Customer Reviews

Rodney Yee Intermediate Yoga

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been doing Yoga for 9 years every day and I have about 100 Yoga programs between VHS/DVD/CD and many are Rodney's.

I've had this Rodney Yee Intermediate Program on VHS for years (I don't have it on DVD) and rarely do it. For some reason I decided to pull it off the shelf this morning and give it a go since it had been so long. I can see after doing it why it's not one I tend to reach for. It's not bad, it's just not one that works well for me, I don't have that great inner Yoga "glow" in terms of how I feel compared to the way I feel from the programs I really love.

This program starts w/ just a short Sun Salute section which I feel could have been a bit longer. Then there is a very good selection of standing/balancing poses.

The next series are inversions, Handstands, and forearm balances which I passed on this morning. While I can barely do those to begin with, I especially don't like the placement in the program of those types of asana and feel they'd be better placed towards the end. It really interrupted the flow and I'd prefer to go straight into the backbends after all the standing poses. Once again, that's just a personal preference.

The backbend section was very good by the way and there are some hip openers as well.

Overall, this program leaves me feeling very "eh" compared to his other programs (particularly his Power Yoga Stamina, and his Flexibility program) which really create an amazing feeling due to the sequencing and flow of those practices. His "Energy" program is another one I like better than this Intermediate program as well.

In spite of my personal reservations about this program, I still gave it 4 stars, because even though it wasn't a great program for me, it is still (aside from the placement of the inversion section) a decent enough program and I don't think a review should just be based on personal preference, but rather on a more objective perspective.

Still, In my opinion, The following programs are all that I feel are better overall than this "Intermediate" Program:

Rodney's Power yoga Programs ("Stamina", "Flexibility" and "Strength")

Baron Baptiste's excellent Power Yoga ("Journey Into Power" levels 1 and 2, "Soul Of Strength", "Power and Precision", "Unlocking Athletic Power", "Core Power", "Hot Yoga, The Initial Challenge", "Hot Yoga" The Next Challenge" are ALL excellent)

Bryan Kest's Power Yoga Programs


Sherrie Baptiste (sister of Baron Baptiste who has also been doing Yoga since she was a child) "Baptiste Power Of Yoga"

Kathy Smith's New Yoga ("Intermediate" as well as her "Advanced" Programs)

Total Yoga "Water", "Original" (Fire is also great also but a bit more advanced)

Shiva Rea "Yoga Shakti"

Janis Safell "Beverly Hills Yoga"

Rainbeau Mars "Pure Power" and "Pure Sweat"

This DVD is very similar to Rodney Yee's latest Power Yoga DVD. The big differences are inversions and slightly more difficult seated poses. The average person with 2+ years of experience would benefit from this DVD (I suggest 2 plus years, but a person could get plenty of benfit out of this DVD by modifying a few poses with less experience too). The inversions are performed against a wall, but can be performed out in the open if you have good proficency with forearm balance and headstand poses. The flow is smooth and depends upon the style of yoga you come from as to whether you would consider it fast or slow. If your background is based in ashtanga, then you would probably consider the flow as kind of slow to moderate, if you have more of an iyengar (or any yoga style where a long period of time is spent in a given pose) backgound then the pace may be a little quicker than what you may be used to. Personally, I think the flow is good giving some time to get into poses and start to feel the stretch, but the flow keeps the heat going. This DVD is about 65 minutes long and is good if you are working your way to hour plus yoga sessions. Overall, this is another great Yee production, and as I've stated in previous reviews, Yee hasn't let me down yet.

This moderate/slow pace workout is set in Maui. It's slower then his power yoga, more relaxed for meditation & getting in touch with your body. You don't hold it so long you get bored, but enough to really be aware & fix little things before pulling back out. The first 30 min the pose flow very nicely into each other, no separation.
It starts with sun salutations w/chair & warrior 1 for a short time which aren't done again after the standing poses. Side angles, triangles turns into half moons, warrior 1 turns into warrior 3, prayer hands behind you for front leg standing stretch, 3 different kinds of standing forward bends & more.
Inversions: handstand, shoulder stand & headstand using a wall w/standing fwd bend, child's pose & downward dog in between for rest.
Integration: bridge, bow, camel, half wheel/upward bow, laying down single leg stretch, laying down figure 4, laying down knee to chest spinal twist, rocking on spine, half lotus twist arm sitting spinal twist (never seen in any other yoga dvd), sitting half lotus spinal twist (never seen before), plow & shoulder stand w/o wall, double leg sitting fwd bend, ends in 4 min meditation.

See a trailer at the distributer site at gaiam com

I just love Rodney Yee... he is probably one of the best yoga teachers out there. I've also been lucky enough to practice with him in person! However, I have to tell ya, this dvd is not much different than his power yoga dvd... The major difference being the inversions. As a yoga teacher myself, If I were to teach an intermediate level class I would do more inversions. Either way, this is an excellent dvd to use for any level, but if you're looking to be challenged and you have over 3 years experience you might want more...TAMARA'S YOGA FUSION

I started up the DVD to watch first, just to see what I was getting into with an intermediate level of Rodney Yee. I was pleased to see that none of the poses are unexpected or out of reach for beginning intermediates - we should all be able to do half moons, upward bows, bridges and shoulderstands, and be working on our headstands, elbowstands and handstands.

