Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Good Times Video
• DVD Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Run Time: 47 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00009MEIV
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,130 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The Initial Challenge, Level 1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and Reasonably Priced Baron Baptiste DVD, November 13, 2005

By 

CPTScott - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Yoga: The Initial Challenge, Level 1 (DVD)

I've been doing Yoga daily for the last 9 years and have over 80 programs on VHS and DVD at this point. Baron's programs fill a large portion of my collection and my practice because his programs are always well put together.

I've had this particular program on VHS for a while (along with the second and third volumes of this set) and it still holds up quite well. I just picked it up for next to nothing in DVD format in a discount store and I'm glad to have it on DVD since it is a solid Power Yoga practice. In fact it's my favorite of the three of the original "Hot Yoga" series.

In this program he uses Lunge Salutes rather than the Traditional A and B salutes which is a nice change of pace. These type of Sun Salutations are extremely beneficial for opening the hip flexors This is especially useful for people who do any type of running though just as beneficial for those who just want to feel more open in their day to day lives.

This first section can be used as a warmup by itself before doing an athletic activity.

The Second section has a well rounded series of standing postures which include some balancing poses as well.

The third section is a pretty intense ab section which will get your midsection screaming :)

While I would admit that I like Baron's newer programs in every way more than this one (some of the newer ones being "Journey into Power 1 and 2, Soul of Strength, Core Power, Unlocking Athletic Power") this is still a very good program to use to mix things up a little. It is a bit dated in terms of the production values , but the practice is still valid and you will still reap the benefits.

A previous reviewer had criticised the fact that Baron warns that something upcoming may hurt a little. In my opinion, he mentions that just to prepare people (especially those new to yoga) for the fact that there may be some discomfort coming up.

In my experience, most people in our society seem to associate any physical discomfort with bad, injurious pain which is not what he is talking about. This is a safe and very sound, well designed practice, but of course you still need to listen to your body and learn how far to push yourself. Less IS more in Yoga, you are better off easing into a pose with awareness than plunging in too quickly.

I also wanted to address the fact that some reviewers found Baron to be annoying. While I agree that he has these quirky little sayings (some of which rhyme) that he uses which may put some people off. The fact remains that the benefits of all of Baron's programs far outweigh any negatives someone might come up with. Baron is a fabulous and inspiring teacher who I find to be very easy to follow.

For those who don't know about Baron Baptiste's background, he has been doing yoga since he was a child, practically in the womb. His parents, Walt and Magana Baptiste started one of the first Yoga center on the West Coast long before most people in the west even knew what yoga was. Baron studied with some of the top teachers in the world (actually living in ashrams in India when he was a boy)and not only the physical practice but the philosophical side as well (though he doesn't push the philosophical stuff here). In a nut shell, Baron is the real deal and has a rare Yoga pedigree.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Campy, but a great workout, July 28, 2004

By 

J. Cullen (Stoudsburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power Yoga: The Initial Challenge, Level 1 (DVD)

Ok, ok, the music and Baron can be a little campy. However, this is one of the most complete beginner workouts you can find. If you are a real beginner (no yoga experience) then I recommend Brian Kests 20 minute and step-by-step DVD. You will sweat with this and crunch your abs! If you can get past the music and Baron's funny lines this video is one of the best!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Power Yoga, not Ashtanga, May 31, 2009

By 

beccathegreat (Ok, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power Yoga: The Initial Challenge, Level 1 (DVD)

I've had this yoga dvd for years and do the first sun salutation section every day. Recently, I've been adding the second, fifteen-minute lower body toning section onto the first. I have lots of yoga DVDs and tend to rotate the different ones, but I still consider myself a yoga beginner, as I often only do a few poses a day. I have a half a dozen of Rodney Yee's programs, plus various others, but I've found that this basic sun salutation sequence is my favorite for daily practice. If all I get is twenty minutes of sun salutations, I'm still getting a good all over workout--even though I don't feel I'm working hard, I feel more energized, more flexible, and stronger.

Power Yoga is its own type of yoga. Baron Baptiste is the originator of Power Yoga, which is based off of Ashtanga, but with a different philosophy. It's definitely a more western approach, as Power Yoga focuses more on the ability of the individual to discern his or her own path (self-discovery)in the exercises, instead of on the technical aspects of the yoga poses. As one earlier reviewer noted, Baron Baptiste studied under Iyengar, Patthabi Jois, and Bikram Chondhury (originators of Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Bikram Yoga). Power Yoga focuses more on the individual's own intuition and not on dogma. This can be reallyc onfusing, because Ashtanga Yoga is sometimes also referred to as Power yoga.

My first introduction to yoga was in the Iyengar style, and it didn't work for me. Baptiste's approach is more comfortable for me, and I like that he gives frequent reminders of when to breathe and tips for improving the poses. It helps if you try to take one breath for each movement, other than when holding the asanas. I appreciate that he doesn't talk much about Yoga philosophy, because it makes it easier to listen to the routine day after day. I find the sermonizing on some other DVDs tiresome after a while.

Sure, it's an older DVD and the production values are not top-notch. Baron Baptiste has a unique way of speaking which some (including my husband) find annoying, but that's really only an individual response. He doesn't annoy me at all, though I get a chuckle out of his careful pronunciation of "e-QUAN-imity." But I think he describes the poses accurately and gives time to deepen the poses. It's not difficult to follow the movements; even when the poses are difficult to accomplish, at least you know what you're supposed to be doing. The focus here is on improving the poses and releasing toxins, and of course on flexibility and toning, but not on variety or novelty. Especially for someone who hasn't done yoga much or consistently, sun salutations are an easy place to begin, and not intimidating. For someone who's done yoga for years, sun salutations make an excellent beginning to any further yoga practice.