Customer Reviews

Introduction to Power Yoga for Beginners [VHS]

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

 

 

This tape is not for those that have never had any yoga experience because the poses do flow at a continuous pace; but this is what power yoga is all about! I'm very pleased with this tape, and especially like the two separate 20-minute sessions, which are perfect for days when you don't have much time. I think this tape is intended for those that are new to poer yoga but not to yoga in general. If detailed beginning instruction is what you're after, try "Conditioning and Stress Release" or "Flexibility and Tone", also from Yoga Zone (their tapes are the best).

This is my very first yoga workout product. I have nothing to compare it to, and maybe there are better ones out there, but this one had the recommendation of a friend who has been practicing yoga for several years. She swears by Yoga Zone, and promised me that there was no Eastern religious proselytizing on this DVD.

Two months later. . .I'm still using and loving it. But for everyone's benefit, I would like to share how it works for me. I've tried it as my "only" routine of the day, and it just doesn't crank my tractor. I have to have some heart-pumping exercise every day or I'm awful to live with! So. . .on the three days per week that I do weight work or a shorter cardio routine, I don't do the stretches that close out those workouts. Instead, I pop this one into the DVD and finish with one of its two 20-minute-or-so practices, using it as an extended cool-down and stretch. My back feels WONDERFUL when I'm done, and the twists really get rid of the kinks in my shoulders and upper back. If I really focus on the breathing and postures here, I finish the practice feeling as mellow as I would after a full-body massage. Since this is an introductory tape, I can only imagine what a more advanced one would do for me.

In addition to the need to be a bit warmed up before starting, I would also advise folks to build up their arm strength--particularly for the first practice here, where Al includes what I think are a LOT of plank poses. Maybe somewhere out there is a yoga workout that includes exercises to get in shape for yoga, but this one doesn't. So buyer beware.

Still, the [money] I spent on this one has definitely been worth it. I know the routine well enough now that I can do a few poses from it in the privacy of my office whenever my back tenses up from too much sitting. Just a couple of minutes, and I feel better already. Cheaper than a massage, and just as effective. Not a bad deal, in my book.

GRADE: A-

Just like the title reads this is an "introduction." First 20 min. of 40 min. very basic. Second part of work-out much more like a power yoga work out for beginners with out the sweat. Great for someone who has never done a yoga position. I bought the boxed set. If I were going to purchase just one of the DVD's in this series, I would purchase the Yoga Zone Total Body Conditioning instead.

You won't want to do this routine more than twice. VERY basic, won't work up a sweat. Go with Rodney Yee or the other Living Arts DVDs.

I liked the first part of the practice better than the second, because I felt the first part was more strenous and challenging. I wish the whole tape had equal intensity. For that reason, I prefer "Yoga for Weight Loss" and "Yoga for Strength and Endurance."

I purchased this DVD coming off a serious back surgery, and found it to be a delightful and challenging way to begin working my way back into shape without suffering any new injuries. My back and abs feel tighter and stronger in just a few short weeks, and I'm now ready to try more challenging routines. This isn't an advanced workout(hence the "Introduction" title)but I'd highly recommend it to those who have physical limitations or are just starting an exercise regimen. Those folks will find it plenty challenging enough!

I've taken a yoga class and used a Lillias tape in the past. I bought this tape as an alternative for my wife and daughter, who are beginners. The presenters go through the series too fast, not allowing sufficient time for paced breathing. They also do not do as good a job as Lillias in describing the movements so that you need not try to watch the screen while doing the postures. Some of the postures are helpful, but you need experience and some review of the tape before you can perform the sequence easily.

... - I gave this away after a month, although I had little previous yoga instruction. If you do this once or twice, you won't want to do it again. The length (only 20 min) is too short to provide a "power yoga" practice, and the segments are too disjointed to combine into one longer workout. I found Al's instruction to be inoffensive, but Lisa's tone of voice is annoying and condescending, and I've deliberately avoided the other Yoga Zone titles with her as the instructor.

For someone who already has some familiarity with yoga looking for an introduction to power yoga, I highly recommend David Swenson's Short Forms also available from Amazon. His practice is based on the classical Ashtanga style from which power yoga is derived, and it includes a beginning 30 min practice, a longer and more advanced 45 min practice, and a short 15 min practice along with a guided relaxation. His tape has plenty of room for growth, and it may prove to be a staple - it definitely has for me.

I've been doing Kripalu yoga for over a year (and did Hatha years ago) and have been curious about this new "power yoga" craze. I trust Yoga Zone for good instruction, so I asked for this DVD as a Christmas present. I was very pleased, both by the way the disk is segmented -- two sessions -- and by the level and pace. If you've been wanting to try power yoga, but are afraid or not very athletic, I'd definitely try this one.

I've never done yoga before and I think this tape is fantastic. Sure, it felt fast at the beginning, but it would be too easy if it wasn't, and I got the hang of it quickly. Now I use it every day. I used to do wieght lifting and would never go back to the dull ache and strain of it. Not when I've found a workout that is actually fun and integrates the whole body, with stretching as PART of the exercise routine, and with a focus on breathing that calms the mind. Really a great introduction. The instructors are wonderful too, very clear and helpful and not annoying. I don't know when I've bought something I've liked so much. I highly recomend it.