Power Yoga for Runners

Rating:
Summary: A joke to even call this yoga
Review: Although the production and sound quality of this DVD are not the best, it does provide a good, short, and no nonsense power yoga workout. It has one great chapter called Detailed Instructions. When you go into this chapter it lists most of the poses used in the workout. You can chose any or all of the poses, and you will get detailed instructions as Thom and Beryl demonstrate the pose. If you are not familiar with the poses, this would be a great place to start before jumping into the workout. The workout moves along at a quick pace, and there are a lot of down facing dogs. The 1st part of the workout has a lot of repetition (they do a series of poses and then do the same series about 2 more times), but the 2nd part of the workout introduces many new poses. Some of the poses include warrior, down & up dog, expanded leg stretch, sun salutations, spinal twist, triangle, and half bound lotus. The set is nothing fancy, a plain room with a sky/cloud background. They have a voice over instructing Thom & Beryl what to do next. As one reviewer pointed out, it was a little bit wierd at the end when all of a sudden Thom just disappeared,I found myself staring at the TV for a minute wondering if he was going to come back or not! I have read several articles about how yoga is beneficial to runners because it makes them more flexible, and helps to strengthen ligaments around the knees and throughout the body. Workouts like this definitely make me feel better after a long run!

Rating:
Summary: Good, short, no nonsense power yoga
Review: Although the production and sound quality of this DVD are not the best, it does provide a good, short, and no nonsense power yoga workout. It has one great chapter called Detailed Instructions. When you go into this chapter it lists most of the poses used in the workout. You can chose any or all of the poses, and you will get detailed instructions as Thom and Beryl demonstrate the pose. If you are not familiar with the poses, this would be a great place to start before jumping into the workout. The workout moves along at a quick pace, and there are a lot of down facing dogs. The 1st part of the workout has a lot of repetition (they do a series of poses and then do the same series about 2 more times), but the 2nd part of the workout introduces many new poses. Some of the poses include warrior, down & up dog, expanded leg stretch, sun salutations, spinal twist, triangle, and half bound lotus. The set is nothing fancy, a plain room with a sky/cloud background. They have a voice over instructing Thom & Beryl what to do next. As one reviewer pointed out, it was a little bit wierd at the end when all of a sudden Thom just disappeared,I found myself staring at the TV for a minute wondering if he was going to come back or not! I have read several articles about how yoga is beneficial to runners because it makes them more flexible, and helps to strengthen ligaments around the knees and throughout the body. Workouts like this definitely make me feel better after a long run!

Rating:
Summary: Very nice 30 minute routine
Review: This DVD is well chaptered and filmed nicely. Beryl and her husband Thom Birch perform a 30 minute routine inside a sparse room with a wooden floor. Not much to look at, but I find that really doesn't matter with yoga anyway, as there isn't much chance to look at the screen.

This is a modifed Ashtanga sequence that is about 30 minutes long. Very nice for short practice days. The DVD is very well chaptered and has more instruction as a separate chaptere after the workout. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in a shorter routine. They did a great job putting together a good sequence of postures that flows, and also discuss someof the more cerebral aspects of yoga (which can be avoided if that is your choice).

Rating:
Summary: Very nice 30 minute routine
Review: This DVD is well chaptered and filmed nicely. Beryl and her husband Thom Birch perform a 30 minute routine inside a sparse room with a wooden floor. Not much to look at, but I find that really doesn't matter with yoga anyway, as there isn't much chance to look at the screen.

This is a modifed Ashtanga sequence that is about 30 minutes long. Very nice for short practice days. The DVD is very well chaptered and has more instruction as a separate chaptere after the workout. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in a shorter routine. They did a great job putting together a good sequence of postures that flows, and also discuss someof the more cerebral aspects of yoga (which can be avoided if that is your choice).

Rating:
Summary: No Frills, Great Workout
Review: This is a pretty powerful yoga workout, to me it is much more athletic than some other "power" yoga workouts I have done. I feel this workout particularly in my arms and upper body. This workout promotes strength, flexability and balance all in diffent exercises. It moves at a quick pace, and is not overly long - it is very complimentary to a runner's routine.

[RANT WARNING: On the down side the production value is terrible, you get the impression this was thrown together quickly and without much forethought. I realize this should not matter much, but it has irritated me on more than one occasion while I was doing the workout. That is the whole point of workouts on DVD, people will play them over and over, that is why they should look and sound as good as possible.]

Four stars for the workout and subtract one for presentation.

Rating:
Summary: High Intensity Workout...
Review: This is a short, hard-hitting workout. But, if you are an athlete, this video can greatly enhance your training program. Like Astanga Yoga from which it is derived, it is intense but will provide an excellent way to cross-train for flexibility, balance and strength.

There are also sections on correct breathing, posture alignment and deep relaxation instructions.

This is a wonderful video and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: High Intensity Workout...
Review: This is a short, hard-hitting workout. But, if you are an athlete, this video can greatly enhance your training program. Like Astanga Yoga from which it is derived, it is intense but will provide an excellent way to cross-train for flexibility, balance and strength.

There are also sections on correct breathing, posture alignment and deep relaxation instructions.

This is a wonderful video and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A joke to even call this yoga
Review: This routine is rushed and awkward -- the poses aren't held more than a few seconds, so there's little opportunity to properly stretch or work that muscle group much. If you've done even basic yoga before, you know that "flow" -- the progression and grouping of poses to work muscles, heart, and breathing in well-constructed sequences -- is a big part of yoga. Ain't no flow here, folks. This is just a calisthenic routine, and not a very good one at that. It's laughably short. If you're already a runner, this will increase neither your flexibility nor your stamina. It plays like a Yoga for Seniors workout at doublespeed. Save your time and money; you're better off investing in a Bryan Kest yoga vid instead.

Rating:
Summary: Some flaws . . .
Review: Yoga for runners is important because inflexibility for runners means injuries. Although the series of moves is useful, I find myself distracted by three flaws in the video. Little warm-up precedes the quick, strenuous moves. The sound quality in few places is poor. Most annoying, at the end, Thom disappears right before Birch leads a relaxation segment. I'm supposed to be relaxing and find myself wondering where he had to go. Everything else is done professionally and well, so these flaws mystify me and, unfortunately, distract me.