Baron Baptiste's Power Yoga 3-Pack

Rating:
Summary: Get Baptiste Live! INSTEAD
Review: I have never written a review, but I felt I needed to for this one because I am SO disappointed! I was so psyched to see a "new" power yoga set from Baron - but this isn't new. Its a re-release of the series he did in '96. I'd thought it could be, but in the description of these 3 DVDs they give a new title for each, so I decided to gamble. I'm very sorry I did!

I've only looked at the first DVD, but knowing that the 3 were filmed as a series, I'm not looking forward to #2 and #3. This one is filmed on an ugly set (I don't know how else to describe it!) with about 8 "yoga models" (not real people in a real class) wearing matching outfits probably provided by Danskin. His teaching is 7 years less experienced and it shows. And the music -- electronica from the '80s. Not music for yoga practice.

I LOVE Baron Baptiste. If you want to do Baptiste Power Yoga, buy his LIVE! DVD. In it, you get 3 separate workouts, his instruction is clear and safe, the people in the class have real bodies, and the music is by Krishna Das -- wonderful for practice. (If it is out of stock at Amazon, try his personal website: ...)

Rating:
Summary: an older series that yogis will not want to miss!
Review: I just finished reading the other reviews for this DVD set, and I felt I had to respond. Although Baron has many excellent yoga DVDs on the market, NONE are as comprehensive as this set. I began my love affair with yoga when I ordered the VHS versions of these three DVDs and have led a delightfully life-changing practice ever since.

The first DVD, The Initial Challenge, is PERFECT for the yoga newbie or the sedentary, as the workout is split up into three reasonable workouts, the first teaching the basics of vinyasa sun salutations, the second on standing and strengthening poses, and the third on abs. This is a thorough and body-changing introduction to Power Yoga.

The second DVD, The Next Challenge, is for the advanced beginner or intermediate level. It is considerably longer and more challenging than the first DVD, and you may find the transition between these two a bit daunting, especially if you have "mastered" the first and are feeling pretty good about your yoga abilities, and then return to feeling like an unbalanced clod when you pop in this more advanced workout. DON'T DESPAIR...ease into it, and it will work miracles in your life. It did in mine.

The last DVD, The Ultimate Power Challenge, is actually shorter than the second DVD...I've never been sure why. It is the most classically-based program by far, and truly requires the strength and flexibility of an intermediate to advanced yogi to complete. It was one year of patient personal practice before I was able to regularly complete this workout. Even when I began studying for yoga teacher certification, I found that it was the foundation of this third DVD that most prepared me.

If you can get this set...don't miss it! There's nothing else like it out there!

Rating:
Summary: Baron Baptiste's Power Youga 3 pack
Review: This DVD is a great value. First, it has an outstanding yoga for athletes section, with a pre-sport warmup, post-sport leg-strengthening and stretching series, and a terrific abdominal routine. This alone is worth the price of the DVD if you are any kind of athlete and want to play harder and smoother with fewer aches and pains. The ab routine is also among the best I've ever seen, in that it focuses on using the abdominals to move the whole body instead of just "burning" the abs for aesthetics. Workout two is a really challenging workout on the order of Bryan Kest's 1995 series, with slightly more emphasis on balancing poses and slightly less emphasis on holding leg poses. This is one of the most challenging yoga workouts out there and will leave you feeling great. Number three is less spectacular but still a good workout -- it is essentially the Ashtanga first series cut in half and toned down to make it accessible to less adventurous yogis. Workout #3 is also good because it introduces the key yoga concepts of yoga breathing, internal muscle control or "locks" and the use of the gaze to aid concentration. Yes, the feng shui of the set may not be all it could be, Baron wears a silly headband and the music is cheesy, but really, who cares? When my VHS tapes of these workouts wear out, you know I will be getting this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Cheesy Music, Excellent Yoga - Diamonds in the Rough
Review: This DVD is a great value. First, it has an outstanding yoga for athletes section, with a pre-sport warmup, post-sport leg-strengthening and stretching series, and a terrific abdominal routine. This alone is worth the price of the DVD if you are any kind of athlete and want to play harder and smoother with fewer aches and pains. The ab routine is also among the best I've ever seen, in that it focuses on using the abdominals to move the whole body instead of just "burning" the abs for aesthetics. Workout two is a really challenging workout on the order of Bryan Kest's 1995 series, with slightly more emphasis on balancing poses and slightly less emphasis on holding leg poses. This is one of the most challenging yoga workouts out there and will leave you feeling great. Number three is less spectacular but still a good workout -- it is essentially the Ashtanga first series cut in half and toned down to make it accessible to less adventurous yogis. Workout #3 is also good because it introduces the key yoga concepts of yoga breathing, internal muscle control or "locks" and the use of the gaze to aid concentration. Yes, the feng shui of the set may not be all it could be, Baron wears a silly headband and the music is cheesy, but really, who cares? When my VHS tapes of these workouts wear out, you know I will be getting this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: This is my first experience both with Baron Baptiste and with power yoga. I started with the more relaxed yoga practice but found it only acceptable before bed. I switched to pilates for about a year and found it better, but felt only slightly challenged. Then I took a gamble on Baron Baptiste and this "power yoga" thing. The poses are challenging and I find myself really working to get through them. My muscles work in a manner very similar to how they work when I'm lifting weights. I also love that I feel the burn well after I'm done. Yoga that makes me want to take on the world instead of taking a nap.

Another reviewer complained that the series only repeated his other work. I am not familiar with his work, so I cannot comment on this. Dvd 1 is divided into 3 workouts - sun salutations, lower body and abs - which you may do together or individually if you're pressed for time. I found the smaller segments challenging enough. Dvd 2 and dvd 3 are not broken into segments. This is the only reason that I cannot give this set 5 stars. It's a rare occasion that I have 75 minutes or 45 minutes to devote to the workouts. I also have not built up the stamina (yet) to be able to last for this long either. It is a problem for me that you can't easily select the area you prefer to focus on.

Overall, I love the set and power yoga. This is my favorite workout by far. I'll be checking out the Live series for a little variety, since I am doing these dvds daily.

Rating:
Summary: Baron Baptiste's Power Youga 3 pack
Review: This pack of 3 DVDs includes the initial challenge, the next challenge and the ultimate challenge. All three are very technical, with easy to follow instructions. Baron's voice is easy to listen to and the only reason I am selling it, is that I have another set as a gift.