Rating: Summary: An "Info-Mercial" of Yoga Review: This is the goofiest yoga dvd I've seen so far. Borrowed from my Sister and it will go back to her. I really wouldn't consider this a serious yoga practice. It's more of a gym-style workout you'd find in LA ;o)
Try Shiva Rea's DVD. It is much better. Check my other yoga reviews on amazon for more.
Rating: Summary: Finally, Bryan Kest on DVD for some true Power Yoga Review: This review is for all of the average yoga people out there. Unless you are in love with Bryan you will probably not enjoy this DVD. It starts with his seemingly endless pontification of his yoga workout philosophy. When the workout does finally begin he never shuts up. Instead of a soothing relaxing voice as in his previous tapes, his voice comes across as hard and abrasive. I actually got a headache and stopped halfway through. Personally, it's not him. I blame bad writing, directing and lighting. The production value of this DVD is terrible which leads to a less than enjoyable experience. Bryan, did you just knock out this DVD over lunch and publish it for the cash? While not on DVD, stick to his Power Yoga series from 1995.
Rating: Summary: Please shut up Review: This review is for all of the average yoga people out there. Unless you are in love with Bryan you will probably not enjoy this DVD. It starts with his seemingly endless pontification of his yoga workout philosophy. When the workout does finally begin he never shuts up. Instead of a soothing relaxing voice as in his previous tapes, his voice comes across as hard and abrasive. I actually got a headache and stopped halfway through. Personally, it's not him. I blame bad writing, directing and lighting. The production value of this DVD is terrible which leads to a less than enjoyable experience. Bryan, did you just knock out this DVD over lunch and publish it for the cash? While not on DVD, stick to his Power Yoga series from 1995.
Rating: Summary: Awesome Workout! Review: This routine is awesome! In under an hour, it worked my upper body, quads, and abs. It is a yoga routine and exercise video at its finest. You don't have to be an expert yogi to do the moves but the moves are challenging enough and the workout smooth enough for people at all levels to get something out of it.Bryan Kest does talk for about 5 minutes in the beginning before he begins the routine but his words help you transition from whatever you were doing before into a mindset for yoga. Whether you're standing, like in the video, or in child's pose at the beginning of your yoga session, it is always important to calm and clear your mind before starting your practice.
Rating: Summary: TRULY INTENSIVE, TRULY CHALLENGING! Review: Well I just did this Intensive Body Sculpting program for the first time and it was really tough! Tough in a good way but tough! After almost 8 years of daily yoga practice, years of classes and with a collection over 70 yoga videos that I rotate day by day, it still amazes me how my body,mind and spirit, are continuously challenged in new ways. Depending on the sequencing, rate of flow and length of time the asanas are held in a given practice it can feel like the first time one has practiced yoga.. This particular program is a power yoga flow that will challenge you especially in your lower body, particular the legs and hips. Don't worry though, you're whole body will be challenged, but those legs and hips should be REALLY burning. If not, I salute you and want to know what you're eating, supplements your taking and congratulate you on superman/superwoman genetics :). Of course, to be truly doing yoga and not just exercise, there is much more than the physical practice involved, the mindset is crucially important. Bryan really goes into all this in his introduction. I personally like his introduction and feel it's helpful to listen through it before each practice to prepare you mentally for what is to come (that's just a personal viewpoint of course). All that being said, there is no doubt that if you do this program you'll be doing a VERY physical practice. Anyway....., This program which is about 50 or so minutes (once the intro is over)is pure Kest. I have his older videos "Energize, Tone and Sweat" and this is definitely up there with those in terms of challenge. Those are EXCELLENT videos by the way and highly recommended. The primary difference is that on this program you do a really long series on one side (primarily standing poses though not exclusively) before moving on to the next. I have to admit that I had to take breaks and go into child's pose on more than one occasion because I was getting so fatigued on each side before the sequence was over. I will definitely try to do this program on a regular basis because it definitely brought to light many areas that could stand to be strengthened. Not only that but it is one heck of a practice to use to develop one's in the face of a physical challenge. If you are looking for a full body workout which will push you to the max I highly recommend this. I don't think I would recommend this as a first video for a brand new beginner because I think that it's too intense, but if you buy Bryan Kests "Original Power Yoga Set" you should in time be able to work up to this one by using the other programs first. Other good preparatory programs I would recommend are: Rodney Yee's Power Yoga For Beginner Series (Flexibility, Stamina and Strength-3 tape set) which are challenging but not as long or as tough (though the Strength tape is actually very tough compared to the other two). These are also only about 25 or so minutes long so very easy to fit into one's schedule. Baron Baptistes "Hot Yoga" three tape set are quite challenging along with his "Soul Of Strength Live", "Core Strength" and "Unlocking Athletic Power". "Power and Precision" is also an excellent program. The "Core" and "Athletic" programs are pretty short, around 25 or so minutes while the others are longer (45-60 minutes). Sherri Baptiste Freeman n (Baron's sister) has a very different style of yoga that is still quite challenging with her program "Baptiste Power Of Yoga" which I highly recommend. Rainbeau Mars "Sacred Yoga" set is a 4 tape set that really covers all bases, from a wonderful beginner tape thru to very challenging (but not as hard as the Kest Stuff). These are also reasonably short, around 30-35 minutes or so. Total Yoga's Flow Series are another set that builds incrementally from it's "Earth" program (the easiest) to "Water" (more intermediate) to Fire (incredibly tough,). Of course Bryan's earlier set that I mentioned is also fantastic, but even the first one is pretty tough (Energize) so you may want to check out one of the others to work up to it. Namaste
Rating: Summary: No sweat here! Review: Well, after being absolutely stiff and sore for days after I started doing BK's original power yoga series, I couldn't wait to try out the new tapes. Bummer. Not very good, I'm sorry to say. The pace is tooooo slow, the moves are fairly basic (although options are given), and it just feels uninspired. If you are just starting, these would probably suffice, but I would recommend that you quickly purchase the entire series from 1995. The only downside is the format--no DVD option on those.
Rating: Summary: No sweat here! Review: Well, after being absolutely stiff and sore for days after I started doing BK's original power yoga series, I couldn't wait to try out the new tapes. Bummer. Not very good, I'm sorry to say. The pace is tooooo slow, the moves are fairly basic (although options are given), and it just feels uninspired. If you are just starting, these would probably suffice, but I would recommend that you quickly purchase the entire series from 1995. The only downside is the format--no DVD option on those.
|