2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT primarily a 'yoga' stretching program!, July 6, 2007
This review is from: Stretching for Serenity (DVD)
I generally do not write reviews. However, after reading the one review, I felt I needed to add a different perspective.
Many 'stretches' are used by differing exercise approaches. For example, touching one's toes could be viewed as 'yogic' or 'military' or even traditional western (as I had to do them in grammar school)! What makes a stretch uniquely 'yoga' is not the form of the stretch but what accompanies that stretch. Yogic 'stretches' utilize breathing techniques and energy flow lines in the body to achieve the flow of prana through the muscles and joints of the body. Also, a true yoga program would include an ending shavasana (rest) or an ending breathing meditation. This one had neither. Although it did begin with a relaxation (which Jennifer Howard termed "shavasana", it did not focus on breathing (to prepare for the stretching...as a yoga stretching program would do) nor did it focus on dantien breathing (which a taiji/qigong stretching program would do). It was simply a relaxation to explore how the body felt.
While I could agree that many might not have done these particular stretches in another stretching program, the stretches would be familiar not only to yoga practitioners but also to pilate practioners as well as dancers! Also, yogic stretching programs DO NOT utilize therabands. Therefore, to state that this is a 'yogic' stretching program would not be, IMHO, an accurate assessment of the program.
If one is looking for a 'yogic' stretching program, any beginner's yoga program would do. Also, programs such as Taoist Yin Yoga (Paul Grilley) or Free the Hips/Spine (Kali Ray) would be more appropriate. Although I have been doing yoga for about 4 years and usually do 'yoga' stretching programs, I chose to do this one precisely because I perceived it to be more a dancer's stretching program!
In reality, it is not a pilates or a yoga or a dancer's stretching program. It is, rather, a generally good stretching program that utilizes pilates, yoga, dancing, and taiji concepts! (BTW, the ending is uniquely taiji!)
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Like Yoga? Love This., May 23, 2007
This review is from: Stretching for Serenity (DVD)
I gave this DVD 3 stars only because it may appeal to yoga lovers. I, personally, am not a fan of yoga and would not have purchased this if I knew before hand what this DVD entailed. Anyway, she seemed very informative, did not rush through anything. I am sure this will be very valuable for someone who likes this sort of stretch routine.
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