Customer Reviews

Rodney Yee: Yoga Burn

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I did this one this morning, and I love it! It's an hour and really is quite a bit different from Rodney's usual stuff...it's not that the poses are held any longer than usual, but they're executed really slowly (though not TOO slowly, at least for me, lol) and repeated 2-3x.

It's hard to describe, but it almost feels like a dance, the way he puts it all together...he's soooo graceful anyway, and this really showcases that fact. I was able to get into wide-legged forward bend much deeper than I usually am able, and I think it's the way he sequences this pose with others...i.e., he twists (slowly, of course) to the right, holds the pose, drops down to the left with right arm extended overhead, turns into left one-legged forward bend, then comes through into wide-legged forward bend (hope I explained this well enough! lol). It's all done so gracefully it makes me want to be just as graceful.

Some of it felt pretty challenging...he does a very slow 10-count-up, 10-count-down cobra pose 3x that I really felt. He also does "baby cobra" pushing into downward dog (again, very slowly) with knees bent, gradually extending the knees into full downward dog. This one really felt good to me.

Also, there's an audio option to turn off all talking except for his announcing each pose as he goes into it...I didn't use it, but it's there for anyone who'd be interested in such a thing.

I usually do from 30 minutes to an hour of some kind of yoga a day, usually following my cardio or weights, or whatever I'm doing that day, and I found this to be at a moderate level for me. I really love the way it's all put together and the way it flows at a nice slow pace, yet still feels challenging enough in all the right places...can you tell I really like this one?

This is a beautiful, mindful, and potentially powerful yoga practice. It is true that there are no big surprise poses in this sequence--all are well-known, fairly basic level poses. The main audio option contains some instruction, but mostly about moving into and out of the poses; there is not much about alignment within the pose. Complete beginners may need more instruction and modifications than available here. The other audio option omits instruction at all, containing only prompts for moving from one pose to another. The basic poses, simple instruction, and deemphasis on speed makes this dvd a good place for advanced beginners who have some knowledge of the poses to deepen their understanding of them, and for anyone, irrespective of level, to work on the mindful awareness aspect of their yoga practice.

The intensity in this dvd comes, not from speed or difficulty of poses, but from deep, slow, conscious repetition of fundamental asanas, with the time to build awareness of movement into, within, and out of them. Yoga is not meant to be a purely physical activity. The awareness aspect of yoga is rightfully considered advanced practice, and the familiar poses presented here allow the mind to take precedence. The point is not merely physical endurance (though, if done right, this sequence will also challenge the body in that way). The purpose is at least twofold: physically, to develop long and lean muscle through slow repetition of simple postures, and mentally, to use the simplicity of the poses as a platform for developing presence and awareness with each pose. Yoga is, after all, about the mind-body connection, and this practice aims at allowing the time and space for working on this crucial element. For those ready to move their yoga practice beyond the physical dimension while still developing the body, this is a lovely practice dvd.

The asanas are presented in small cycles of three poses or so with about three repetitions each, so it is hard to present an exact sequence, but here is a list of poses, roughly as they appear in the practice: Staff, Flying Crossed Legged Pose, Cobbler, Half Boat, Boat, Simple Crossed Leg Twist, Cat, Down Dog, Plank, Cobra, Single-legged Down Dog, Triangle, Warrior 2, Standing Forward Bend, Chair, Standing Side Stretch, Warrior 1 and 2, Low Lunge with backbend, Low lunge with hands in reverse prayer, Bow, Cobbler with forward bend, Head to Knee forward bend, Wide Angle forward bend series, Seated Forward Bend, Back Stretch, Reclined Bent Knee Twist, Bridge, Reclined Leg Stretch, Reclined Crossed Leg to Chest, Corpse.

