Customer Reviews

Yogilates - Beginners Workout

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

 

 

I had already ordered beginners yoga/pilates videos from a different series and maker altogether only I wasn't 100% satisfied - I was left feeling a bit empty. So I bought this one as well. After reading the other reviews, it sounded like this one had more of the things I was looking for and it certainly did! It was as good as I was hoping and when I finished the first time, I was left feeling a little impressed. I just like the "feel" of this one...

Jonathan Urla is so super calming and gives great, easy to follow instruction. I like that his geekyness shows through a little. It makes him feel approachable and non judgmental.

I have some experience with both pilates and yoga but it's been quite a long time since I've practiced. So this video was a great refresher on the basics of yoga and pilates and a wonderful warm up for the more intense Yogilates videos. I think this would be good for not only people with little to no experience but also people with more experience that are looking for a lighter but none the less great workout.

The video is broken up into three sections - first abs, then back, and then legs which is nice if you want to do your workout in parts but once I get started I hate to stop until it's over. Sometimes though if I want a little more out of my work out or want to give a certain area some extra attention, I'll just do a particular section twice...

The studio is a small, minimal but nicely decorated loft. The music is light, relaxing and has a rhythm that flows well with your breathing. I really enjoy the feel of the atmosphere. The "background" people are pleasant too - they also make you feel comfortable.

The dead man's pose at the end is a little short but Urla is so good at getting you unbelievably relaxed that if you laid there any longer you might go into a coma... haha... It has definitely worked great as a stress and anxiety reliever for me.

This entire series is highly recommended!!! Three years later and I still haven't found anything I like better...

I am updating this review because at first I had more misgivings about it than positives. However, the more I use it the more I really have found it to be an excellent program!

By way of background I have been doing Yoga every day for the past 9 years and have over 90 programs now. I am fairly new to Pilates but it's something that has really captured my interest. When I saw that there was actually a Yogilates program I figured, "Perfect"! There are some things that I feel could be better about it but I'll just go ahead and list the positives and negatives.

In fact, I'll start though with the positives because I feel mostly positive about it, I will be frank about the negatives because I think if someone may base their purchase of a product based on reviews here they should have as clear a picture of it as possible. I'll do my best :)

1st: The sequencing is very interesting, in fact I LOVE the way it's put together. It's quite unique in many ways, for example he does the Sun Salutes in the last third of the program rather than at the beginning, and of course the way he incorporates Pilates into Yoga is very well done and I feel really great after doing this program!

2nd: It's a nice and simple studio setting with very calming background music.

3rd: I think Jonathan Urla comes across as sincere and unpretentious, he's not a "rah rah" type instructor.

4th: It is a gentle program overall which contains poses that should be accessible to almost anyone with reasonably good health.


The NEGATIVES:

1st: The movements into and especially out of postures are somewhat erratic and jerky instead of flowing and smooth. Also most of the poses are not held very long at all. I have many fast moving programs by Baron Baptiste and other teachers where the poses are flowing somewhat quickly, but they are entered and released very smoothly and the poses are held long enough to feel some benefit in them. I felt barely established in a pose before he was sort of snapping out of it. The transitions could have been much smoother (and safer) without adding much time to the overall program.

2nd: A big concern of mine is that when he demonstrates the Warrior 2 pose, his form is extremely questionable! He has his knee extended well beyond his ankle. From all I've ever learned about Yoga from my Yoga teacher, books and DVD's/Videos, you should NEVER bring you knee past your ankle in this (or any standing pose) because it puts strain on the knee.

3rd: There is very little clear breathing instruction. Pilates in particular has is a very specific approach to breathing (where in Yoga it may vary according to the type of style, some do a "three part breath" where the belly expands, some keep the belly firm using an abdominal lock called "Uddiyana Bandha", which is similar to "Pilates breathing").

In Pilates you should engage your core by bringing your belly towards your spine and breath into the back and sides of the torso rather than the belly. This is a critical thing in Pilates because it helps stabilize and move from your core. He gives ZERO instruction about that. Also, even during the Yoga poses there is not very clear or consistent breathing instruction in terms of moving on an "in breath" or "out breath.

