Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It certainly delivered what I expected and more., October 16, 2005
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...
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I just LOVE this workout!, May 14, 2005
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.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Program Overall! , December 24, 2005
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
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