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Power Yoga with Eoin Finn, vol 1

Power Yoga with Eoin Finn, vol 1

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $19.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Try Fluid Power Yoga Instead
Review: As a yoga video junkie, I have tried out a lot of different routines and instructors...and the best I've come across so far is Yoga for Surfers Fluid Power Yoga -- you don't even have to be a surfer to benefit from it! It's really beautiful, and Peggy Hall strikes just the right balance between the physical and spiritual sides of yoga. There are easy modifications to follow, and she's really inspiring and encouraging. She also ends with a very peceful relaxation sequence -- great images for visualizaion without getting sappy. There's a real sense of beginning, middle, and end, a full, complete practice. I also have Yoga for Surfers I, and I'll buy whatever else Peggy Hall creates!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Caught in a time warp
Review: Hippy dippy, new age instructor - the only thing missing is his psychedelic, tie-dyed t-shirt from the 60's... He'd fit in all too well with the Partridge family on their bus singing the show's theme song, "Come on, let's get happy." Too saccharine for me, and definitely too new age. Which is funny coming from me because I'm a huge Leo Buscaglia fan, and he gives off plenty of "happy" vibes too with a genuine warmth. And most of the yoga instructors I've seen on DVD I've been prone to like. But Eoin is hard to take and with a personality like his, you just wish he'd at least talk less. Unlike other yoga instructors who instruct, he rarely has anything of substance to say, just irritating goo, like icing without the cake, you dig in with your fork expecting to get cake, but all you get is an endless nightmare of sugary fluff.

If you feel you must have another power yoga dvd, and you think you might have the stomach for Eoin, better to go with his Power Yoga for Happiness which has a feature for less talk. In his case, less would definitely be more! But without a doubt, there are better power yoga instructors out there and it's worth your while to search them out.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hmmm.
Review: I have 31 yoga tapes and dvds altogether. This is the only one I can't bring myself to do. I wish I could though, because the routine itself is very good. Lots of variety in exercises. But like the other reviewer said this instructor talks incessantly, and at a rate of God knows how many hundred words per minute! Yikes. Much of it is syrupy and unnecessary. He tries to impress upon you what a nice guy he is with his extreme earnestness. His comments are bizarre. I think he thinks of himself as a would-be poet, but I've read great poetry and this guy should definitely stick to yoga. But worse than that is his inability to respect the fact that while doing yoga you need some quiet time to go deep within. He talks a mile a minute and doesn't stop to take a breath. He bombards you with nonstop babble. Very bizarre for someone who's apparently done yoga for a number of years. Til now I thought only regular gym instructors could be this hyper!

Eoin has his own distinctive manner of speech. You'll either love him or not. He's been compared to Mr. Rogers because he's so very, very earnest. I'd have to agree. Here are examples of things he says. If you don't think you'll be bothered by this go ahead and get the dvd. Because as I said, the routine itself is good... Typical comments include:

- An overuse of the word "sweet": "Inhale like sweet honey"... "exhale like sweet cherry nectar"... "gaze softly and sweetly"... and my personal favourite "Lower down, sugar, sweet and smooth"! (What would you think if a female said that last one? Nauseating, perhaps? Well it's no more palatable coming from a man). He makes many more such statements, I've just given you a few examples...

- New agey comments like: "Inhale just because you love yourself"... and "we're doing this because we love ourselves".

- And about a thousand "you guys" when addressing his mostly female group of students. It's an expression I could live with until now, but then again, hearing anything repeated ad nauseum could get on one's nerves. Someone should tell him there are other ways of addressing a group, such as "all of you", "people", "folks", or simply "now I want you to...". Or avoid the "you" altogether because it's understood. Not "you guys" "you guys" "you guys" "you guys" "you guys".

Eoin may call this talk inspirational. He refers to himself as a "blissologist" on his website. I call it unnecessary fluff which can bring out one's gag reflex... I'm drawn to the eastern/ spiritual aspect of yoga. But Mr. New Age Nice Guy has turned yoga into something else. It's almost like being back in kindergarten spending time with him. I'm glad I have David Swenson's ashtanga dvds to fall back on, as well as Bryan Kest's "Energize, Tone and Sweat" power yoga series. Thankfully neither one tells you to "lower down, sugar, sweet and smooth".

