out, or anyone that gets discouraged by the perfect people in the class. Good luck! and keep with it!