Customer Reviews

Power Yoga Plus

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

There are so many problems with this video I don't know where to start. I did buy Austin's first Pilates tape and found it effective (the first segment), until Living Arts released there Pilates video, which in my opinon rock! This video seems to just serve to capitalize on a trend. The power yoga section is more like yoga influenced flailing about. Austin never once cues the viewer about breathing-the very cornerstone of yoga! The postures are held for a couple of seconds, not long enough for any benefit. She redeems herself slightly in the Pilates section, although again no helpful cues on form. Austin says these segments "flow" I ended up frustrated and turned the video off. I say better to go with a Living Arts or Bryan Kest video.

I'm a personal trainer and I think Denise Austin's videos are some of the best. She is always encouraging and she always smiles. This Yoga Plus has two 20 min. workouts: 1 yoga, and 1 more like Pilates. I actually only do the Pilates workout. I love this DVD because Denise keeps you moving, it's simple, and after 20 minutes, you have a great workout. Here is my list of BEST Pilates videos from easiet to MOST difficult:
1) Power Yoga Plus (Denise Austin)
2) Pilates Intermediate (Gaiam)-- steps it up a notch-- I'd still call it "beginner"
3) On the Ball Pilates Workout (Natural Journeys)--40 FUN minutes
4) Pilates for Every Body (by Denise)--quite challenging and you'll FEEL it, but it's easier after you catch the moves
5) Strong and Streamlined (Stott) This is the most advanced you can get. GO FOR IT!
Hope this helps!

I admit, I wouldn't have bought it for myself. My mother bought it for me for my birthday (she knows I sometimes do the Lifetime show and that I use the Living Arts Pilates tapes and have done yoga for a while). I was pleasantly surprised.

Yes, I am more used to yoga that is held a little bit longer, and I think she would have done well to present more information on the breathing techniques you need for each segment (since I've got you: it's in through the nostrils, out through the nostrils for yoga; in through the nostrils, out through the mouth for Pilates- and do your best to keep your stomach flat, or you could hurt back!), but because I already knew them, I got a good workout- I even broke a sweat!

The Pilates section, I felt, was slightly better than the yoga section- I loved the arm series (and despite what someone said, a lot of that was Pilates, especially the pushups and the "boxing").

She does say at the beginning that you should watch the tape before you do it (by the way, I believe that's the rule for all exercise tapes).

The best thing about the tape is that you can get a thorough workout in 20 minutes (or 40, if you decide to do both segments). I like to mix up what I do to workout, so this is ideal for me.

Give it a try!

I purchased Denise Austin's Pilates DVD a few months ago, and I enjoyed it so much I decided to get Power Yoga Plus. Power Yoga Plus is a wonderful compliment to the Pilates DVD because there are more yoga moves in the first session, the second session's Pilates are more challenging, and there are bonus features that the Pilates DVD does not have. There is no redundancy between the two DVDs.

The music in Power Yoga Plus is very energizing. I think this would be a great morning work out... the set is a beautiful mix of oranges, reds and purples; very similar to a sunrise. As usual, Denise's voice is both soothing and motivating. I also enjoyed the addition of an arm workout with handweights to this DVD. The Pilates DVD incorporates a leg and buttocks workout. So, alternating the two DVDs is an excellent way to work the entire body.

This DVD is divided into 2 segments. One on yoga (20 minutes) and one on pilates ( 20 minutes). Easy to do every day. Great overall stretching for the whole body. Great for your back! Many times I do this first thing in the morning and Denise Austin is very easy to listen to while you're still sleepy. After the workout - you feel invigorated. I planned on only doing this workout a few times a week but I like the way it stretches me and end up doing it every day. I'm looking for another of her workouts to try. I highly recommend this (no - I have NOT beeen paid to say that)!

Please do not buy it and waste your money like me. I tried to return it but couldn't. The first part is all advertisements of herself. Then the power yoga is 20 minutes and moves so fast from one phase to the other that you don't even know what happened (opposed of what power yoga is all about). She holds every position for 1/10 of a second and that's it.

It's better to buy a yoga or pilates video made by yoga and pilates instructors (the one with Ali Mcgraw as participant and Eric Schiffman as instructor is fantastic).

She keeps repeating these peppy phrases all the time which is something you do not do in Yoga, it's about relaxation not being pepped up. She is a total waste of time.

Though I'm generally a fan of Denise Austin videos, she was less than great on this one. She doesn't thoroughly explain the moves she is doing and runs through each excercise too quickly to actually do any good. However, the Pilates section of the tape, after the Yoga, was a pretty good workout and good introduction to Pilates. Overall, though, not worth the investment.

If you want any good Yoga video or Pilates buy one from Known yoga and pilates instructures not from someone who is vernturing to those in order to make more money. The video starts off by a lot of advertisements of her products. Once the actual exercies finally started, although the power yoga moves did get my heart beat up, they went too fast from one step to the next and anyone with even a bit of familiarity with Yoga knows that (except for sun salutations) you are supposed to hold your moves for a few seconds or minutes to get the real benefit (which is what power yoga is all about). Her moves were too fast and no yoga benefits in stretching for 2 seconds at a time.

I tried to return this video since it was such a waste but couldn't.

The Ali Mcgraw Yoga Video is the best out there if you want a good yoga workout (she is a participant and Eric Schiffman is the instructor).

After I had a baby, I kept having those horrible back pains. I couldn't even sleep at nights.I bought this DVD and tried to do this yoga. Let me tell you-amazing results. After 3 weeks, my back pians went away. This workout has some really good streches and it actually helps me feel better inside. I always feel relaxed, energized and ready for the day. I like to open the window during this workout-so there's a lot of fresh air. i would also reccomend this DVD for people who have a lot of stresses, it really helps to relax.

anyone who's familiar with denise austin knows that the premise of her workouts are designed for those who are short on time. she usually keeps the workouts around 20 minutes long. as a mother and busy wife i love this idea. she gets to the point in her workouts without unnecessary repetitions or extra long, extra boring warmups and cooldowns. she focusses on the workout itself. it gives me the convienience i need and because of this i am better able to stick with it. i have other yoga tapes that are on average an hour long. sure they have expert instructors and lovely locations but what's the point if i'm not going to stick with them? i dread any workout that is an hour long even if it is yoga. this tape made me feel good and good about myself because i'm able to stick with it. i found the moves challenging and a good workout. as a dancer, i've studied pilates and yoga and this is a great tape.sometimes people get too stuck on scenery and instructor level. it seems like Denise is a victim of fitness snobbery. i say all that matters is that she gets me up and working. isn't that the point?