Customer Reviews

Karen Voight: Yoga Power

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of my favorite yoga workouts ever. The DVD is split into two sections - Yoga Strength and Yoga Stretch. The first section is a 30 minute power yoga routine that completely revamps traditional vinyasas creating an incredibly creative, fun, and challenging workout that flows like mad. Karen warms you up with downward dog and plank postures before transitioning into a modified forward bend, back extension, and chair pose series. This mini sun salutation segment flows into standing splits, lunges, and side plank work. Karen then moves into an inventive warrior and triangle pose series that gracefully incorporates back bends and shoulder stretches all while actively demonstrating the use of yoga blocks to ensure proper form. The segment ends with one balancing pose (dancers), some ab work in boat pose, and a relaxing bridge.

My complaints about the power yoga segment are few but worth noting. While I appreciate Karen's incorporation of yoga blocks (she and her yoga partner both use them throughout the workout rather than relegating them to their accustomed role as modifiers) anyone with yoga experience (and this is NOT a workout for beginners) will find them a bit excessive. I love the assistance of a yoga block when doing reverse triangle but I can go a lot deeper and get more out of regular triangle without one. I also wish Karen did more balancing and back bend work. Because of their lack I alternate this workout with more traditional/spiritual practices to balance my body. Nonetheless, I reach for this yoga workout more than any other I have because it remains motivating and entertaining even after doing it for 4 or 5 years.

The yoga stretch segment is 25 minutes (the DVD menu claims its 20 minutes long) of intense stretching done on the floor. I love this calming workout. While many of the stretches are yoga based or inspired this is really more of a pure stretch routine than a yoga practice. Karen does some stretches I've never seen before like an incredibly intense and effective quadriceps stretch and a shoulder stretch that targets right below the shoulder blade, exactly where I seem to store all my tension. When you complete this workout your entire body feels soothed and relaxed, a bit like jello. It's hard to convince yourself to stand back up and not go right to sleep.

I often do the stretch routine independently when I feel I need an extended cool down after an intensive workout or I'm just a bit tight or stressed. However, my favorite use of this DVD is to begin a workout with the Yoga Strength segment, then do my cardio/strength training for the day, and wrap up with Yoga Stretch. I feel quite accomplished when done.

I highly recommend this DVD for those interested in a new twist on yoga or for those who find themselves impatient with the meditative and spiritual aspects of traditional yoga. IF YOU ARE NEW TO YOGA DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WORKOUT!! You'll probably hurt yourself (particularly your wrists in the many plank poses) if you do not yet have the strength and flexibility yoga develops and power yoga requires. Karen's Yoga Sculpt is a less vigorous power yoga workout and is probably a better bet for beginners though I would still not recommend attempting it if you are not physically fit.

In addition to being an excellent "fitness" instructor, Karen Voight is also a clear and competent yoga instructor. This practice (which is also included in Sleek/Slim Physique), is broken into two sections, as has been mentioned by other reviewers. Yoga Strength is thirty minutes of challenging standing and floor postures. While the practice "flows", I woulnd't call it vinyasa or a power practice (and that's just fine- there are certainly enough of those out on the market). The speed is very controlled and she takes time out on a few postures to make sure viewers have the proper set up. A lack of traditional sun salutations does not, however, make this a walk in the park. Voight has enough planks, side planks, hovers, warriors and their variants (including a dreaded Warrior 1 where you extend your chest over your thighs- very tough), and her usual challenging yoga abwork that you should work up a sweat.

Yoga Stretch, the next 25 minutes, complements Strength very nicely. It's one of my favorite practices, in part because it's one of the few yoga releases out there that is straight up stretch- little or no strength stuck in. On its own merits, it's very satisfying. She begins with the upper body and then works her way down through the rest of the body, thoroughly stretching hamstrings, quads, chest, triceps, back, hips and buttocks. She also uses many variations I hadn't previously seen, particularly for the quads. Most participants should feel thoroughly stretched out and relaxed after completing this.

