Search - Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga Vol.1 on DVD

The Toughest Power Yoga Series

Yoni | Israel | 01/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"**This Review Is For The Whole Series In General**
I was surprised to see this on amazon, it was previously available only at his website which is where I bought it. This is the TOUGHEST yoga I had ever done and I have a big collection of yoga videos from Bryan Kest to Shiva Rea to Baron Baptiste and more. Each one of the dvd's has more than 90 minutes yoga practice which is thorough and tough , it's starts with about 60 minute of intense standing poses with vinyasas in between and some arm balances thrown in and then a 30 minutes of seated potures and some ab work ,inversions, headstand and savasana. Each DVD is similar in structure but each one offers some different poses from the other to prevent boredom in the practice as they suggest in the advertisement , so this series does not offer different level practices that progresses gradually although you may find one easier than the other .They suggest it's for all people and all levels (probably to increase sales) but I think it will be too much for beginners and people who are not in good shape and even for intermediates because this is a real hardcore practice , the pace in most of the workouts is pretty moderate except some push ups & jump bursts that creates heat and strength in the upper body ,but some of the poses are held long, like the half moon series, which really makes your leg and rear muscles scream. Each dvd also has a 30 minute instructional segment in which he gives some pointers and modifications for some of the poses (this segment is identical in all of the dvds).The set is simple and even a little cheap looking (not very important) ,there's a few studetns of all genders and ages including Mark's mom and a kid and from time to time he'll be checking they're doing the poses correctly ,most of the time he'll be doing the practice with them, also ther'es no music in the background. So if you want a long and challenging yoga practices you'll probbably like this series."

Don't waste your money on this one

YogaGirl | san francisco, ca United States | 06/21/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This a terribly produced dvd. It has 4 sections: the workout, the vinyasa practice, advanced poses (for viewing only) and instructional. I did the workout and it is mostly standing poses that are super hard and not a lot of variation, in my opinion. There are no backbends and very few seated poses. After this section, I hit the menu to view the vinyasa section which is with his wife only, with Mark giving instructions. 9 minutes into this, it (the section)just stops abruptly and returns to the main menu. Before this section began, Mark said that this was a practice section that just needs a savasana at the end. 9 minutes? What happened to the rest of it? I pressed the next button and got another woman (not his wife) doing back bends. huh? Where did this come from? Also whenever I tried to fast forward, the dvd would freeze. Normally if I like a dvd, I will excuse the technical problems. But with this one, I felt that whoever produced this dvd was just lazy and since Mark Blanchard is in LA, which has countless video production people, there is no excuse for producing such crap.

As for the setting, it is on a sound stage with white drapes and everyone is wearing white. I have nothing against yogis in white, but the setting looked very cheap and 1980ish. Also Mark does not cue very well. Several times I had to look up to see what was going on to find that he and the class had moved on.

Don't waste your money on this one. A much better power yoga dvd is by Sadie Nardini, a very well produced dvd. She gives you enough material for several dvds on one dvd. Not a half-baked yoga class in volumes, this being volume 1. I sent this one right back for a refund. I learned my lesson and I will never buy another Mark Blanchard dvd."

Good but long

T-belle | MN | 02/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this tape with the 2 others as a set. they are all very similar with different moves.
It's a great stretch and workout and makes you SWEAT!! You sure will feel it the next day.
But, it is a rare occasion that I finish the whole tape as I get so fatigued, it is 90 minutes long, usually I do half of it. The end half though he starts getting into practice poses which you may never accomplish, he even states it with many of the poses done. 40 minutes of strenuous yoga is enuf for me. Excellent!!"