Customer Reviews

Total Yoga - The Flow Series, Water [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This tape is very similar to Total Yoga (the original) in intensity. While Total Yoga is longer, Water has more challenging asanas, like Bridge, Dolphin and Warrior 2 and 3, as well as the addition of the more challenging chaturangas (yoga pushups) in the sun salutations. One could get a nice, well-rounded yoga practice by alternating the two tapes and maybe throwing in Fire to boost the intensity every now and then.

Part of the reason I love White Lotus so much is that they do such a thorough job preparing you for the breathing, at least compared the other popular tapes out there. And the breathing is key: if you go through the asanas without the proper breath, you'll get a decent workout; if you use ujjayi breathing, you'll work up a nice sweat.

Another reason I love White Lotus is the final relaxation at the end of their tapes. It makes a huge difference to how you emerge from your practice. After almost every other yoga tape, I feel like I need a good stretch. Because of the extensive relaxation at the end, I'm always very calm and flexible afterwards.

Recommended for the experienced practitioner; newbies should start with Total Yoga.

As an on-and-off again practitioner for several years, I had been searching for a tape that was advanced enough not to explain every pose but relaxed enough to be enjoyable. In short, something challenging but not overly taxing. Total Yoga - The Flow Series, Water is just that.

Unlike other tapes (e.g. Living Arts Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss), Water incorporates a variety of asanas (it's not just the sun salutation repeated for 45 minutes) and moves at a moderate to quick pace. Background music is not distracting, and there are cues to begin and end final relaxation, so you're not lying there wondering how much time has elapsed. Flow is a solid choice for those yogis looking to complement their classes or for those who don't have time to make it there!

This tape "Water" which is the second in the flow series is a really excellent blend of intensity and grace.

It is very thorough in terms of the sequencing, and like the other "Total Yoga" tapes has an explanation of Ujayi Breathing at the beginning and a full relaxation segment at the end (which is pretty rare on most tapes, and I've got close to 50 videos at this point).

This tape takes the first volume "Earth" to the next level. Along with variations on Sun Salutations it includes three warrior variations, Half Moon, Triangle and half shoulderstand (which you can bring into a full shoulderstand if you like) and fish pose (Matsyasana) as well (which is a counterpose to shoulderstand). I'm sure I missed something here or there, but you get the idea:)

I think the best way to judge any tape (or class) is how you feel afterwards. I did this tape first thing this morning after waking up feeling awful, stiff and achy and after finishing the tape I felt (and still feel) open, alive, in a word fantastic! This tape has enough intensity to push you without killing you:)

I would say that it's definitely more of an intermediate tape, but one that should be pretty easy to do after one has mastered the "Earth" tape and is ready for a greater challenge without "going over their head".

Another set that you might want to look into is the "Sacred Yoga" set by Rainbeau Mars. It's also a Vinyasa flow type of yoga but done with a different approach. There are four tapes in the series that move from more of a beginner/gentle level and to a very challenging level when you get to the 3rd and 4th tapes.

Also, one more video I would highly recommend is the wonderful,unique and powerful video by Sherri Baptiste Freeman called "Baptiste Power of Yoga" (see my in depth review of her video on Amazon under Sherri Baptiste Freeman)as well as the wonderful work of her brother Baron Baptiste.

Getting back to "Water". As usual, the instruction is crystal clear, the presentation on this series takes the original "Total Yoga" to the next level in terms of production values (set, film work, etc) and I like that both Tracey and Ganja are doing the routine side by side which makes it easier to see the poses with different variations.

The "Flow series" approach originally created by Ganja White (and demonstrated beautifully by Ganja and his wife Tracey Rich) combines elements of ashtanga (in terms of the flowing quality) and yet moves slowly enough both in it's transitions and the length of time the poses are held to let you concentrate on your alignment.

If you're looking for a set of tapes that you can alternate with depending on your level of energy and experience I would buy the entire set "The Flow Series". If you just want an intermediate level tape the "Water" is a really excellent choice (along with the original "Total Yoga" tape which is outstanding!).

Namaste.

This is a perfect yoga practice. I love the speed and it has some of my favorite yoga postures.

I agree with the others that you should have some basic knowledge of yoga before attempting this practice. However, I disagree with the other person that said this is too easy and the poses are not held long enough. This is very challenging and brings you in touch with the balance of breath and movement. I think they hold the poses a perfect amount of time.

You start with breathing, then move to a very graceful, slow sun salutation series and warrior/triangle/etc., then on to the floor for a series of forward and backward bending, ending in shoulderstand and fish. I love the closing savasana; it is long and very relaxing music.

I also having been using "Total Yoga, the Original" and love it too. Very similar practices, but this one is slightly shorter in length.

Please check my other Yoga DVD reviews on Amazon.
Namaste'

"Water" is the second level in the "Total Yoga: The Flow Series," with Level one being "Earth," and level three being "Fire." The two instructors, a man and a woman, lead a series of many Sun Salutations and other, mostly basic Yoga poses such as warrior, triangle, lunges and boat pose. The set is incredibly simple with a soft blue background and the woman's voice narrates the workout.

