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Rating: 
Summary: WOW! :)
Review: I can't begin to say enough good things about this workout. I am an aficianada of Bryan Kest's original Power Yoga series from 1995. I also enjoy his new videos (especially Intensive Sculpting) from 2002. But...I just love this CD. It is the best workout that I have done in a long time - maybe ever. I thought initially that it might be weird working out without the visual imagery of video, but it is actually better. Bryan's voice is extra soothing, and his direction easily guides you from pose to pose without needing to look at the included book, (assuming that you know a few basic poses, such as cobra and down dog - the others he aptly describes.) I found myself more able to concentrate on the yoga, without distraction. The basic workout begins a bit more relaxed than his Power Yoga series, taking a bit more time to stretch, as opposed to getting your muscles "hot" right away. But before long, you find that your heart rate is getting up there and your muscles are working and that you are doing some invigorating but really challenging balances. This is spinal strenghening at its best, relaxation at its deepest. Bryan Kest's emphasis is, as always, on knowing your body and its limitations and first and foremost, feeling the breath. Another nice thing about this workout is that although it is divided between two CD's, the second CD is basically the last stretches and relaxation, so if you have a single CD player machine, you are not changing the discs in the middle of an intense pose. Also, you might like to do the relaxation CD by itself sometime, just to unwind. A bonus is the book, which has all of the poses and could be taken on a vacation even when you don't want to take the CD. This CD is great - and a day after doing this workout, all of my muscles feel like they got their fair workout. Six stars. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: YES!
Review: I love this CD for what it does for my back. I am much stronger in Cobra,upward bow and camel. I do it once a week on Sunday mornings. OK, so Bryan's asana terminology is offense, i.e. downward doggy, crotch asana, crotch candy. Maybe no one told him that women outside of Los Angeles don't like that stuff and serious yogi like you to refer to the poses by their real english names or better yet sanskrit names. Regardless, I take out it what I need. He doesn't do Bridge pose or Upward Bow, so I add these. After the spinal work, I just float up, which is no easy feat for me since I am a healthy girl. Get this one. Your spine will love you.
Rating:
Summary: YES!
Review: I love this CD for what it does for my back. I am much stronger in Cobra,upward bow and camel. I do it once a week on Sunday mornings. OK, so Bryan's asana terminology is offense, i.e. downward doggy, crotch asana, crotch candy. Maybe no one told him that women outside of Los Angeles don't like that stuff and serious yogi like you to refer to the poses by their real english names or better yet sanskrit names. Regardless, I take out it what I need. He doesn't do Bridge pose or Upward Bow, so I add these. After the spinal work, I just float up, which is no easy feat for me since I am a healthy girl. Get this one. Your spine will love you.
Rating: 
Summary: Workout seems good, he's distracting
Review: I read the reviews and ignored previous reviewers comments (of his other products) regarding Kest's voice and the phrases he uses. I didn't take them seriously because I thought they were just trying to be rude. But after I received the CD I couldn't even bring myself to try doing the routine, which is disappointing because it seems to be a good one. His voice is distracting, he moans and uses annoying phrases like "downward doggy." Even if I got through the CD once, I know I wouldn't be able to handle listening to it again without going crazy. If you're looking for a CD/Video etc to do on a regular basis, I think you'll find this one will get old very quickly. Maybe it's because I'm used to David Swenson's excellent Short Forms video. I find Swenson's approach to be a good balance between instruction, encouragement and silence; he doesn't talk more than is necessary and his voice and comments are easy to listen to over and over again. So if you enjoy Swenson's approach stick with it and avoid Kest. I gave Kest's CD two stars because I like the sequence in the workout, but I don't like how Kest works you through the routine (although other people may find his approach exactly what they're looking for). But I have several yoga dvds (in addition to Swenson's) and Kest's is the only one I wish I didn't purchase (and it was the most expensive of all of them too!).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: It's in cd format, therefore one can do as little or as much as one can handle. It is actually a well rounded full body workout. I thought it might be lots of spinal stretching and relaxation, but it includes loads of strengthening for the spine and the core. Starts off with a spinal balancing sequence - table position on hands and knees with extended opposing arm and leg - then side arm balances with lots of variations, and extended cat pose...then seated poses with table (stomach towards ceiling) with lots of variations and much boat work. Then prone poses- swimming type work, yoga "supermans" and bow pose. Next track is variations on camel with great lateral stretches. Then standing balances which are quite advanced. Then there's an extra hips and legs section - reclining pidgeon and nice hip stretches which feel great. finishing poses include plow and shoulderstand and neck stretches. Plus of course my favourite spinal twists.In between the poses in the first tracks - mini flows - plank down to low pushup position, and cobras and down dog. All in all about 130 poses which include the transition poses. The booklet is great too. I thought it was going to be tiny - cd sized, but it's quite big - about 8 inches square, and spiral bound which is great - and every pose is photographed - Bryan doing the advanced version of the pose, and a female model showing modifications. There are also written instructiosn along all the poses. And there are a couple of cute dogs in some of the photos - nice touch - my cat likes to join me in my yoga practice, so I appreciated this. No music, but I don't mind. Music can be great, but it can be distracting. All in all a great find. I am really happy with my purchase, and plan to do it regularly.
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