Then I tried it out for myself:

*Vinyasa*
This first section starts with sun salutes and then keeps up a very steady vinyasa clip, with jump backs from standing forward bend into plank and some harder variations on the basic yoga poses. Upward dog is featured a lot. There are some tough transitions like half moon pose to triangle. This section is both exhausting and invigorating. Even Rodney looks tired at the end - he's shaking by warrior 3 and the vein on his glistening forehead is throbbing. If he is sweating and shaking, I feel okay about taking child's pose when I need it. :)

This is the longest section on the program and it's a real kick in the pants that it's the first one.

*Inversions*
Handstand, elbow stand, headstand - all against a wall, in what looks like the outdoor lobby of a Maui resort hotel. Rodney offers some useful preps to the poses and makes coming out of them look easy. Hand, head and elbow stands are the only inversions offered - no serious strength-related arm balances, no crows, no scorpions.

This is the shortest segment on the DVD, and I think the most fun. His lead-in to elbow stand uses a brick and a strap, and the headstand uses a brick.

*Integration*
This is focused pose work - full supported bridge (leg up), camel, upward bow. Various sitting stretches and then plow to shoulderstand. Followed by some nice twisty stretches and restorative work.

This ends with a seated meditation to a gorgeous Hawaiian sunset.

The DVD plays one hour and five minutes, and it's really all about the yoga. Rodney's introduction is a few minutes and then he wastes no time hopping (literally) into the sections. The Maui setting is nice - Rodney does his work directly on the green grass of a garden setting overlooking an ocean cliff.

My advice to beginning intermediates is to start with the Integration section, then do Inversions, and lastly do the "power" section that leads off the DVD. If you enjoy yoga for the sweat, then by all means perform your practice in the order the DVD suggests. :)

This is the practice that moved me to the next level in Yoga. While the beginning flow is not as smooth as other Rodney Yee's, the instruction for headstands and shoulderstands is very good. I like to do this DVD when I want a comprehensive practice with a little of everything.

This is exactly what it says it is, an intermediate practice. It takes you that step beyond being an advanced beginner into trying more challenging poses with the support of walls, blocks and straps. His instruction is very good and helps make sure you use and maintain proper form.

I really enjoyed this workout! The hour went by very quickly--I hardly noticed the time like I do with some workouts...

If you are used to Ashtanga Yoga (which I am), you will find this a little slow and you may wonder if you got a workout--but you do! You will hold the poses much longer than you are used to and gain muscular endurance.

The workout starts with Sun Salutations, then Inversions and ends with some flexibility moves, backbends, plow and shoulder stands. The only thing I thought it was missing was abdominal work--like many of Yee's workouts.

All in all, this is a nice workout that will leave feeling really good at the end (I had that yoga glow--another reviewer said he didn't). Other nice intermediate level workouts are Yogatopia, Yoga Radiance (my favorite), and Rainbeau Mars Pure Power.

I have been using INTERMEDIATE YOGA as a regular part of my exercise routine for several years now (without getting bored of it) and for that reason alone would recommend it.

Filmed outside in Maui Hawaii this is a great 1 hour practice for those looking for a bit of a challenge. If you have some experience then all the poses are familiar here just done with more detail and accuracy. And in all honesty the only parts that I consider intermediate would be the head and shoulder stands sections. As usual Rodney Yee's voice instruction is impeccable and there is a nice calm, even flow to the sequence of postures.

Beginning with as short interview Rodney explains the DVD we then start with Sun Salutations (which move quite quickly) transitioning into detailed Standing Poses (including some balancing moves; Warrior3 & Half Moon) then Inverted Poses (done against a wall) Backbends (Bridge, Upward Bow, Camel) Twists and Hip Openers (very good section) Shoulder Stands (with strap) and finally a short but nice relaxation.

Sometimes when I'm not feeling `intermediate' or need a shorter workout I just do the Sun Salutations & Hip Opening section. These are my favourite parts and a great workout in itself. Although there isn't a chapter menu, the practice is broken into 8 separate sections, so you can easily skip around as needed.

Props needed; Mat, block, strap, blanket and a wall. Namaste.

Sun Salutations
Detailed standing poses
Inverted Poses
Back bends
Twists & hip openers
Shoulder stands
Foreword bends
Relaxation and seated mediation

this is an excellant yoga tape. the routine is very well designed and the presentation and instruction are excellant. Appropriate to the level indicated.

This is a nice starter DVD at this level, but I wish it incorporated the inversions into the flow. Rodney Yee is (in my opinion) one of the best Yoga via DVD instructors. I highly recommend any of his DVD's for those who want to practice at home. He is extremely technical, but calm, and soothing. If you want to to real yoga (not hot)and build some actual strength to enhance your flexibility, Rodney is a great starting point. In addition, as an advanced yoga student, I pop in some of his lower level DVDs. They still give a great workout and he gives wonderful reminders of the basics of alignment. If only Rodney and Jason Crandell came out with a workout together. That would be heaven. ps...the advanced DVD set is GREAT!