Customer Reviews

Geri Yoga With Katy Appleton

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

 

 

While Geri never stops talking through the yoga workout, it can be easily overlooked. There is great instruction for beginners who can be intimidated by the poses. The caveats given about shoulder and head stand being done with a teacher in the beginning of learning are not usually given in yoga workout videos. I have been practicing yoga for over 18 years and I have seldom heard the warnings given that were said on this dvd. I agree the set ups are slow but I do not believe that this workout is geared toward the experienced practitioner. But I still enjoyed it.

I WAS REALLY EXCITED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VIDEO- IT WAS HORRIBLE - IT DOESN'T FLOW EASILY - THE GUIDE KEEPS GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GERI AND A BEGINNER AND SHE'LL FOCUS MORE ON THE BEGINNER AND BABY STEP YOU THROUGH THE SIMPLEST OF POSES AND THEN PAN THE CAMERA OVER TO GERI WHO'S INSTANTLY IN A MORE COMPLICATED POSE - BUT THEN THEY DON'T EXPLAIN HOW GERI GOT THERE...THIS VIDEO DOES NOT GIVE YOU A GOOD WORKOUT....DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!

I had used Geribody Yoga for awhile before finding out about this one, and they are different enough that I alternate using them.

The cons: This DVD, Geri Yoga, is less structured and polished than Geribody Yoga - it feels less organized. If you just let it play (which I do), you do sun salutations before Katy goes into preparation for cobra, so when she goes into that explanation, it's kind of awkward since you've already done it. Also, there are a few times when I feel like you spend more time on one side than the other, which is easy enough to adjust once you're used to the DVD. And Katy doesn't really explain how to do a headstand, which isn't something I would have expected to learn from a DVD anyway, but it seems like a waste of time for us to just watch Geri doing a headstand and never receive instruction on how to do it. Geri talks quite a bit throughout the session, but for the most part I don't particularly mind that. I don't like the bit at the end, after the savasana, where it's just her talking and talking - it feels aimless and like its intention was to take up time.

The pros: I really, really like doing a lot of the poses. Some are different from the ones in Geribody Yoga - crow, dolphin, and cradling lotus come to mind - and I love the way Katy instructs savasana at the end. Katy does a pretty good job of making suggestions for different levels. Physically, I feel great at the end of the DVD, which is really what's important to me anyway. Also, despite Geri's chatter, she really is likable.

Overall I'd rate it about 70% - I'm glad I have it and it makes me feel great, but there are definitely a few things I'd change about it if I could.

I have done Yoga before, but not steadily, and have several other DVD's on this subject. This one is my favorite. Itis a very relaxing atmosphere, (yes, Geri always has something to add), but who doesn't know someone like that? It's always very positive and what people are thinking anyway, but just don't have that sweet blunt way that she does. I guess if you're looking for a very serious workout, that's different, but I felt that I was in a room working out with a bunch of friends. Kasy Appleton always seems so concerned that noone does more than they should for their body, and keeps mentioning to slow down and follow your body's lead. When I first picked this DVD up, I didn't know that Geri was a Spice Girl', or I wouldn't have taken it seriously, but I'm glad that I did. She's a riot, and has one of those personalities that can't just 'zip it', (like me), that's what makes it so fun, to break up the monotony, and her perfect accent is so funny. She's gorgeous, but doesn't act like it at all, (which makes me like her even more)! I have John Lee, and love his very serious workouts, but this is so refreshing, I live in the country and feel like when I put the DVD in the recorder, it's time to have fun with real friends! Thanks Geri and Katy, and I'm so glad that I bought your two DVD set. I hope you come out with more, you make it all so fun!

This is a great DVD for those who are just too busy for all the 20 minute intro tree-hugging hippy yoga DVDs out there. It explains all the history and basics of breathing behind yoga without trying to make you into a guru swami. Geri displays the more "difficult" versions of each posture while Tina displays the beginner, I can't even touch my toes version (which Geri freely admits to being way-back-when) and Katy Appleton is out the front as the very hip expert explaining all the important things like breathing, where to focus the stretch and gives this great DVD its credibility. A 10 minute warm up, a 20 minute warm up and then 20 minute "Sun salutation" make it the perfect DVD to have in the player for first thing in the morning, when you can assess how much time you've got to devote and choose accordingly. It is always the Yoga Dvd I return to amongst the myriad of other I own, when I need it.

