Rating: Summary: DVD Review: Just like the title reads this is an "introduction." First 20 min. of 40 min. very basic. Second part of work-out much more like a power yoga work out for beginners with out the sweat. Great for someone who has never done a yoga position. I bought the boxed set. If I were going to purchase just one of the DVD's in this series, I would purchase the Yoga Zone Total Body Conditioning instead.
Rating: Summary: DVD Review: Just like the title reads this is an "introduction." First 20 min. of 40 min. very basic. Second part of work-out much more like a power yoga work out for beginners with out the sweat. Great for someone who has never done a yoga position. I bought the boxed set. If I were going to purchase just one of the DVD's in this series, I would purchase the Yoga Zone Total Body Conditioning instead.
Rating: Summary: Pre-power Pratice Review: This is more Power-Yoga Inspired (which is interesting as Power Yoga is inspired by Ashtanga Yoga already). The first practice is a little tougher. They pretty much drag you through Sun Salutations and repeat portions of them over and over. I could never see doing this as a general practice, but as a way to work my way through tough spots, and gain more upper body strength, it has its moments. The second practice is a bit more varied, and does include typical PY moves, but not at a typical pacing. Like before, that is fine for learning, or working through parts of things, but not as a PY practice. This misses out on a lot of the benefits of PY (like synchronizing the movements with your breathing), but it is an introduction to PY, and good for beginners. More advanced yogis will be well beyond this, although it does make a nice cool down stretch to add on after a workout. For those new to yoga, Power Yoga spends less time holding a posture, and instead links postures with a sequence of moves called a vinyasa, and can often move your heart rate into the aerobic range. This DVD doesn't qualify as Power Yoga, but is a good learning experience for workinig into PY.
Rating: Summary: I lost my tension in the Yoga Zone:) Review: This is my very first yoga workout product. I have nothing to compare it to, and maybe there are better ones out there, but this one had the recommendation of a friend who has been practicing yoga for several years. She swears by Yoga Zone, and promised me that there was no Eastern religious proselytizing on this DVD.Two months later. . .I'm still using and loving it. But for everyone's benefit, I would like to share how it works for me. I've tried it as my "only" routine of the day, and it just doesn't crank my tractor. I have to have some heart-pumping exercise every day or I'm awful to live with! So. . .on the three days per week that I do weight work or a shorter cardio routine, I don't do the stretches that close out those workouts. Instead, I pop this one into the DVD and finish with one of its two 20-minute-or-so practices, using it as an extended cool-down and stretch. My back feels WONDERFUL when I'm done, and the twists really get rid of the kinks in my shoulders and upper back. If I really focus on the breathing and postures here, I finish the practice feeling as mellow as I would after a full-body massage. Since this is an introductory tape, I can only imagine what a more advanced one would do for me. In addition to the need to be a bit warmed up before starting, I would also advise folks to build up their arm strength--particularly for the first practice here, where Al includes what I think are a LOT of plank poses. Maybe somewhere out there is a yoga workout that includes exercises to get in shape for yoga, but this one doesn't. So buyer beware. Still, the [money] I spent on this one has definitely been worth it. I know the routine well enough now that I can do a few poses from it in the privacy of my office whenever my back tenses up from too much sitting. Just a couple of minutes, and I feel better already. Cheaper than a massage, and just as effective. Not a bad deal, in my book. GRADE: A-
Rating: Summary: I lost my tension in the Yoga Zone:) Review: This is my very first yoga workout product. I have nothing to compare it to, and maybe there are better ones out there, but this one had the recommendation of a friend who has been practicing yoga for several years. She swears by Yoga Zone, and promised me that there was no Eastern religious proselytizing on this DVD. Two months later. . .I'm still using and loving it. But for everyone's benefit, I would like to share how it works for me. I've tried it as my "only" routine of the day, and it just doesn't crank my tractor. I have to have some heart-pumping exercise every day or I'm awful to live with! So. . .on the three days per week that I do weight work or a shorter cardio routine, I don't do the stretches that close out those workouts. Instead, I pop this one into the DVD and finish with one of its two 20-minute-or-so practices, using it as an extended cool-down and stretch. My back feels WONDERFUL when I'm done, and the twists really get rid of the kinks in my shoulders and upper back. If I really focus on the breathing and postures here, I finish the practice feeling as mellow as I would after a full-body massage. Since this is an introductory tape, I can only imagine what a more advanced one would do for me. In addition to the need to be a bit warmed up before starting, I would also advise folks to build up their arm strength--particularly for the first practice here, where Al includes what I think are a LOT of plank poses. Maybe somewhere out there is a yoga workout that includes exercises to get in shape for yoga, but this one doesn't. So buyer beware. Still, the [money] I spent on this one has definitely been worth it. I know the routine well enough now that I can do a few poses from it in the privacy of my office whenever my back tenses up from too much sitting. Just a couple of minutes, and I feel better already. Cheaper than a massage, and just as effective. Not a bad deal, in my book. GRADE: A-
Rating: Summary: Not for absolute beginners Review: This tape is not for those that have never had any yoga experience because the poses do flow at a continuous pace; but this is what power yoga is all about! I'm very pleased with this tape, and especially like the two separate 20-minute sessions, which are perfect for days when you don't have much time. I think this tape is intended for those that are new to poer yoga but not to yoga in general. If detailed beginning instruction is what you're after, try "Conditioning and Stress Release" or "Flexibility and Tone", also from Yoga Zone (their tapes are the best).
Rating: Summary: Misleading Title Review: When I read the title "Power Yoga" I assumed that I'd be getting an intense workout. I was wrong, I didn't even break a sweat. Power Yoga, is about connecting the body with the breath. The poses are very, very easy and very slow. The first instructor is really annoying and the dubbing for the second half is poorly done. Yoga Zone has a few good DVD's but this isn't one of them.
Rating: Summary: Excellent intro for wimps like me... Review: When I read the title "Power Yoga" I assumed that I'd be getting an intense workout. I was wrong, I didn't even break a sweat. Power Yoga, is about connecting the body with the breath. The poses are very, very easy and very slow. The first instructor is really annoying and the dubbing for the second half is poorly done. Yoga Zone has a few good DVD's but this isn't one of them.
Rating: Summary: Misleading Title Review: When I read the title "Power Yoga" I assumed that I'd be getting an intense workout. I was wrong, I didn't even break a sweat. Power Yoga, is about connecting the body with the breath. The poses are very, very easy and very slow. The first instructor is really annoying and the dubbing for the second half is poorly done. Yoga Zone has a few good DVD's but this isn't one of them.
Rating: Summary: decent instruction Review: You won't want to do this routine more than twice. VERY basic, won't work up a sweat. Go with Rodney Yee or the other Living Arts DVDs.
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