Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: This is a great video to really build body strength. It helped me tone up, slim down and feel great. Beryl Bender Birch is a great teacher and I look forward to her future videos.
Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive ¿ maybe too comprehensive
Review: This is a unique approach to Yoga, which intermediate to advanced students are likely to enjoy. Ms. Birch's tone of voice is calm and soothing. The video provides a sense of maternal guidance throughout the workout. The atmosphere is professional, taking place in a wood-floored dance studio, with realistic sounds (cars driving outside). The setting provides attention to the smallest details (you can hear the participants breathing).The workout itself is intense, starting with a 15 minute warm up and progressing to some wonderful twisting poses. I've been doing Yoga daily for two years, and it took me a few weeks to do all the asanas. The only complaint I have, which is quite problematic, is the design of the DVD itself. There are no chapter markers throughout the workout. I suppose Ms. Birch expects students to complete the practice in its entirety, but few of us have 90 minutes a day to practice yoga. If you want to fast forward to, for example, twisting poses, you will have to hold down the fast forward button to reach the desired section. I found this very annoying. This is in direct contrast to intermediate tapes by Stephanie Foster (and others) who split their workouts into 20-30 minute segments. While this DVD offers one of the comprehensive workouts available, I still find myself doing Gaiam's Total Yoga more often.
Rating: 
Summary: Tina from NY
Review: This is a very advance yoga workout. I found it helpful because I was looking for some additionally challenging yoga postures, well I found it. In reality, it's a little over the top unless your a very dedicated and practice yoga on a daily basis. I do asanas daily (power style) so it is appropriate for me, but most people I know do not practice daily and if they do this video they are likely to hurt themselves. So if you are not doing regular ashtanga style or power style yoga on a regular basis, don't get this, it will be to difficult for you. If however, you practice power/or ashtanga yoga regularly, here is the next step to challenge yourself. (Dont' expect to perform all the postures at first)
Rating:
Summary: Challenging with Expert Instruction
Review: This is a wonderful class -- various levels of students proved to me that I can tackle this kind of yoga practice without being a pretzel, former dancer or gymnast. Beryl is a true expert -- she's no celeb with a few weeks of training. Her matter-of-fact voice and her expert adjustments truly inspire you to take things at your own pace, but to realize that with patience and time all is attainable. As far as the content of the practice -- this is the primary series of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. You do need some yoga experience -- either having learned basic postures in other hatha classes, or having done some ashtanga, or having a book with precise posture guidance to refer to when you need some clarification. I liked the fact that there really were people of all body shapes and sizes in the class -- all fit, but not clones. Each person had their own strengths and weaknesses. There is always someone to follow for modifications. And Beryl always suggests care and modifications. This is the ONLY ashtanga (or power) class on I have done -- on tape or in a live class -- in which the instructor made you feel like everyone belongs here. Everyone, with patience and some commitment, can achieve something more than they thought possible. Especially since Beryl shows you how. I cannot say enough of about how really good this practice video is -- if you buy no other yoga tape in this style, you will be very pleased.
Rating:
Summary: fabulous dvd--but for ashtanga familiars only!!!
Review: This is a wonderfully produced DVD. Beryl's voice is pleasant and I enjoy that there is a range of body types in the "class". There are also a number of modifications shown, although occasionally I think the camera cuts too quickly so it may be difficult to see enough of them. But this is a fast-paced, complete Ashtanga primary series. It is wonderfully useful for those like myself who have had some Ashtanga instruction and practice already but who maybe are not quite advanced enough to have memorized the entire practice and do it without cues. Or for those who enjoy feeling like they are in a class setting now and then instead of solo practice every day. It does NOT give instruction on how to do the poses and it is NOT for beginners or for anyone who is not used to a vigorous practice. That instruction is best obtained from a class, (although BBB's book is very good, I found I was doing many poses incorrectly once I branched out from her book to live instruction).
Rating:
Summary: fabulous dvd--but for ashtanga familiars only!!!
Review: This is a wonderfully produced DVD. Beryl's voice is pleasant and I enjoy that there is a range of body types in the "class". There are also a number of modifications shown, although occasionally I think the camera cuts too quickly so it may be difficult to see enough of them. But this is a fast-paced, complete Ashtanga primary series. It is wonderfully useful for those like myself who have had some Ashtanga instruction and practice already but who maybe are not quite advanced enough to have memorized the entire practice and do it without cues. Or for those who enjoy feeling like they are in a class setting now and then instead of solo practice every day. It does NOT give instruction on how to do the poses and it is NOT for beginners or for anyone who is not used to a vigorous practice. That instruction is best obtained from a class, (although BBB's book is very good, I found I was doing many poses incorrectly once I branched out from her book to live instruction).
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