The fact that you can get two complete and complementary practices on one DVD in 55 minutes is another plus. Recommended for time-crunched yoga practitioners who don't want to sacrifice quality.

Karen Voight does NOT PLAY AROUND. If you're looking for an easy breezy feel-good yoga experience, look elsewhere. This workout will kick your everlovin' behind. If you're not already pretty flexible and in pretty good shape, you might want to save this video until you are. If you think you're up for the challenge, prepare to get a great workout that will have you sweating even as you're being perfectly still. If you can do all of these poses half as fluidly as she can, you'll get seriously toned up and improve your flexibility. Oh, and Karen Voight's amazingly long and lovely body is great inspiration for those of us who need a little inspiration through all the huffing and puffing. Let's just say that "Yoga Power" is a workout that I'm working toward.

Everyone wrote great reviews already.
Karen's teaching is more of an aerobics style... she only talks about muscles, how it's stretched or being strengthened & uses only anatomy terms. If you're looking for mind/body, you won't find it here.
The Yoga Stretch 20 min - it's just her & another woman on a simple stage. What I LOVE is the Engima style music (Shanay Mystic Trance" by Shastro) that's got a good beat too keep you going & interested, but light enough to not distract from her teaching. It has yoga poses, great shoulder & leg openers I don't normally see, but it's not a flowing style. It still stretches you out well & does flow in terms of what muscles should be stretched next. Starts with simple shoulder stretch behind the back, hip opener stretches, sitting wide angle single leg side bends, sitting wide angle bend, sitting fwd bend both & single legs, twisted sage pose, bound sitting pose & ends w/reclined simple spinal twist.
Yoga Strength 30 min - same set, no carpet, has a lot of sun salutations mostly a lot of downward dog & upward dog at first, then emphasis on repeated chair pose, then side plank, 1 leg downward dog & warrior 1 repeated, triangle, half moon, standing wide leg fwd bend, pyramid (hamstring stretch), revolved triangle, dancer's, boat w/added pilates leg lifts, bridge & ends with knee to chest stretch.
The yoga
That it has a powerful 30 min with a diff kind of sun salutations, etc. with great hip openers & poses I don't normally see on my other 30 power or vinyasa yoga dvds.
Her teaching is perfect, not hurried, not too slow, not too detailed, nor not too quiet. Her pace is slow, but you always know because it's harder to go in & out of poses slower & the challenge is to do it as graceful & as much body awareness as possible.
This will really challenge many people, even I had to hit the pause button a few times, but that's what a DVD is for.

You can see a trailer of this & some of her other titles at collagevideo com

I just recieved this yoga dvd and I love it. There are many poses that just aren't in other yoga dvd's. The flow of this workout is smooth and offers a strong routine. I would highly recomend this to anyone who already has a background in yoga and is looking for a great workout.

Karen Voight's YOGA POWER is really two yoga workouts in one: Yoga Strength, which utilizes a number of challenging yoga poses to build strength and stamina; and Yoga Stretch, which consists of a series of gentle stretches to increase flexibility.

The Yoga Strength segment is 30 minutes long, but you'll be so focused on the poses that the time will fly by. This workout definitely isn't for beginners! I've been doing yoga - on my own - for a few years now, and consider myself an intermediate, but some of the poses are much too challenging for me. Even following Karen's workout partner, who is the modifier, I have trouble balancing during unfamiliar poses. However, none of the exercises is impossible; I'm confident that, with practice, I'll be able to master them. The poses that Karen guides you through in Yoga Strength include Sun Salutation, Warrior 1 and 2, Upward Dog, Downward Dog, Down Dog Split, the Triangle Series, Plank, Side Plank, Awkward Chair, Dancer's Pose, and Boat Pose.

