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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!, November 14, 2002
This review is from: Bryan Kest: Spinal Strengthening (CD & Booklet) (Spiral-bound)
It's in cd format, therefore one can do as little or as much as one can handle. It is actually a well rounded full body workout. I thought it might be lots of spinal stretching and relaxation, but it includes loads of strengthening for the spine and the core. Starts off with a spinal balancing sequence - table position on hands and knees with extended opposing arm and leg - then side arm balances with lots of variations, and extended cat pose...then seated poses with table (stomach towards ceiling) with lots of variations and much boat work. Then prone poses- swimming type work, yoga "supermans" and bow pose. Next track is variations on camel with great lateral stretches. Then standing balances which are quite advanced. Then there's an extra hips and legs section - reclining pidgeon and nice hip stretches which feel great. finishing poses include plow and shoulderstand and neck stretches. Plus of course my favourite spinal twists. In between the poses in the first tracks - mini flows - plank down to low pushup position, and cobras and down dog. All in all about 130 poses which include the transition poses. The booklet is great too. I thought it was going to be tiny - cd sized, but it's quite big - about 8 inches square, and spiral bound which is great - and every pose is photographed - Bryan doing the advanced version of the pose, and a female model showing modifications. There are also written instructiosn along all the poses. And there are a couple of cute dogs in some of the photos - nice touch - my cat likes to join me in my yoga practice, so I appreciated this. No music, but I don't mind. Music can be great, but it can be distracting. All in all a great find. I am really happy with my purchase, and plan to do it regularly.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW! :), April 24, 2003
This review is from: Bryan Kest: Spinal Strengthening (CD & Booklet) (Spiral-bound)
I can't begin to say enough good things about this workout. I am an aficianada of Bryan Kest's original Power Yoga series from 1995. I also enjoy his new videos (especially Intensive Sculpting) from 2002. But...I just love this CD. It is the best workout that I have done in a long time - maybe ever. I thought initially that it might be weird working out without the visual imagery of video, but it is actually better. Bryan's voice is extra soothing, and his direction easily guides you from pose to pose without needing to look at the included book, (assuming that you know a few basic poses, such as cobra and down dog - the others he aptly describes.) I found myself more able to concentrate on the yoga, without distraction. The basic workout begins a bit more relaxed than his Power Yoga series, taking a bit more time to stretch, as opposed to getting your muscles "hot" right away. But before long, you find that your heart rate is getting up there and your muscles are working and that you are doing some invigorating but really challenging balances. This is spinal strenghening at its best, relaxation at its deepest. Bryan Kest's emphasis is, as always, on knowing your body and its limitations and first and foremost, feeling the breath. Another nice thing about this workout is that although it is divided between two CD's, the second CD is basically the last stretches and relaxation, so if you have a single CD player machine, you are not changing the discs in the middle of an intense pose. Also, you might like to do the relaxation CD by itself sometime, just to unwind. A bonus is the book, which has all of the poses and could be taken on a vacation even when you don't want to take the CD. This CD is great - and a day after doing this workout, all of my muscles feel like they got their fair workout. Six stars. Check it out.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent overall workout for core muscles, July 1, 2005
This review is from: Bryan Kest: Spinal Strengthening (CD & Booklet) (Spiral-bound)
I really like this Kest routine probably more than any other that I do (and I've done most of them). It is a very even split between stretching/relaxing and working hard. The flow of the routine seems to make a lot of sense to the mind and body as well. I have to admit that if I were stranded on an island with only one yoga routine, this would be the one I would pick.
Because this class works on your core muscles, you will notice a big improvement in your back and stomach muscles if you practice consistantly. I have been doing this routine for several months and can tell a big difference in my body. When I started it, I was inflexible, had very little muscle, had some lower back pain, and had terrible balance. Even though I will probably not become a greek god from doing the routine, everything about my body and my mind has improved with regular practice.
I think that if you were relatively new to yoga-- as in you know the basic poses: down dog, plank, cobra, camel, boat... but you're not great at them-- this would be a good routine with which to improve your practice. Bryan really gives great vocal cues about what you ought to be doing and feeling, so everyone can learn. The picture book is a great resource too and I studied it while doing the class the first time and checked in with it even weeks later to get another look at the pose and check myself. It feels so good for your back to stretch with the camel poses and the reverse boat series is SO challenging-- you get both sides of the coin with this routine.
I have to admit that the standing balancing poses are VERY hard. Even after months of working at them, I still struggle with them. There was a time when I went through the routine just sitting on my mat during this section and later just bending over and touching the floor like the book suggests for a modification. I was frustrated. BUT, I hung in there and I now can do them and am getting better each time I practice. The main thing is to leave behind the idea that you need to look like the picture of Bryan in the book and just accept where you are.
Bryan does talk a lot and I am always reading on these reviews that people find that irritating. Sometimes I do too. But, frankly, sometimes I need that to keep myself challenged and working in a pose. Other times, I make a challenge for myself to block him out, or I put on some other kind of music or TV quietly in the background so that I can just barely hear his cueing, but find it easier to tune out the non-essential talking when there is a din of sound to block it out. Also makes for a good challenge to keep focused on yourself.
I think this is a really good yoga routine that can help you to get stronger in your core and calm down mentally. It's less active than a usual Kest power yoga routine, but for my money it is an excellent balance between stretching and working. I suggest this workout to anyone who wants to try Bryan out-- it's a good routine that will grow with you as you improve. Even though I never felt anything but happiness with this routine (except maybe the first few times when I was just sitting during the standing balancing), let me motivate you: if you find it difficult or challenging, keep trying a while before you give up-- that difficulty is your chance to grow!
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