Customer Reviews

Bryan Kest - Power Yoga for Weight Loss [VHS]

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

 

 

Bryan Kest is about my favorite Yoga instructor. I always watch a video before attempting it. In this video I noticed a few interesting changes in Bryan and his productions. First, he cut off the mop on his head and he's aged about five years --- filled out a bit and lost some of his youthful slimness. He's also lost some of his tendency to be a bit too touchy with his class. He is more polished and one senses he's a bit more commercial. Also, at the end of the video, rather than the normal "namasta" he said, "thank you". I've never heard that from a yoga instructor but guess it's okay.

Having said all that, I can tell you that this is a real workout. It's not for sissies but, at the same time, just about anyone at any level should be able to do it and, if necessary, modify some of the asanas.

What makes this such a great workout is that it's a 40 minute flow. You never stop. You will really feel your heart working and you'll build up a sweat. If you're a real advanced student you may not. But most of us will.

Bryan uses only a few basic asanas in this entire video. But it's similar to an arerbic workout in that the asanas are repeated so when you're finished, you feel like you've lifted weights and worked both the upper and lower body and also the heart. You do get your cardio. I feel it's very complete.

In my opinion, Bryan provides you with a very complete cardio as well as muscular toning workout and, while I don't know for sure, I suspect one can lose weight with it. But in any case, you'll sure feel better after doing it.

And you can modify any of the asanas. There is one student who shows the modifications or you can create your own. The music is different than Bryan's other videos. It's soft and low key, unlike his 1995 videos.

His instruction is good --- pretty easy to follow. During some of the asanas he guides you, motivates you and instructs you as to both the physical and mental aspects of the pose.

I highly recommend this video.

This review is difficult for me to write because I really love Bryan's Tone and Sweat videos. Both make me work hard and sweat. But, this video is more for a beginner yoga practicioner. I've been practicing Yoga for 2 years and go to Power Yoga classes in addition to practicing at home with tapes.

This video is not fast paced and it is not a vinyasa flow as Tone or Sweat. There are no push ups during vinyasa and the poses are not as challenging.

If you want a challenging workout that will make you sweat and lose weight, practice Tone or Sweat, Mark Blanchard's tapes or David Swenson's Primary Series.

Bryan, I was so looking forward to new tapes, but I am very disappointed. Please put your new audio CD of your class into a video. That would be an amazing Yoga workout.

Namaste.

Like the Intensive Body Sculpting tape, this tape tries to introduce Yoga to people used to mainstream fitness tapes. I can't say if it succeeds, or if it would be comfortable for someone who is tremendously overweight to do the tape. What I can say is that it is a great workout for many shapes of people and a great change of pace for those who are used to more traditional yoga practice. What makes this tape unique in my experience is that Bryan repeats the movements into and out of poses several times before holding the pose. This builds up a lot of heat and challenges your muscles and balance in a whole new way. Even experienced students will likely be sweating hard and feeling challenged by this unfamiliar mode of practice. He also throws some of the newer poses from this series of tapes into this one as well, and they really work in new ways to strengthen and stretch your body. One thing is for sure, if you breathe deeply, release your self-criticism and move along with the tape, you will really heat up, sweat and feel great. Maybe that's the beginning of something beyond just losing weight.

I started with the Energize, Sweat & Tone tapes and was a bit intimidated that I couldn't master all the moves and gracefully jump back into the positions as fast as everyone else. I really loved this tape...and the sculpting tape too. I felt that the modifications were good and in many cases I was able to complete the poses without modifications. I feel this tape is challenging enough to keep me motivated, yet, not too challenging that I can't complete the moves....I have something to work toward. I also enjoy the fact that he talks you through everything, the breathing, feeling comfortable in your own space and working through your practice at your own pace. If you are an expert in your yoga practice this is probably not for you, but if you are beginner/intermediate, I think you will find this tape a good addition to your yoga practice. Pay attention to your breathing and you will come away with a great workout that works your body and also calms you.

I was beginning to wear out my Energize/Tone/Sweat videos, so I'm glad now to have another routine I can start incorporating into my yoga regimen. I have never felt better doing Bryan Kest yoga routines, nor have I felt healthier. He really gets to the heart of mental as well as physical health. This tape gets me to work out as vigorously as the first three, and has a nicely challenging flow between movements. I can tell I'm burning calories. Oh yea, and I like the haircut! Thank you, Bryan, for contributing to my health!

The tape was challenging, but possible. I liked Bryan's philosophy and queing.

I'm a Denise Austin junky, and have lately been trying to venture out into new territory. After reading the reviews of this tape and learning a bit about Bryan Kest, I thought I'd give this tape a try. I'm so sorry I did. I feel like it was such a waste of money. First of all, unlike what someone else said, the flow DOES stop -- all the time. He leaves you for what seems like an eternity in, for example, the downward facing dog pose while he rambles on and on about his yoga philosophy. Meanwhile, I just wanted to get MOVING! Which is why I bought this tape! Secondly, the poses are definitely more about building strength than movement and burning calories. I'm all about strength building, but, again, that is not why I bought this particular tape. And even as a strength building routine, I think it fails. He spends far too much time on poses that seem only to work your quadricep muscles. The rest of my body felt quite ignored and unhappy! Only my thighs were burning -- that's it. I also must say -- I don't like this guy's style at all. I've never seen an exercise tape where the instructor didn't demonstrate any of the poses himself. Apparently, this guy just loves the sound of his own voice. Also, while he talks a lot about not comparing yourself to others and taking things at your own pace, he placed an obviously ultra-experienced yoga practictioner right in the front of the group, and the camera really focuses on her A LOT. She is one of the most incredibly limber and advanced students I've ever seen. Watching her does make you feel bad, and it encouraged me to push myself beyond my limit, which is exactly what he's telling you NOT to do. So okay, maybe it's me, but overall I thought this was a very UNbalanced routine, stopping the movement too often to focus on his little speeches about yoga (which I found borderline insulting), and focusing far too much on only one muscle group of the body. Can I get my money back?