Customer Reviews

Embracing Power Yoga [VHS]

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I have done yoga for several years now, have taken classes and own over 20 different yoga tapes. I am athletic, pretty flexible and used to be a gymnast. I LOVE the challenge this tape presents and the knowledge that I can use this tape to grow over the years. BUT! Beginners beware. If you are new to yoga, I'd suggest trying Rodney Yee or other beginner tapes first. If you are looking for more of a challenge than Yee presents, then check out Bryan Kest's yoga tapes. If you are physically fit, in tune with your body and ready for the most challenging yoga workout you've ever done, then absolutely try Blanchard! While beginners can certainly do this tape, I generally wouldn't recommend it because it takes some time to learn what your own limits are. For those up to the challenges and rewards of Blanchard yoga, keep in mind that you won't be able to do everything on the tape (most of his students can't either). You may also need to watch the tape all the way first or be prepared to hit the pause and rewind. When you are twisted up like a pretzel and he says something generic like "...take it to the next level..." it's hard to look up and follow his movements. Also, for those irritated by his voice on his other tape "The Power Within", he does seem to have resolved that issue on this tape.

I have tried out other Power Yoga tapes that have ended up being very easy and very boring. This tape is entirely different. Mark Blanchard has you trying out positions that push your body to the extreme. You feel stronger and more flexible after only one viewing. I have been using this video for a little over a month and my flexibility has already improved drastically. I have also built up a lot of upper and lower body strength. I also happen to like listening to his voice. He speaks in a calming tone that helps you to really get into the Yoga "ZONE". I especially like doing the tape in the mornings because I feel more at peace with myself the rest of the day.

For someone who wants a real challenge and wants to be able to push their body to the extreme while feeling a general feeling of calmness this is the video for you.

I have seen both of the Blanchard tapes and they are very much the same except that Marc gets to show off different postures that only he can do.Marc Blanchard is a very able practitioner especially in his backbends.However, people don't understand that not every contortionist should try to be a yoga teacher.The quality of his voice is awful, I am not the first or the last to note that about these tapes.He is trying to be soft,sattvic,yogic,sensual and relaxing and he fails miserably on all counts, he is just irritating.The content of the comments and the quality of instruction is best described by the words vacuous,non existent and inane.If you liked this, try Bryan Kest for more of the same.Or for a change you could look on Amazon for David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga tapes to find out more about the style Bryan and Marc perverted to eventually reach that synthesis that they now "teach".

I have really enjoyed working out to this tape since it was released. Mark is a one of a kind instructor. Motivational when you need it and just instructional and transparent when you need to go deeper into your practice. I have worked at his first tapes and his new DVDs called Progressive Power Yoga, and I think they are even better than this first series. I have grown considerably since trying this program and I think you will find it approachable and doable, but it may take some time. Don't give up, you will see yourself improving before you even know it!