4th: Jonathan Urla speaks VERY quickly (in bursts rather than in clearly enuciated and flowing sentences) and occasionally I found it a bit hard to understand what he was saying right away. I also found that this disturbed the overall feeling and rhythmic flow. I find that a good Yoga practice should have a subtle underlying rhythm to it and that the cadence of an instructors speech can either enhance or take away from that rhythmic flow. If the instructor suddenly says "now move your leg back" and then quickly releases the pose rather than saying it slowly enough to give you time to prepare for a smooth release, that it really hurts that flow.

IN CLOSING:

Personally, someone with a good amount of experience with Yoga and Pilates could probably use this program and get plenty of benefit from it. I for one will just go at my own pace and do the poses with form that I know is safe. However, for someone with little or no Yoga or Pilates experience I think they should start with something else (such as Yoga Zone Basics or something along those lines.

While initially I didn't think I would purchase the other DVD's in this set my feelings have changed based on how good this program makes me feel. Apparently the concerns I had about this one are not supposed to be as much an issue on the following programs.



Namaste

Jonathan Urla developed a practice that is a hybrid between yoga and Pilates and cleverly trademarked the clever name Yogilates. In this Level One DVD, he and his class go through stretching, ab and back workouts, sun salutations and standing poses, and finally more stretching and relaxation. The different exercises flow well into each other and are very accessible to a beginner. I finish this workout feeling like energized and relaxed, despite the fact that I've worked somewhat hard.

Urla is an excellent instructor. He coaches us on breathing and position, crucially important in both yoga and Pilates. He tells us how to modify the exercises if we're not ready for the full version (and the various members of his class demonstrate the modifications). His voice is calm and encouraging. And the music? I just adore the music! It's alternately trippy, mystical, and peppy.

Do this workout, and your mind, body, and soul will all thank you! Namaste.

This is the best workout video I've ever had experience with. Usually, I either can't follow them because they're too complicated or not taught well enough, or else they're way too easy. This is perfect! It's calming yet invigorating at the same time. After the first few times, you don't even have to watch the TV anymore. You can do it just by listening to his instructions. This workout has increased my flexibility, my patience, and my confidence. I can't wait to progress on to the next level, but according to the book, the first level should be practiced for at least 6 months before even thinking about going to the next level. Highly recommended video, all you need is a yoga mat and a quiet, distraction-free place to do the workout. It's about 45 minutes, and the book recommends doing it 3-5 times per week.

The DVD only has 3 menu options to 3 parts of the workout. This is done in a all white room w/bright large windows w/hardwood floors, Jonathan helped by another man, a young & a senior woman all in good shape. The music was mostly good, beat/tempo changed w/each song, 1 song grated on me such as one that was a flute that wanted to sound like a Disney movie bird chirping.

After a 3 min intro, it starts w/breathing deeply while sitting, shoulder rolls, arm raised stretching, side stretching, kundalini spinal stretching back/forth & cross-legged butterfly for 3 min.
Next is laying down w/legs at 90 degree angle & lifting head for pilates exercise, then straight legs raised & lifting head for crunch up/down, then pilates leg walking in air, laying leg splits, knee/chest stretch, straight leg raises, leg circles in air, straight leg to head, then repeated on the other side. Still laying down is bent knee spinal twists, modified bridge pose & reg bridge pose, twisted leg spinal twist & final reg laying down stretch for total of 12 min & at the 15 min mark of the dvd at end of the 1st of 3 part workout.
PART 2: Is sitting yoga butterfly & tabletop done repeatedly, sitting slightly spread straight leg forward bend, popular opposite hand/ankle stretch, straight leg forward spinal twists for a total of 4 min. Next is laying down on your stomach for single leg raise, locust, modified boat pose (superman look), child's pose, cat/cow, downward dog, child's pose, modified upward dog, child's pose & repeated several times, bended knee lunge, very modified side angle pose on bended knee, repeated on other side, standing forward bend, modified chair pose & regular chair pose & concludes w/mountain pose for a total of 12 min at the 27 min mark.
PART 3: Standing on tip tose & normal, tree pose, sun salutations: mountain, modified standing fwd bend, modified chair pose, plank, upward dog, downward dog, modified standing forward bend & back to standing & then is repeated. Next is simple standing side bends, modified chair pose 3x & then reg chair, warrior 1, warrior 2 & triangle, then is repeated on the other side. Forward bend, sitting up for a rest, twisted sage pose, crossed leg butterfly & lay down for a total of 13 min & 40 min mark.
It ends w/a slightly guided corpse pose relaxation for 3 min.

