Customer Reviews

Karen Voight - YogaSculpt [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had read a bunch of unfavorable reviews of this video. Either it wasn't challenging enough as a sculpting workout or it wasn't meditative enough. Also, I got the feeling when reading between the lines that it wasn't exactly yoga, either. I'm pretty snobby about my yoga practice, but I'm a new Karen Voight fan and I have a lot of respect for her precise approach. I took a chance on this and I'm glad I did.

The practice is about 45 minutes long and begins with a quick breathing exercise in Mountain Pose. Then she moves onto the standing series, which is about 25 minutes long. A modified Sun Salutation utilizing Awkward Chair (and no jumping), and then moving into Lunge, Warrior I, Warrior II, Right Angle and Triangle. Then to the floor for work on the abdominals and back with such yoga classics as Boat and Bridge.

Throughout the practice, I was very impressed with her precise instruction and fluid movement into and out of poses. In Boat, for instance, many students flop out of the position after two or three tries. She made sure her students moved out carefully. Also, her instructions on alignment and foot position left little room for error. That is very important, particularly for the standing poses where you need to maintain just the right angle in your back leg. Finally, I loved the classical music she used for the video; it provided just the right rhythm without being too distracting.

I broke a sweat during this practice even though it doesn't look that tough on preview. Because I am an advanced yoga practitioner, I was very surprised that people less advanced would feel this wasn't strenuous enough. I think the key is breathing: if you're not using deep full breaths on your inhale and exhale, you're strengthening and maybe stretching; if you incorporate the proper breathing, this is a more vigorous workout.

The intensity level is somewhere between Total Yoga and Yoga Zone for Power Yoga for Flexibility and Endurance. Beginners may find this too challenging, but Intermediates and Advanced yoga practitioners should find this a good workout.

Karen's new videos will leave you refreshed and invigorated. Once I have completed this challenging video, I feel stretched, strengthened, toned and very peaceful. If you are just starting out, be patient with yourself. Yoga will develop patience, character and strength. Think of each posture as a goal; by the third or fourth time, you may achieve what you see. This video is a combination of Pilates and Yoga. Ordering a sticky mat is essential (information is included in video pamphlets) so you don't injure your muscles by slipping on a carpeted surface.

There are no spiritual references and Karen's calming voice leads you through the poses in her organized way. The music is very relaxing and almost makes this the Nordstrom of Yoga videos. I recommend walking for at least one half hour before attempting the stretching exercises. This helps to warm the muscles and allow for a deeper stretch.

~The Rebecca Review

I love Karen Voight, but was extremely disappointed with this DVD. It is the EXACT same DVD as Yoga & Sculpting even though they have different release dates, 4 years apart! The cover on the DVD is different but she's wearing the same outfit and does the same routine. They don't tell you that in the advertisement. Because I liked Karen Voight, I ordered another DVD and then ended up with 2 DVDs exactly alike. I was so upset about this that I emailed her company and told them about it. They knew they were the same but don't tell you that in the advertisement. They were nice enough to exchange YogaSculpt for another DVD for me. But it was a pain because I had to send them YogaSculpt and wait for them to send me something else.

Karen Voight's YogaSculpt combines classic yoga poses with innovative twists to turn up the intensity and focus on sculpting. Karen begins the workout with a relaxing breathing exercise but then quickly steps up the pace with a challenging sequence which combines down dog with high push up pose. The standing series includes traditional yoga poses such as Warrior 1, Warrior 2, and Triangle pose, but Karen combines each pose with extra lengthening and stretching moves. The first half of workout last approximately 25 minutes, and then it's on to the floor for approximately 16 minutes of mat work focused on the abdominals and back. In this section, Karen combines yoga poses such as Boat and Bridge with Pilates-type movements. Both the abs and the back receive thorough attention, and then the practice ends with a brief stretch.

Karen is an excellent instructor who performs the workout fluidly and with flawless form. Her voice is gentle and encouraging, and she provides detailed instruction on how to perform each movement, including attention to breathing. There were a few times when I felt that she failed to adequately cue a change in movement, but once you've done the workout a few times, Karen is easy to follow. She instructs alone with soft piano music in the background. Overall, this is a challenging yet relaxing workout which will add some nice variety to your yoga practice for those beyond a beginner's level.

Save yourself some money and buy "Yoga & Sculpting DVD" instead. It includes all the material from this DVD plus all the material from the "Core Essentials" DVD for only $4 more.

The "YogaSculpt" DVD has a moderately challenging yoga rountine, but will KILL your abs. I have yet to be able to complete all of the reps.

I bought this video because (other than the fact that it was cheap) I love yoga, but don't usually feel like I'm getting a great workout at the same time. And that's what this is- a real workout wrapped into a nice, short (40 min) yoga class. It has a very fluid, relaxing yoga class setup, but she sticks mainly to the moves that will tone you up. You can feel yourself working. I do this tape when I really want to do yoga but know I need a good workout. Plus, you'll get a great stretch. I was already flexible, but whew! I haven't been able to bend like this since I was about 10!

This is definitely one of my most used fitness dvd's.

Karen Voight has provided us with a great intermediate yoga workout. As usual, Karen finds a way to make you stronger and more flexible, doing so in a safe and careful way. She explains how to do the poses in a way that allow you to follow along with ease. This workout is not for a beginning yoga student but rather for the person who is seeking to advance past the beginning level. For those of you who want to be able to do power yoga or ashtanga style yoga but are a little afraid to try it, this is your entry-level video. All the poses you need to learn in order to be strong enough to do power yoga are in this workout. After doing this class for awhile, I was able to move into an ashtanga style yoga workout without much difficulty.

I was feeling rather bored with my other yoga videos, and this one was great. The yoga is exhilirating, her cuing is superb, and the ending matwork, if a little short in length, was sufficiently challenging. Some of the postures will intimidate beginners, but intermediates will enjoy it - particularly if you feel as I do that many video instructors don't pay as much attention to the breath as they should.

I had seen Ali McGraw's Yoga Video and also Brian Kest's... Karen's YogaSculpt is Superior because of her taking the time to make sure you know how to do the poses correctly. The other videos fail to do that important step. It's a great workout but also leaves you feeling relaxed and stress free. I love it!

I've owned this DVD for a while now - for some reason I keep forgetting how much I enjoy it and it finds itself left on the shelf. Then I rediscover it and fall in love all over again.

This is a fantastic, challenging yoga/pilates workout. Karen's form and cueing are exceptional - she reminds you to place your weight here, push your foot there, bringing your own form and workout along in leaps and bounds. It will push you - some of the balancing poses will really force you to focus on stabilising your torso so you don't fall, and the warrior/triangle series really makes my legs shake.

The workout can be done as a whole, or you can choose from the 25 minute "Flow Series" or the 20 minute "Pilates/Yoga Matwork" section.

I would recommend this to those with some background knowledge of yoga; although Karen's instruction would probably allow a beginner to use proper form, I suspect it may be too challenging.