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Beryl Bender Birch Power Yoga: The Practice

Beryl Bender Birch Power Yoga: The Practice

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $24.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great video for an intermediate practice!
Review: I really, realy enjoyed this DVD. I've been doing regularly (5-6 days a week) for about a year now and so I'm basically a beginner but I have gotton SO MUCH BETTER since using her tape in conjunction with classes and independent practice.

When I first started this dvd (I had done the modified primary series for a few months already though) I was familiar with the poses and a bit flexible but not incredibly strong or limber. I have really benefited from this DVD. She reminds me of all the key points and assists with breathing etc. I can't believe how much better I am. I do have a history of dance so I'm not a complete novice, but I do feel she has helped me advance more than other DVDs I have tried.

I feel great as I'm more advanced than quite a few of her students in the DVD. Of course, I'm also quite a bit LESS advanced than some of them too-- but i's something to work towards!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: No Power in this Power Yoga Practice
Review: I take live power yoga classes 2-3 times a week. I've acheived wonderful results in 6 months of practice. I wanted to bring the practice home and so purchased this based on these reviews. Honestly, I'm surprised this has been rated so highly by many. From the power yoga point of view, there isn't much power behind it. She starts off with the basics: sun salutations A & B, followed by triangle, revolved triangle extended side angle, etc...(not necessarily in that order, but you get the picture) There is a lengthy 15-20 minute segment right in the middle of the series that goes through 6 or 7 seated postures starting off with the staff pose. By this point, whatever heat you've built is completely gone and it feels a lot like a cool-down session. There is still another 20 minutes of poses after these seated postures.

I'm the kind of person who likes to break a sweat, and I've had live sessions where I've left the room completely soaked as if I had run 10 miles. I barely broke a sweat with this DVD, it was a moderate workout at best and NOTHING like the high intensity that power yoga is supposed to be (well, for me at least). I finally got smart and asked my yoga instructor what she follows for home practice and she recommended Baron Baptiste. If only I had consulted her prior to purchasing this DVD! I was very disappointed overall and I would not recommend this if you're seeking a serious power yoga workout.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: No Power in this Power Yoga Practice
Review: I take live power yoga classes 2-3 times a week. I've acheived wonderful results in 6 months of practice. I wanted to bring the practice home and so purchased this based on these reviews. Honestly, I'm surprised this has been rated so highly by many. From the power yoga point of view, there isn't much power behind it. She starts off with the basics: sun salutations A & B, followed by triangle, revolved triangle extended side angle, etc...(not necessarily in that order, but you get the picture) There is a lengthy 15-20 minute segment right in the middle of the series that goes through 6 or 7 seated postures starting off with the staff pose. By this point, whatever heat you've built is completely gone and it feels a lot like a cool-down session. There is still another 20 minutes of poses after these seated postures.

