Customer Reviews

The Method - Precision Yoga [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I agree with the other reviewers that this is not a tape for beginners. You should already be familiar with the basic yoga poses, so you can follow Jennifer's auditory cues without having to watch the TV. Jennifer is amazing. She is sooo flexible, it is really beautiful and inspiring to watch her. If you do have the level of yoga knowledge needed for this tape, it is the closest thing I've found to actually going to a yoga class. So many other tapes involve way too much talking, and there is no other yoga tape I've tried that leaves me feeling so incredibly good. It feels like it must be good for you, a great thing to do for your health. I even find my heart rate has gotten quite elevated by the end of the Strength and Vitality section. I almost feel addicted to it because I feel so great afterward mentally and physically. I used to have to talk myself into doing yoga once a week, but this tape makes me want to do it as often as possible.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Kries, one who owns half a dozen of her tapes. She provides clear, detailed pointers on form while going at a healthy, unrushed pace. She is also beautiful to watch - she has amazing flexibility! However, she does a good job of reassuring viewers that this takes time to achieve through practice (I'm not that flexible but it's improved a bit after doing her tapes for six months).

As other reviewers have noted, this tape is not for beginners. But if one is an intermediate exerciser in general (even if you're somewhat new to yoga like me - I do some form of aerobic exercise 3 times a week, lift weights twice a week and do core conditioning work twice a week), it is do-able and will be sufficiently challenging. An easier yoga tape to start might be a good idea but with patience, you will be able to pick up a lot just from Jennifer's excellent cuing alone.

I'm so grateful to Jennifer for making a series of "core conditioning" tapes accessible and affordable to the masses. And you will see results with consistent practice. I also enjoy the Method tapes because they achieve a perfect balance in presentation - not bouncy, but not clinical or new-agey either.

What can you say, Jennifer is Jennifer. Always in control and always doing something well. I have had this tape for some time and bought it when I was just beginning to experiment with Yoga. So I started doing it when I didn't know any better. I have to agree with the other reviewers that while this is a mid level tape it's not necessarily for the beginner. Only if you don't mind not keeping up or just plain getting lost in a pose. There are several poses where you can not see your TV and have to rely on Jennifer's instructions. I literally had to stop and memorize the poses because I could not figure out what she wanted us to do from just listening to her instructions. Now that I have been doing this for awhile it seems a breeze. But as everyone likes to tell you, don't sweat it. Go at your own pace and do the bits and pieces you want to do. Now that I have experience it's the type of tape I put on when I want a quick yoga session, and no annoying distractions between movements about my spiritual self.

This is one of my favorite yoga videos -- I have Bryan Kest 1-3, Yoga Zone Intro to Yoga, Yoga Zone Flex & Tone, and HAD Denise Austin's yoga tape but she talked too much.

I recommend other Method tapes such as: Target Specifics, Precision Toning & Precision Sculpting. I only have the tapes where Jennifer instructs -- I think she is very good and can keep up with her.

You feel fantastic after completing Precision Yoga -- very stretched & relaxed.

The hightlight of the method series is their intelligent and unpretentious instruction. There are no gaksome screaming bimbos here! This tape offers three 20 minute yoga workouts which are easily done by beginners, and which can be combined together for a longer workout. I really enjoyed this tape and I still use it regularly - even after 2 years. Great value for money.

Jennifer talks in a well modulaterd and controlled voice which is exactly the way in which she moves. She is a dancer and a teacher and that is evident in the way she instructs you in the various poses. If you are truly a beginner I wouldn't recommend this tape until you have practiced on some of the really beginning level tapes. While Jennifer does a credible job talking you through the moves it can be a little overwhelming and self defeating if you find you can not really keep up. She tries to tell you that you will build up to it but there are easier tapes to build some basic strength and then you can do these series of exercises. As usual I feel great after completing one of her tapes.

Ms. Kries' gifted coaching aside, this is a very good video. The moves are described in detail, and the first section's emphasis on the breath is excellent. This is a solid introductory tape, but more experienced yoga practitioners may find the transitions are too choppy to get in "the zone".

I would recommend this video to someone new to yoga as well as someone who would like a few shorter yoga workouts to choose from when she/he is feeling time-strapped.

In general, any video by Kries is a good bet in my book. I have yet to see a video by her that I haven't liked.

This is one of those videos I do when I want to stretch and tone rather than pump up my heart rate. Its extremely convenient as it consists of three separate programs which are each about 20 minutes long.
Program one consists mainly of sun salutations and warrior poses. Program Two concentrates on arm and leg stretches and balancing poses. Program Three focuses on breathing and relaxation which are great to do to induce sleep or relieve stress. I mainly practise Programs one and Program Two.
For me, this tape is great to do when you don't want to go the whole nine yards and do a full 60 minutes, although obviously you can do all three programs if so desired. The point is, this tape is great for a moderate workout. Jennifer Kries is a great instructor, this is the yoga leg of her 'Method' triangle of Pilates, dance and yoga techniques to keep one and all in pretty good shape. Her style is straightfoward and compelling; her good-natured encouragement and bright smile forces you to keep trying.
If you are a yoga beginner, it may take a while to fully understand each pose, especially the sun salutations and warrior positions. I whole heartedly recommend Jennifer Kries companion book to this tape and all her other Method tapes entitled: 'Pilate Plus Method' which provides adequate photos and step by step instruction and explanation on all the poses---then the minimal amount of instruction employed on this tape will be appreciated and keep the flow moving as it is so intended.

What a great tape! I love that the workouts are only 20 minutes long, a perfect length for giving yourself a good stretch every day -- esepcially if you're training in other disciplines, like weight training & cardio. Most other yoga videos are at least double the length, and I find that hard for me to fit into my workout schedule. But twenty minutes is no problem! And, a little yoga every day gets you results much faster than a lot of yoga every so often.

I came to this tape after having done Ali MacGraw's Yoga Mind & Body for a few months and did not find these workouts terribly challenging. But I wasn't looking to push myself as much as I was seeking the benefits of a daily yoga practice, so this tape suited me well.

I don't feel Jennifer Kries rushes thru the poses at all. I mean, she has to move things along, each routine is only twenty minutes. I was grateful she fit a good variety of poses into each workout, and to do this she obviously couldn't have us holding poses for any considerable length of time. So, this isn't a "sit down and s-t-r-e-t-c-h" tape, but more of a "get going & feel the flow" tape. If that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed!

I also liked that the emphasis wasn't new-agey but more athletic -- yet graceful & gentle all the same. Jennifer shows some poses that beginners might consider challenging, but she offers MANY modifications and is constantly reminding you to stay within your comfort zone, and just trust that with repetiton, things'll get easier.

A+ for this wonderful tape!!

Jennifer is such an wonderful instructor.. i have recommend her tapes to bother strangers in target and friends. the yoga breathing leaves me calm and focused every time. Thanks !