Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, Challenging, and Meditative, April 28, 2004
This is another wonderful DVD by Peggy Hall. The scenery is beautiful and music is lively. Even for non-surfers this is a great practice to connection with the earth, ocean, and air. I am not a burn and sweat "Power Yoga" lover, but I liked this practice, as it was not too fast.Peggy starts out with a spinal warm-up rather than "powering" right into the vinyasa flow. The vinyasa flow is very presented beautifully and with just enough instruction. With each cycle she add on one additional pose. The only thing I would like different is that she doesn't give enough time between each cycle at mountain pose to make the mind/body connection. My favorite part of the practice is the balancing session. She includes a nice challenging balance flow. Then a final relaxation with stretches and twists ends the practice. She walks you through a visualization of sitting on the beach that is beautifully presented and energizing. As a bonus you get an Increase Lung Capacity practice that includes mudras/meditation and is explained clearly and pleasantly. She includes some Kundalini Yoga in this DVD with Breath of Fire and other breathing exercises and practice. I have the Director's Cut DVD, which costs a little more. I'm not sure the difference between this 2002 release verses the 2004 release. Mine includes some blooper clips, which are fun, fun, fun. Also, this yoga practice doesn't end dramatically with advertising or load obnoxious music like many DVDs; it ends with beautiful music where you can continue your mediation.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent workout; beautiful high quality production; , August 15, 2004
As a yoga video junkie, I've seen my share of routines, and this one is definitely up there with the best. I loved YFS I, so it was natural to check out YFS II, and I was happy to see that Peggy Hall once again did an exceptional job! Her teaching is clear and inspirational. She shows how yoga is about more than just flexibility -- it's about really making the most of each moment and living your dreams. And YFS II really helps you do that.
At about 45 minutes, the program can be done at one time, or I prefer to do the three main sections at different times. The first part, "Spinal warm-up" is great to do in the morning to get energized. Then the "vinyasa flow" is more rigorous and helps build coordination and quick reflexes. That aspect has really helped my surfing. Then the "balance and relaxation" is good for the evenings. Peggy's relaxation sequences are so good -- soothing and just the right blend of imagery and visualization.
The music is just perfect -- not the usual bland stuff of most yoga videos, but really engaging and uplifting. And the settings are gorgeous and the surfing is so inspiring.
I have never seen an exercise video made with such high quality. Every detail is in place. I highly recommend it, and look forward to seeing more from Peggy Hall.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A lot of fast sun salutations & repetitiveness, otherwise good poses, March 27, 2008
Intro: 3 min
a lot of scenes outside & Peggy Hall saying how useful yoga is.
Spinal Warm-up: 7 min
Set mostly outside w/shots of her inside as well as well as shots of another girl doing some of the poses & Peggy guides you via voice over.
A little kundalini back/forth to warm up the spine, easy seated spinal twist, reclined knees to chest, relaxed deep breathing while reclined, down dog, 3 legged down dog, child's pose, plank, sphinx w/head turned, cobra, upward dog, standing fwd bend & mountain.
This was a nice easy way to begin if stiff, not too depending & poses are held a nice amount of time to get the body used to the stretch.
Vinyasa Flow: 22 min
Simple sun salutations, then add a pose each time you redo a sun salutation like a dance routine. This portion moves fast, barely a full breathe per pose except for the first time a new pose is done but only tiny bit longer. This is almost power yoga speed. Mountain & standing fwd bend is practically non-existant when they are suppose to be done. Added poses are chair, crescent, lunge, warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle, side angle, half moon, side plank/star. Non-vinysa is hero's & standing fwd bend to relax & stretch.
Balance & Relaxation: 11 min
Here there are no more sun salutations, but mountain in between. Tree, swaying palm (same pose & slight bend to torso), flying warrior/warrior 3, crow, reclined knees to chest, modifed boat, boat, bridge, knees to chest, reclined leg split, single leg to chest, reclined spinal twist, reclined butterfly, savasana (both lying down & sitting indian style 3 min)
Bonus: Increasing lung capacity: 11 min
Breath of fire - sitting up indian style for over a min w/hand mudra & reclined with knees to chest & head lifted toward knees for over another minute or legs & head barely raised off the ground for advanced to strengthen core muscles.
Ujjayi breathing/Darth Vadar breath - slow breathing to the count of 4 w/hand mudras
Breath Retention - lengthen inhale/exhale from count of 4 for each, to count of 10 each
The music was either too low to hear or else you'd suddenly hear a looped fast Spanish guitar playing which wasn't relaxing. The poses are nice as always, her voice seems nice enough, she uses good cues, though this is not good for a first or 2nd yoga dvd because of the speed & no time for proper teaching. She rarely tells you when to breath in or out. She uses both anatomical terms & spiritual yoga terms such as where to have your intention to get the most of your energy. The pace was just too fast for me & I didn't feel a mind/body connection.
Previews: totalvid com shows the ending of the warm up when she holds poses for a while & youtube com shows the beginning/middle of the warm-up.
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