Customer Reviews

Yogatopia, The Art of Vinyasa Flow ~ Power

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am so happy that I bought this video. It is a beautiful practice. I couldn't help smiling after I finished it. I felt like I had just fallen in love for the first hour after I had finished it.

You go through a very very wide variety of poses, which I am not going to begin to list. The best part is that you flow through them all, without explanatory breaks. This can also make it kind of confusing, because some of the poses were unfamiliar. But after doing the practice a few times, I am sure it will be much easier.

There is a breathing section in the beginning. (This is not part of the 60 minute workout.) There is also a warm up. The teacher is wonderful - soft spoken and soothing.

This is an intermediate workout. I wouldn't say that this is the most challenging workout in terms of strength, but you need strength to do it. This practice definitely challenges balance, endurance, and flexibility. It made me nice and sweaty. More importantly, it just made me feel ridiculously good, and I would recommend it to you whole-heartedly.

Edit: I did this workout another time watching form carefully, and it became even more challenging. I rescind what I said about not challenging strength that much - it challenges your legs and requires core strength to do it all gracefully. (Arm strength challenged through sun salutes mainly, and there aren't too many). Also, it is challenging aerobically, but not too fast (it is challenging because it doesn't really have resting poses - it is all active poses). And I still felt absolutely wonderful at the end - it is just a beautiful, graceful practice.

Also, here are some of the poses: warrior series, triangle series, sun salutation A (and B?), crow, dancer, pigeon (single and double leg), half moon... more and more

Yoga-Topia, The Art of Vinyasa Flow is an ADVANCED-BEGINNER to INTERMEDIATE level yoga DVD, with nice, subtle background music. The practice requires some STRENGTH and ENDURANCE to complete the moves. Some poses include eagle, pigeon, wheel, extended side angle, side plank, plow...but no headstands or more advanced moves. There is one instructor in a very neutral inside studio, with a voice-over narrative for direction. The one hour continual vinyasa flow of Yogatopia is DYNAMIC AND VIGOROUS, helping to create lean, strong muscles and increased flexibility.

The DVD menu includes the choice of two options of practice... one with a narrator's voice, plus background music and the second is the same practice with no voice instruction, only the music. The DVD menu also includes the option of viewing a brief teaching on breathing, explaining the rhythmic breathing patterns and the breath of fire, which is done several times during the practice. There is also an option to see an interview with the instructor, Litsa Kapantais.

The instructor executes the CREATIVE AND PURPOSEFUL moves in the Yinyasa Flow with grace and artistry. Directional instruction is done well, with additional information on occasion as to the purpose of some moves. I also appreciate the instruction to do a move "to your degree", taking into consideration the different levels and abilities of those participating (although no alternative moves are shown).

OK...Here's my main negative to the DVD... I found a problem with the TIMING of the voice-overs. (Maybe this will not concern or bother you at all). Personally, I like instruction to be given slightly BEFORE a move is done, so that if the practitioner needs to look up at the screen for visual help, he/she can view the move AS the instructor is actually DOING it. MANY TIMES, I noticed that the instructor DID THE MOVE and the VOICE INSTRUCTION was heard at the same time... or WAY too many times, INSTRUCTION came AFTER the move was completed.... so the practitioner 'at home' could not visually SEE how the move was accomplished, if needing to look up quickly at the screen for visual assistance. When you are first starting this practice take into consideration that before you know the moves well, you may need to be patient with yourself, stopping and then re-starting the DVD a few times if needed. Even though I did find that little "glitch" with the TIMING of the voice over, I still found the practice beneficial, creative and very enjoyable.....it's an ENERGETIC, balanced CONTINUAL Flow with no breaks in the practice.

This DVD is one of my favorite Yoga DVD's. It is a challenging vinyasa yoga practice that flows really well from one pose to another but this is not the same old boring power yoga routine , it is actually unique with poses I have not seen on other yoga tapes, like doing crunches in a supine eagle pose plus a lot of great transitions from one pose to another, even the sun salutations are a little bit different. This is definitely not for beginners , it's quite fast and there are poses like crow , side plank, shoulder stand and plow and there are no modifications, but there is no super advanced stuff. There is also a bonus pranayama section and an option to do the workout with no instruction.
If you like Shiva Rea's type of yoga you will probably like this one too. Highly recommended and worth the price.

I usually go to yoga classes, but when I can't make it to an actual class this DVD is almost like being in a class. The voice instructions are really clear and are perfectly timed with the movements of the video, so when you look up, she's doing what you should be. The main flow contains every element an intermediate vinyasa person could want: pigeon, plow, eagle, wheel, triangle, extended side angle, etc. It's not a multi-level workout - if you can't do the exact poses, she doesn't offer many lower-level options.