Yoga Dad wrote a great review I agree with on all points.
Before any yoga pose or pilates exercise, he would modify it a lot in/out of it before finally doing it. Case in point, the yoga chair pose, he'd barely drop to it several times, finally get into it & only hold it for 5 seconds. He also seemed to only do the modified versions of many of the yoga & pilates exercises. I did feel more stretched out & though not that worked out except for my legs on some warrior poses. During the end meditation, I did more of the yoga bridge pose & leg raises to work my abs.
The 2nd time I did this, I did only full, not modified exercise, held the harder poses longer to make this a great workout for my level.
I was hoping to escape from sun salutations, but a surprising bonus is that he shows slow how to properly/smoothly transition from plank to upward dog/cobra in a beautiful way.
He's got pretty good body awareness, talks as he demonstrates himself & seems friendly.

There's a trailer at collagevideo

I am so pleased with this dvd that I turned around and bought it as part of my father's birthday gift. He is 63 with back and neck problems and I am 35 with multiple health issues and we find this workout challenging yet gentle with a very low- impact and high relaxation factor. The teacher moves you fluidly though each pose and makes great suggestions for corrections that he must have seen over the years with beginners. I love the way I feel after I have made it through all 45 minutes and it encourages me to stay with it at least 3 times a week. I cannot recommend this highly enough! I hope you enjoy it too. Namaste.

I didn't feel like I got anything from the yoga aspect nor the pilates side. The best of either discipline did not shine through. Furthermore, I don't think this video is appropriate for beginners. I myself am relatively familiar with both practices, enough so to know that he doesn't give adequate instruction regarding how to hold each posture nor does he point out many common mistakes to avoid. On top of that, the video goes pretty quickly - so if you couple the fast pace with the good chance of being left in bad form, I wasn't impressed with this video.

I first exercised to this when it was available on Charter. I found it very easy and yet does work and stretca good amount of muscles. I am not a young physically toned 20 year old and so this I really enjoy. I dispise those bounce, bounce videos as not all of us are 20 anymore. This is very good combination of movements, I have done yoga in the past and enjoy it being utilized here. Jonathan does a very followable work out and it is very easy to keep up and not feel left out or fall behind. Most of the work outs I have found that I would like to do are rather tough when you have to lay on the floor and strain your neck and focus your glasses on the screen. But Jonathan is very clear as to what you should be doing if you can for some reason not keep your eyes glued on the TV. I really feel sorry for the people that say his video is for old people, they are wrong, but if you are looking for arobics then do not use this video. Thanks Jonathan for a great comfortable to use video that is truely helpful for people restarting to get back in better flexability.

I absolutely love this dvd. I bought it over a year a go, but put off using it. I'm usually a high intensity cardio/weight lifting type of person, but after having several injuries I was told by my ortho to try yoga and/or pilates a few times a week. After a recent knee injury I was forced to slow down, so I decided to give this dvd a shot. I'm sorry I didn't try it sooner. I've used it four times so far, and I feel like I could use it every day. Everything is explained well and the time flies. Even though it's only been two weeks my flexibility has gotten better, and I've lost 3/4 inch in my waist and a half inch on each thigh. I also bought the intermediate, and will try that one in another week or so.

I gave this a five star rating based solely on that I feel Great after the workout. I bought it after a somewhat sedentary pregnancy (not much exercise due to repeated bouts of asthma & chest colds) and a c-section, and it is definitely rebuilding the exact muscles that are so damaged and under exercised after all that. I love that the video moves along quickly without tons of repetitions (for my short attention span), and I find Jonathan Urla to have a very relaxing tone in giving direction. It took me a few viewings to hear his breathing cues, and you definitely want to start the workout with the idea in mind that you need to pay attention to that, but once I started to hear his cues, I didn't have any problems. This is not as polished a video as many are, but I find that to be a much more relaxing approach. I also was not concerned about what some reviewers think are clunky transitions, as I am not too concerned about that. I suspect that if you are experienced in yoga this beginners video is not for you, but if you are just beginning the practice this is a low key way to start. I love that I could do it fresh from surgery and feel great afterwards, and I particularly love that when I am done I feel energized rather than drained. Bravo to Urla for a beginner's workout that works.