I'm fairly new to yoga and was intrigued at doing a "slow flow" workout. At worst I thought I would have a relaxing practice that I could alternate with a more vigorous workout. Yoga Burn surprised me! I'm finding that the more I get into the slow pace, work on mindfulness and detail the more I feel the "burn". I feel it in my abs and afterwards my upper arms feel like they have been really worked out. My chest also feels more open and free than it has in years. The key as Rodney says is keep it slow and keep your mind with it. Rodney ends the practice by saying "Thank You" "Namaste", I find myself saying "No, thank you! Rodney" for a great DVD!

I know this video received some negative feedback and so I was reluctant to purchase it. I'm a yoga instructor and I found Rodney's sequencing to be very original as well as some of the poses. Those who gave this negative feedback might be looking for a more active session. I like yoga both ways and this video is great for building strength and going within. I'm very happy with my purchase.

I've been practicing yoga on my own (no classes) for a little over a year. I decided to invest in a few yoga videos to keep me moving at a good pace and really improve my body's tone and muscle shape.

Rodney Yee is a master yogi. Through this DVD, watch Rodney move slowly from position to position creating a fat-burning series of yoga moves. His body is perfectly sculpted and toned, and watching him, I was able to make my body mimic his.

At first, the moves were not that difficult, and they did not "burn" but as the workout continued, my body began to really feel the positions and open up. At some point, I even began yelling back at Rodney, "I've got it this time!" I felt so proud that I was able to easily follow along through most of it, and when I couldn't get it right the first repition, the move was repeated for both sides 3 times until I had it down!

This is great for intermediate yogis, even beginners who have a knowledge of the positions! I would reccomend this and other Rodney Yee DVDs to anyone practicing yoga who wants a little bit more intense workout.

While this instruction was not difficult to complete, I was pleased to feel it in several areas the following day. As always, Rodney Yee ever pleasant and soothing in this practice. Poses are held longer than usual and repeated several times for an overall effect.

Some people might not feel this as a challenge. Moving slow and listening to your body can be a challenge in it's self. You should have some basic knowledge of yoga postures since there is no instruction on the form of the postures.

Rodney starts off on the floor with some very slow, repeated movements using your core. He does a very creative version of spinal twist. He moves on to a series of very slow moving sun saluations with warrior and this is a wonderful way to get in touch and improve your practice of faster moving sun salutes. And again, a very creative version of thunderbolt. Then on to the floor for a series of forward bending, backward bending, and leg stretching. Again, very creative moves that I have not seen on any other yoga DVD.

"Yoga Burn" is a wonderful alternate workout for those experienced in yoga, or those just wanting a way to relax after a stressful day. This DVD will help balance the rest your Yoga collection.

Namaste!

This video has taken my moment-by-moment awareness of my body to a new level. I've been using Mr. Yee's Power Yoga videos for a couple of months now, and I am usually aware only of the parts of my body that hurt during each pose, or I'm mentally with my kids, or at work, or on household issues, etc.

My first few tries with this video seemed long and boring, until today. Because of the slow pace of the work-out, I started to notice the sensations throughout all of my body, not just the parts that ached. My mind emptied of anything else, and patiently started to experience the sensation of being fully inside my own skin. This was a new experience. I was very surprised when the tape was over-- the time flew by.

This tape does not substitute for the more active Power Yoga workouts, but it teaches an essential mindfulness without which I realize that I will not have full control over my weight. I tend to eat more in response to my emotions than in response to my body. The awareness of the body emphasized in this tape, is essential to changing that habit.

Thank you, Mr. Yee.

This DVD is for beginners and will not provide a challenging practice for anyone who has been working with Power Yoga: Total Body or Energy Balance Yoga, two of Rodney Yee's other recent DVDs. I was disappointed. If you are looking for a practice that emphasizes basic postures, however, you will like this DVD. Rodney Yee is a great teacher; "Yoga Burn" was probably not the best title for this particular practice, since it implies that the postures and pace are advanced. They aren't.

