Rating: Summary: I've only tried two, but this is much better than the other! Review: I'm kinda doing Yoga on my own, so I started with Yoga for Dummies. That's a good disk, but you have to wade though the instruction on every viewing. Kathy's THE NEW YOGA CHALLENGE is a wonderful disk and daily experience, but put the emphasis on Challenge. It's tough for me the nubie, but I love it. Best thing, it's got a routine you can do in front of the TV ... all of it or part of it. A bargain!!!!!!!
Rating: Summary: I've only tried two, but this is much better than the other! Review: I'm kinda doing Yoga on my own, so I started with Yoga for Dummies. That's a good disk, but you have to wade though the instruction on every viewing. Kathy's THE NEW YOGA CHALLENGE is a wonderful disk and daily experience, but put the emphasis on Challenge. It's tough for me the nubie, but I love it. Best thing, it's got a routine you can do in front of the TV ... all of it or part of it. A bargain!!!!!!!
Rating: Summary: Better than many I've tried Review: I've tried at least 30 different yoga videos, and have only kept 2/3 of what I've tried, and this video is a keeper! I can't stand sun-salutations, but will keep this tape because it isn't repetative or boring. I love the poses used in this yoga workout, especially when they do downward dog and raise one leg behind you. I do find most of the postures challenging. The only irritation is there seems to be a bit of behind the scenes conflict with Kathy Smith & Rod Stryker. For example: 1)The opening speech is long by Kathy and Rod feels he has to elaborate on that even more. 2)He makes a comment saying "it works doesn't it?" like it works you out and she doesn't respond, perhaps to not talk much, but 3)t hen just after a tougher part, he askes her if she is breathing as hard as he is. Kathy snubs him and says "not quite" and he has to say "be proud if you are" to let the viewers know that if you feel you need to breath it is natural or Kathy would have led you to believe he or the viewers is in worse shape than she is. But he was talking while doing the workout, too. 4) Later he says Kathy is more flexible than he is and likes to show it. It was one of those comments that you weren't sure if he was paying her a compliment or insulting her in a nice sort of way to get even. These were minor and short, but after a few workouts, I notice it more and wonder what their problem was?Other than whatever friction was between them, perhaps sexual tension, contract conflicts, or just plain jealousy, the workout is great-relaxing and invigorating at the same time.
Rating: Summary: Great Yoga Workout--Kathy Smith in Name Only Review: Kathy Smith on the cover of this tape is a little misleading. She shares the stage with Rod Stryker who is the yoga guru behind the sequences and workout. He is very skilled, has a lovely calm manner, and leads you through a balanced and definitely challenging sequence of poses. I've been using this tape for five years. Be forewarned, in the early days, I was always sore afterwards--make use of the less difficult posture suggestions until you are VERY comfortable with the tape and your ability. Still one of my favorites.
Rating: Summary: The best and most advanced yoga workout on the market! Review: One should have already reached certain levels of flexibility in order to be able to enjoy and appreciate the flow of poses. The athletic routine moves quickly but directions are given well in advance so one knows what's coming next. One might not be able to do some of the poses towards the end but that depends on ones flexibility and strength. It's the only yoga tape that will make you shed few drops of sweat. One really stretches well and feels warmed up and full of energy. Kathy Smith gives excellent guidence. It's trully worthed to have this workout!
Rating: Summary: Pretty Good-Competitive stars Review: The asanas displayed in this video are pretty standard, nothing terribly complicated, but in Yoga there is always room for improvement, and one can always try to be more flexible in even the most basic of poses. Therefore the videotape won't necessarily go out of style. Also, although I might not yet have achieved the same degree of flexibility as Smith and Stryker, I'd still say the video is a bit slow paced and boring. Not only that, but I found Smith and Styker to be a bit competitive with each other, trying to one up each other a bit. Styrker made some comments about Kathy being more flexible and liking to show it off, etc. I sensed a bit of competitiion, which I honestly feel has no place in the practice of Yoga, which is to eliminate competition and go at your own pace. Honestly, I think Kathy Smith is not at her best when taking a back seat to another person's instruction, and she needs to, or rather should be, the star of the show. I sensed a bad vibe between the two which sort of ruined it for me.
Rating: Summary: Great! Balanced and challenging Review: The box labels this workout as intermediate/advanced, but I see it as more in the intermediate range since I'm an advanced beginner and was able to do virtually all of the exercises. I found difficultly level combined with the length of the workout to be a little too challenging for me, but there were several things I liked about the tape: *The tape is done with live voice rather than voice-over like most yoga videos. I thought this made it a little more down to earth; there's more "you can do it" type conversation. However, you should be aware that the routine is led by Rod Stryker--Kathy is there but only makes the occasional comment. *The routine wasn't at all new-agey, but yet there was a strong focus on breathing. *Kathy actually seemed more flexible than Rod, so you had the main instructor doing more "doable" versions of the poses. This would probably be a very good tape for an intermediate who prefers a longer yoga practice.
Rating: Summary: Good intermediate yoga workout. Review: The box labels this workout as intermediate/advanced, but I see it as more in the intermediate range since I'm an advanced beginner and was able to do virtually all of the exercises. I found difficultly level combined with the length of the workout to be a little too challenging for me, but there were several things I liked about the tape: *The tape is done with live voice rather than voice-over like most yoga videos. I thought this made it a little more down to earth; there's more "you can do it" type conversation. However, you should be aware that the routine is led by Rod Stryker--Kathy is there but only makes the occasional comment. *The routine wasn't at all new-agey, but yet there was a strong focus on breathing. *Kathy actually seemed more flexible than Rod, so you had the main instructor doing more "doable" versions of the poses. This would probably be a very good tape for an intermediate who prefers a longer yoga practice.
Rating: Summary: challenging but realistic Review: This is a nice step up form Kathys New Yoga video. It puts a little more challenge into the routine, without feeling like you have jumped totally to a new level.
Rating: Summary: A PRETTY GOOD EFFORT Review: THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD YOGA VIDEO; I HAVE HAD IT FOR AWHILE AND STILL USE IT SOMETIMES. THE CLASS IS WELL PUT TOGETHER AND WELL TAUGHT ALTHOUGH I WISH SMITH WAS DOING THE TEACHING AND NOT STRYKER. IT IS AN INTERMEDIATE TAPE THAT IS TOO HARD FOR BEGINNERS AND TOO EASY FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS (ALTHOUGH, LIKE ME, THEY CAN USE IT WHEN THEY ARE FEELING LAZY). THE COOLDOWN IS VERY REFRESHING AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TAPE.
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