I travel quite a bit for work and use workout DVDs when I'm on the road. I have everything from the Firm (the cheesy 80's version to present), Tae Bo, AbJam, Kathy Smith, Yoga Booty Ballet, etc. in my Liabrary.(My first home work-out was actually Jane Fonda's LP!) I started Bikram Yoga over a year ago and became hooked. From there I moved into Power and Vinyasa Flow and this is what I love the most. As a result I started collecting Yoga DVDs-Sean Corn, Shiva Rae, Rodney Yea, Gurmukh's Kundalini, and several from the Gaia series. My absolute favorite among them all is "Yogatopia, The Art of Vinyasa Flow". It's a great workout and perfect series for home or hotel-you will not be disapointed! Disclaimer, I purchased the DVD around May of 2006 having no idea who Litsa was. As it turns out, she lives in the same town as I do and I've had the pleasure of taking her class in person. She's a wonderful instructor and is very inspiring to practice with. If you're looking for a great go-to practice when you can't get to class, I really encourage you to try this one, you won't be disappointed!

This dvd is my personal favorite. I enjoy this dvd to no end. This dvd will work you to no end. There are some poses that I have never seen anywhere else such as doing crunches while your legs and arms are in eagle pose. Although I don't have the shoulder flexibility to cross my arms in eagle pose it is definitely something I am working towards. This video is just the way I like it, not a whole lot of distractions in the background for fluff. I only have two small criticisms as far as this video is concerned. One is the filming. There are a few times when Ms. Kapantais is doing a folding pose, and although she tells you what you should be doing, there is no way to tell because the camera isn't showing how to do it, and there are times when the camera zooms in and then zooms out for no apparent reason although that is done very rarely. Two-I could have done without the candles around the elevated mat. I'm guessing that Ms. Kapantais was trying to set the mood, but there was really no need for it. If you can live with these two small distractions then I strongly suggest this video to anybody who wants to improve their strength and flexibility.

After purchasing several yoga DVDs- I have finally found the ONE! This workout incorporates the basic principles of Vinyasa without the mind numbing bantor of other DVDs I've purchased. It allows you to enjoy the tranquility of a yoga class in your home. The workout itself is challenging but not overwhelming. I introduced my sister to this DVD, she was interested in yoga but felt intimidated by local yoga studios. As a novice, she felt challenged but confident and continues to practice (which by the way, has done wonders for her arthritis!) As a avid yogi, when unable to get to the studio, I can use this DVD and still get a great workout. This is a great DVD!!
Namaste!

Everyone wrote great reviews, to add with what I agree & disagree with:
The production values are well done except on the Main Flow which has her voice over & music... the voice over is so loud that you cannot hear the great music unless you want to disturb the neighbors. In the Music Flow which is the same thing w/music only, it's wonderful to hear the full rich sounds (but I still need voice direction).
I agree Litsa is very calming both in movement & in voice & the spiritual reminders were lovely. The flow is great as well as the large amount of different poses, though a little repetitive with warrior I series in the sun salutations. She does better with the warrior 2/side angle flow & beyond. I enjoy the backwards/reverse warriors, the bound poses, etc. that aren't on most yoga dvds.
This is definitely a fast-paced session. You go in/out within 1-2 breaths, which for me is enough to go into it & she's already going out since I take my time. I've done Rodney Yee's power yoga which I loved & Kabalah yoga which was holds it for 4-6 breaths is my perfect pace, the one minute holds bore me.
I did have trouble following her cuing since she goes so fast, she can only give basic body placement reminders & the English pose name. Since the voice over is WAY after what she is doing on screen, it's almost of no help to even turn your head to look. Many times I had to stop & rewind to see exactly how to bound my arms correctly which ruined the flow for me & not hearing the music also disappointed me & I didn't finish the dvd because of it.
This would be 5 stars if the cuing/timing & sound/music levels were fixed.

Litsa Kapantais's website here: yoga-topia net
Review w/almost perfect content of this dvd: videofitness com/reviews/kapantais-y-vf-pwc php (add dot where there is a space)

This great yoga dvd lasts for more than one hour with constant flow from start to the end. If you like to hold for several breaths on each asana, this video is not for you. It is fast and vigorous. I choose some other yoga dvd to follow on days my balance is not so good, because I feel it needs great concentration. This vinyasa flow covers lots of poses, I especially love the twisted poses which releases the deep hurting muscle in my hip and low back. Dynamic, sweating serenity.

This is a good yoga dvd, but it could have been great. The vinyasas/poses are great, sound is nice, it's a good workout, I like the way Litsa Kapantais takes you through the workout. So what's the problem? Well, the narration is out of sync with the workout. It's okay at first, not too bad, but about halfway through the dvd, you look up and find that what's showing on your TV screen is about two poses ahead of where the narration actually is. This is a bummer. A few of the poses are different than what I'm used to, so it would be nice to glance up at my TV to see if what I'm doing looks right.

Otherwise, it's a pretty good yoga workout and maybe after doing it more than a few times, I'll get used to the synchronization. Maybe this doesn't bother others.