The level of the workout itself is probably best appropriate for a seasoned beginner to light intermediate, in that they have at least some familiarity with Hatha Yoga. The moves are fairly basic and easy to learn though.

There are a couple of drawbacks to this workout however. For one, the poses, while fluid in their transitions, are not held long enough to really challenge an intermediate-to-advanced yoga practicioner (I'd barely began to the feel the burn of holding a pose before the instructors moved out of it) - nor long enough for a beginner to correctly learn proper form.

Second, the music is too slow-paced and coma-inducing for me - and not in a cool ambient way that I'd normally love - no, this sounds more like sweet and fuzzy muzak. I'm accustomed to hearing more hypnotic and rhythmic ambient/world type music in combination with yoga practice, as it better helps me breathe and focus (examples: Shiva Rea, Bryan Kest, or Ana Brett & Ravi Singh) although this of course, is a matter a personal preference.

Overall, I think this is a decent Yoga workout that will certainly help to relax and rejuvinate the body. While there may be far better Yoga videos available on the market, this one is by no means among the worst.

Rating: Fair

Good menu options including extra pose detailed instruction, a bonus 15 min workout of Yoga FIRE, & bio of the instructors.
This is done with beautiful production & camera work on a beautiful stage with a picture of clouds background & a man & a woman demonstrating, her doing any modifications. There is no music. It's narrated very well by telling you what to do a perfect amount of time before the demonstrators are doing it. The instructions are clear cut anatomy terms, that even a beginner should be able to follow, but no mind/body connection. The emphasis on breathing deeply is done very well. The only problem is the female narration is done with such perfectly scripted, slow, stiff, careful, perfect pronunciation that it sounds almost condescending.
I got very bored very fast with the slow pace & lack of music.
It starts with deep breathing.
The sun salutations are taught, a & B & others varation & done about 6x total, some with lunges, triangle, warrior 1, side angle, warrior 2, half moon (leg & arm), warrior 3, wide legged standing fwd bend, wide legged arm up. Mountain, standing fwd bend, laying down boat/locust with arms up also, child's boat, sitting boat, camel, bridge, sitting 1 leg stretch & both legs, seated spinal twist, dolphin (downward dog on shoulders instead of hands), child's pose, half shoulder stand/modified plow, fish & ends in corpse with little guided meditation for 10 min.
The bonus fire workout starts with sun salutations, warrior 1, lunges, twisted lunge. This workout moves faster & has many sun salutations.

This would be great if had music & less careful/stiff/slow narration & more mind/body connection. This is for beginners only or easy workout for intermediates.
If you're looking for clear-cut instructive yoga for fitness & stretching, this is for you.
If you want more mind/body connection beyond just being told when to breathe, TAKE OFF TWO stars. Try Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Rainbeau Mars, Wai Lana, Teigh McDonough, The Firm Power yoga, Better sex through yoga, Ateeka, Yogi Hari, etc. And you would be interested in increasing your energy with Kundalini yoga as well.

I bought this DVD along with it's counterpart (Fire) and between the two, I get exacly what I need and enjoy. I am a novice yogini, but I still enjoy a challenge and this dvd presents a challenge without pain. When I need a little more, I enjoy the Fire workout (not able to complete the entire DVD, but working on it) periodically. I like the flow, set, and sound used in this video. A+

This hatha vinyasa practice will make a yoga novice sweat more. The warm-up consists of different sets of sun salutations that stretch and wake up the body before engaging in continuous standing and sitting poses. The approach is clinical and straightforward with full focus on the physical instructions. Unlike Alan Finger's videos, there is no constant reminder that the student should not exert beyond what s/he can do. It is assumed from the start that the viewer will not push her/himself beyond what s/he can. However, Tracey Rich and Ganga White provide options to both the flexible and not-so-flexible. As the video title states, this is a flow of postures that awaken the body, resulting to more refreshed and strengthened muscles all over. The savasana portion is also great; the video allows for around ten minutes of entire relaxation with only the soothing background music accompanying it. If you're a beginner looking for a mid-level hatha yoga practice, this is good.

is the fact that a good, long portion of this tape involves breathing before the beginning of asana, and a lengthy relaxation period at the end. Most yoga that one finds on video/dvd these days really neglects these vital aspects. I very much appreciate sitting in meditation, practicing deep breathing before beginning asana, and the lengthy rest in corpse pose is wonderful. The asana portion is manageable for anyone in decent shape, with some yoga experience. Not for a true beginner. For that try Total Yoga Earth.

I had been taking vinyasa flow classes for almost two years, and then I realized how expensive it was getting. I've tried other yoga tapes (Rodney Yee, etc), but this workout was most like my classes...in terms of level of difficulty, and focus. It's a great supplement for when you can't fork over the $15/class. I agree with the previous reviewer who said the poses aren't held long enough, but that's my only complaint. The instructor's voice is soothing, and not annoying. The background music is not cheesy either.