I'm the kind of person who likes to break a sweat, and I've had live sessions where I've left the room completely soaked as if I had run 10 miles. I barely broke a sweat with this DVD, it was a moderate workout at best and NOTHING like the high intensity that power yoga is supposed to be (well, for me at least). I finally got smart and asked my yoga instructor what she follows for home practice and she recommended Baron Baptiste. If only I had consulted her prior to purchasing this DVD! I was very disappointed overall and I would not recommend this if you're seeking a serious power yoga workout.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Video
Review: I think this is an excellent video - good pace, nice setting, includes people of different ability levels along with recommendations for modifications to poses for those of us who are not as advanced. After years of running, I've switched to walking and added Pilates and yoga to my routine. I like to vary my routine with classes and at home workouts. I think this video is an excellent addition.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I never thought it would end
Review: I was searching for advanced yoga tapes and for new challenging positions to advance my practice, read the mixed reviews for this tape and ordered it anyhow. It was as bad as the previous bad reviewers go, out $20 too. The tape was impossibly long, I think it was over the stated 75 minutes. The constant repetition back to up dog, down dog was monotonous and became irritating. No, she does not walk you through the poses, cursory camera glances are given to the people doing the modifications. I am through w/ this review, BUYER BEWARE on this one, save your 20 bucks.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: for olympyc athlets only - beware!!!
Review: I workout everyday at home - some days I do aerobics and strength, some days I do yoga. I also have a yoga class once a week, so I see myself as an advanced beginner or an intermidiate.
After almost 30 years of practicing yoga (with a few years I had to stop due to health problems) the regular workouts (brian kest, stephany etc) seem a bit boaring especially as they focus on the same poses and I looked for a more chalanging workout with more advanced poses (such as inverted poses that somehow are not found in many tapes).
Oh - how I fell down trying to do this workout:
She takes the most chalanging poses - such as balancing poses on your hands and hand stand as something you just easily do in the midle of the sun salutation flow!!
She doesnt explain anything!!! you just have to run and rush through the poses at a very fast rate - you dont even get to strech your back properly in the up dog and the class is already in down dog.
Also they are jumping all the time - with real teacher they always suggent that if jumping is not good for you you can walk - here its a must.
Also - she offer no modification for the hard poses - only for some of the easier ones - because as she says you might have injured youself when climbing mountains or playing tennis or one of the othe chalanging sports we do daily. And since I am a simple person that does yoga and not a proffesional athlet I have no hope to keep up with this class even if she had explained how to do the poses.
More over: After the sun salutation she starts with sitting poses and streches so for a moment I was happy I will be able to be with the class - but no - after each pose!!!!! you have to jume back go to up dog then to down dog then pull yourself up on your hand and jump back to continue the next side or pose..
bottom line: DONT BUY THIS TAPE unless you are :
a. the champion of your country in athletic (or maybe a proffesional ballet dancer will do as well)
b. master all yoga poses including the most chalanging ones
oh - but then you dont need a video tape because you practice alone - so dont buy this at all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Buy This Workout
Review: I've had the pleasure of having practiced with Beryl in NYC for the past four years and having this video has enabled me to bring her special brand wisdom and expertise right into my living room for those days when actually practicing in person is impossible. For anyone who hasn't been lucky enough to see Beryl in action, this workout is a must.

Beryl breathes this practice (no pun intended:) And because it is so much a part of her, so integral to who she is, you feel like you are in the hands of a true expert. Her presentation is calm and clear and you truly get the feeling that wherever you are in your practice, in general or that day, it's ok.

The fact that there are many levels represented on the video makes it easy to feel comfortable, no matter what level you are or how you're feeling at the moment. Even after practicing for years, it's helped me to push to the next level being able to watch those on the video that are more advanced than I am, which is great.

Bottom line, I can't recommend Power Yoga The Workout enough. It's a rare opportunity to practice with a rare yogini. Don't miss it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beryl Bender Birch is AMAZING
Review: If have found Beryl's newest video to be an inspiration to my practice! The video is a great way to take a yoga class HOME! It is really easy to follow and offers great modifications for all the poses. I am looking forward to seeing more of Beryl Bender Birch in upcoming videos!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Yoga for my Soul and Body
Review: Most yoga books and tapes provide some degree of technical help. This is the first yoga instruction video that I have wanted to use daily. I feel like I am learning, progressing and benefitting in mind and body.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Comprehensive Primary Series Practice
Review: This DVD is an excellent resource for practioners of the ashtanga yoga primary series. She takes you through a primary series practice with many students of various levels so that this DVD can be accessible to all levels of yogis, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced, there is something for everyone. However, to utilize this DVD to its fullest potential it helps to have reviewed Beryl's Power Yoga book, which is a must for the serious ashtanga yoga practioner (see also her book Beyond Power Yoga to take a deep look into the spiritual benefits that can be obtained from practicing ashtanga yoga).

I recently was blessed to have attended one of her yoga weekend workshops and I can easily see why she is one of the top yoga teachers in the world; she can quickly assess you to determine where you are at in your practice and take you to where you need to go.


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