I am not an advanced Yoga kinda guy, but I do practice Yoga to augment my other strength and cardio routines. Yoga is great for improving and maintaining flexibility and core strength. I have back problems and practicing Yoga helps me with that as well. I have several Yoga DVDs, with different instructors, which I rotate in my practice. My favorite has been Rodney Yee's "Power Yoga-Total Body Workout". "Total Burn" uses some of the same exercises, but at a slower pace which really does give a good...burn, especially in my abs and triceps. Some of my favorite exercises, like upward bow and warrior three, were not included in this practice, but if all of my favorites were included it would have been 90 minutes long not 60. I was looking for something that would give me a more focused stretch and ab workout and "Total Burn" does that. I would still recommend that someone who is interested in practicing Yoga, develop a library of various DVDs. Variety helps to round out your practice and maintain interest. The music is a bit loud, but that is the only thing I don't like about this DVD. Rodney Yee does indeed Rock.

I was reading through the many reviews of this DVD and realized that I've actually owned Yoga Burn for about 2 years and never used it! I think what happened was I bought Yoga Burn at the same time I bought Yee's Advanced Yoga DVD Rodney Yee - Advanced Yoga. It took me all of 2 minutes of previewing the Advanced DVD to stop it and put it away. I put the Burn DVD on the shelf with it, assuming that it would be equally difficult; they'd been collecting dust together ever since!

But reading the other reviews recently made me realize that I can probably do the Burn DVD, so I pulled it out and tried it (the Advanced Yoga DVD is still collecting dust, and will probably be for many years to come). Now that I've tried the Burn DVD, I understand what the debate is about, and I think I can help bring some clarity for those who are wondering if they should purchase it.

1. For those who are afraid it will be too difficult: this DVD CAN be done by beginner-level folks!! The entire DVD is comprised of basic poses. The difficulty only comes from having to hold them for a longer period of time. As you practice, you will gain strength, flexibility, and the agility you will need for transitioning from pose to pose. If it's too difficult at first, just do as much as you can and you will eventually do the whole thing with purpose, integrity, and grace.

2. For those who are afraid it will be too easy: ok, I may not be the MOST fit person in the world. But I'm fit enough to do Rodney Yee's Power Yoga - Total Body Workout or Shiva Rea's Fire Practice without collapsing! If this DVD is practiced with purpose and you INTENTIONALLY use the muscles that the poses are designed to target, you will not be able to help but feel a burn. Now, exactly how MUCH burn will depend on your fitness level, but there's no way you won't generate some heat.

3. For those who are afraid there won't be enough instruction: Yee explains during the introduction that the main focus of this DVD is in the slow, purposeful TRANSITIONING from one pose to the next. I take this to mean that people who purchase this video (even beginner-level folks) should already be somewhat familiar with basic poses as well as with how to breathe.

If you are not familiar with basic poses and breathing, then you should also purchase Yoga for Beginners (Patricia Walden's DVD is an exceptional source of basic instruction Yoga for Beginners, Yoga Journal - Yoga Practice for Flexibility). But don't let that stop you from purchasing Yoga Burn. Once you're confident with the poses and breathing, you can pop in the Burn video when you're in the mood for a good, extremely low-impact workout that will improve your strength, flexibility, and mindfulness.

4. For the folks who are afraid it will be boring: I'm not a big Dr. Phil fan these days, but I agree with him when he says that "bored people are usually BORING people." If you're getting too used to ANY video that you practice, just make a choice to spice it up! Creative folks who are very familiar with a DVD and its poses will naturally begin to alter the poses to make them more advanced or more interesting.

Of course, I can't speak for anyone else, but I myself did not find this one boring. Actually it was a welcome (albeit temporary) break from my ongoing (and ever-intensifying) love affair with Shiva Rea Shiva Rea: Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Shiva Rea: Yogini, Yoga Shakti, Shiva Rea - Fluid Power - Vinyasa Flow Yoga.

Anyway, to sum it all up...for those who are wondering if they should buy Yoga Burn: Just Do It! Hope this helps : )