This dvd should only be purchased by anyone who is a big fan of Geri Halliwell herself and you want a light-hearted introduction to yoga from her. As previous reviewers have mentioned, Geri talks all the way through, or rather she interjects by both talking over and by interrupting the instructor. This has the feel of having walked in on all 3 people (Geri, Katy Appleton, who is the instructor and another lady, who is there to show how to perform the basic poses), in a room with you watching on whilst she chats away in her charmingly condescending way and I actually like her as a person! If you want a really good informative video that you will use over and over again, check out links to yoga dvd's on You Tube so that you can get a sample of what the poses and the instructors are like before you buy. This is not a video that you would use too often because of the way that it is structured, Geri's constant babble and the feel of it being a kind of pilot to one that she should have made. Aspiring yoga practitioners' of any standard should seriously consider someone else's dvd. Buy this one only if you want it for entertainment value.

While I'm sure that anyone with a lot of yoga experience would be bored nearly senseless, this DVD was perfect for me. I felt like I was part of a very small class, as Katy moved back and forth between Geri doing the advanced work and another woman doing easier poses. I felt so smooth and relaxed after, and my shoulders and back didn't crack at all for the rest of the day.

Geri DOES talk far too much, and seems rather obsessed with which poses help your digestive system, but it didn't stress me out. This DVD is more instructional than a workout, but I certainly felt worked out after.

Overall, a good start for a beginner but probably not for more advanced students.

I really wanted to like this dvd. But I have to say that I couldn't even make it through the first fifteen minutes By then I wanted to put a muzzle on both Geri AND the instructor. I kept telling myself to give it a chance but it just moves soooooo slowly while they talk and go over every detail of the next move. The other reviewer was right about being left twiddling your thumbs. I was so bored with this workout that I didn't even finish it and that is not like me. Usually once I start, I go ahead and do the whole thing whether I like it or not. I just couldn't take it anymore with this one. I had to stop. I only got through about twenty minutes of it. I did put it back in later to watch Geri's commentary at the end and I have to say that there was absolutely nothing at all "enlightening" in that section. Just more rambling....I'm really disappointed...like I said, I really wanted to like it...I know I won't ever do this workout again.

geri halliwell- of spice girl "fame"-literally never stops talking in this dvd! the program starts ok, despite ginger/geri constant yapping, very slow warm up. the poses section is supposed to be more active, but they spend so much time on the the modifier setting up the pose that the more experienced practioner is left twiddling their thumbs. the cool down is pleasant but unremarkable.

First of all, I had open heart surgery nine years ago and that was when I began my yoga practice. I have many yoga videos in my collection. This is not one I want to do everyday. I added this one because of Geri. She looks good and is very scantily attired. You know the tapes where the girl is wearing shorts on the cover box but pants during the workout? Not this one. That aside, I found this to be a good informative class that does not take itself too seriously. Yes, they talk to each other during some of the poses and Geri tries to crack a joke once in awhile. All with the British accent.
Katy Appleton as the instructor explains the approach to the postures. So it is a learning class, not just a workout routine. I like that they encourage the viewer to do the best they can and not try to be too perfect. They do show you what you are trying to achieve but on a given day one may not be able to get there. I like the two levels of exercise. At times I began with the easier approach but could move into the more demanding one as the class went in that direction. I usually find my limitation somewhere in between the easy and the difficult so I just go to my limit and rest, or watch Geri doing the more demanding postures. I didn't get bored.

This class is rather long. But I like that it doesn't rush me. I was up earlier than usual one day last week and had some spare time. I found that I like the space to rest in between poses. It seems to allow this old body to absorb the work and be ready for the next set. Only a few of the other yoga classes encourage the student to acknowledge what their body feels after doing an asana. Some instructors jump into the next pose right away. Some times that kind of flowing yoga (vinyasa) is good too. To me it depends on how I'm feeling on a given day. But that is why there are so many different approaches to yoga. Each of us has to find the way that works best for us. It might not be the same every day. It certainly isn't for me. I've even tossed some videos away, or garage saled them because they just didn't work for me.
I liked the relaxation at the end. Some classes skip that part of the work. It is important too.
This approach takes great care to remind me not to go beyond my limitations. These days those limitations vary somewhat from day to day. This carries over when I do the other workout videos.

In the end I feel like I've done a worthwhile workout. I felt good when I finished the class. The only fault is the length of the class. It's more than 90 minutes long and most days I don't have that much time. Some days I just enjoy a slower pace and a lighthearted approach. It is nice when I have the time and can enjoy this class.