In contrast, at 20 minutes, the Yoga Stretch segment is slightly shorter. Unlike Yoga Strength, it's also suitable for all fitness/skill levels. The poses, performed primarily while sitting on the floor, are very gentle and forgiving. With Karen's help, you'll slowly stretch and relax all the body parts you worked in the first segment: your neck, shoulders, arms, back, hips, thighs, and legs. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the neck stretches are simply divine! My only complaint with this portion of the workout is that some of Karen's instructions are a little sloppy and confusing. Overall, though, this is an anomaly: for the most part, Karen is an excellent instructor.

As far as necessary equipment, you'll need either a carpeted floor or a yoga mat, as well as two yoga blocks (but you can make do with one block, if that's all you have on hand). A yoga strap is optional for the Yoga Stretch segment.

Enjoy your workout!

To Karen Voight: the music in Yoga Power was 1)inappropriate and 2) mixed way too high. I had trouble hearing the instructions because the music competes with your voice. Also, you should NEVER use vocal music (wordless or not) when a video depends so heavily on constant coaching. And why does every yoga progam have to use Eastern music? (or any music at all?)

Note to prospective buyers: I prefer to practice yoga in as quiet a setting as possible. If others feel the same way, then DO NOT purchase this DVD. Not only is the music too loud, it is incongruent with the poses. I greatly prefer yoga without music, with an instructor who has excellent vocabulary and has a very pleasant voice (Karen's voice is one of the best).

My other beef is the camera person having way too much fun moving the camera all over the place. Many times when I was trying to see particular poses or movements going in and out of poses, the camera was focused elsewhere.

I don't think it was too helpful having another person in the video, just another distraction.

Karen, after the stellar Yoga Sculpt program, you didn't need to change a thing. I am so sorry that you did. In the future, I'm keeping my money.

suitable for a beginner to explore their abilities, but lacking in technical instruction.

Both routines are pleasant and refreshing to do. Each has, for its length, a nice selection of poses that gently activate every part of you. KV takes you from an introduction to the most basic movements of simple salutations, through a short standing sequence, which surprisingly culminates in an intermediate level Revolved Triangle and Cosmic Dancer (the latter very unusual for a beginner's DVD) on each side. You then finish with an interesting boat sequence to remind you of your abs!

For a curious beginner, each session will allow you to identify your level of ability and build up some feel for the poses before progressing to longer and more challenging practices. However, if your goal is to learn yoga techniques (as opposed to just wanting to work out), be aware that KV doesn't always name the asanas and, in one case, actually misnames one of the standing poses. Additionally, although the strength, stamina and flexibility rating is low and therefore seems geared for beginners, there's very little instruction regarding placement, alignment and breathing.

For a practiced yogi/exerciser the thirty five minute `Strength' routine doesn't really require very much strength at all and the twenty five minute `Stretch' doesn't really go too deep but does loosen you up. Even doing one after the other doesn't really require much stamina, but does provide a relaxing and refreshing `wake up' or `take it down' routine for those slightly off days.

Slightly dated feel to the styling but high quality picture and sound. The instructor is pleasant and the instruction is clear. Personally I prefer when instructors talk about `left' and `right' rather than the 'leg nearest to us' that KV uses, which doesn't work if you do your practice face-on to the screen (as opposed to side-on).

Although a good basic yoga video for beginners, the title is misleading. There is no power associated with this video.

This video is divided into two workouts: 1) Yoga Strength, a 30 minute routine and 2) Yoga Stretch, a 20 minute routine. At first I was relunctant to purchase this DVD because I already own Yoga Sculpt. But the poses are different enough that I find it to be extremely rewarding and challenging. It quickly became one of my favorites.

The Yoga Strength segment is faster paced than other routines, but I like the flow and find that I can easily keep up.

Although the Yoga Stretch segment is shorter that doesn't mean it's easier. Karen gently coaches your body into deep poses that are very effective. When you're finished, you can feel it for the rest of the day.

You will definitely see an improvement in your posture and energy level if you do these routines on a regular basis.

I highly recommend it.