But you, on the other hand, may find Eoin a source of inspiration! And that's cool. Whatever works for you...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Keeps it real
Review: I have been practicing yoga for a little less than a year. I own about seven other yoga tapes. This is the best one I have seen. The workout is challenging but I am still capable of doing it. The secenery is great. I like the instructor too. On the other tapes I own, the instructors seem so monotone. It's nice to hear someone who has a sense of humour while they are doing yoga.

I like the short version of the practice. I have been finidingit just enough to fit in before work each day.

In all, I think it is a great dvd!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Two Thumbs Up
Review: I have been practicing yoga for a little less than a year. I own about seven other yoga tapes. This is the best one I have seen. The workout is challenging but I am still capable of doing it. The secenery is great. I like the instructor too. On the other tapes I own, the instructors seem so monotone. It's nice to hear someone who has a sense of humour while they are doing yoga.

I like the short version of the practice. I have been finidingit just enough to fit in before work each day.

In all, I think it is a great dvd!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A blast from an alternative past
Review: I knew this fellow from his Dalhousie university days when he was not so much into yogic bliss as partying and avoiding taking showers. My impression then was that he was a child of privilege experiencing a few classes at school but mostly exploring the country, the people, the parties, imbibing, having fun and so forth. With Eoin it was always *extreme* windsurfing, waterskiing, snow skiing, snowboarding, roller skating, roller blading, etc., you get the idea. This guy was ALWAYS in motion and knew every last person on campus. I cannot say if he ever graduated -- he just seemed to drift off after a couple of years. My impression now is that his video is downright HILARIOUS. I can see that it is an extension of this happy charming silly fellow I once knew... who's well onto his next "thing" -- yoga.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: YOU ARE ALL TOO FUNNY!!
Review: I was thinking of buying this DVD and I'm grateful to have read these reviews! The reviewer that wrote in under HMMM on the 29th, you are too funny! I almost lost it when I read your comment about Lower Down, Sweet and Smooth!! I agree about the comment coming from a female...Thanks for the laugh.

I will hold off on this one, and save my money, thanks to all of you!
Namaste

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A blast from an alternative past
Review: If Eoin's caught in a time warp I wish somebody would give me an instruction book to turn back the clock. He's a charming, knowledgeable, clear instructor who shows attention to detail and mindfulness about his product. I love the pace, the setting, the instruction and the flow. It takes some guts to be yourself on a dvd - the guy's the real deal and I wish him nothing but the best. He has a new dvd coming out - Yoga For Happiness - I very much look forward to receiving it.

He strikes a perfect balance between secular and spiritual, fun and serious, challenge and acceptance. A very trustworthy instructor.

I would recommend Eoin's Power Yoga to intermediate/advanced yoga practitioner's without hesitation.

I also like the new Rodney Yee - Power Yoga for the Whole Body, the Shiva Rea yoga CDs, the Baron Baptiste Live! series. I find Bryan Kest's Power Yoga series a bit strident.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: my favorite yoga dvd
Review: If Eoin's caught in a time warp I wish somebody would give me an instruction book to turn back the clock. He's a charming, knowledgeable, clear instructor who shows attention to detail and mindfulness about his product. I love the pace, the setting, the instruction and the flow. It takes some guts to be yourself on a dvd - the guy's the real deal and I wish him nothing but the best. He has a new dvd coming out - Yoga For Happiness - I very much look forward to receiving it.

He strikes a perfect balance between secular and spiritual, fun and serious, challenge and acceptance. A very trustworthy instructor.

I would recommend Eoin's Power Yoga to intermediate/advanced yoga practitioner's without hesitation.

I also like the new Rodney Yee - Power Yoga for the Whole Body, the Shiva Rea yoga CDs, the Baron Baptiste Live! series. I find Bryan Kest's Power Yoga series a bit strident.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mr. Blissology Strikes Again !!
Review: If only every video was this knowledgable! Eoin is truly a master teacher in the art of keeping the student focused on the external alignment of the movement as well as the internal sensations within your body. It is an art to talk you through many poses but still have you experience and stay in touch with your inner being. A concept that is often missing in yoga videos!

The location is stunning and the students embody every level of flexibility and control. We have shared this video with many friends in our yoga community and they are all greatful for Eoin's work.

"It's all good!" The blissology talk is inspirational and makes the planet a friendlier place.

Can't wait for his next video, I know it is gonna make us all happy!


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