Search - Power Yoga: The Initial Challenge, Level 1 on DVD

Campy, but a great workout

J. Cullen | Stoudsburg, PA United States | 07/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, ok, the music and Baron can be a little campy. However, this is one of the most complete beginner workouts you can find. If you are a real beginner (no yoga experience) then I recommend Brian Kests 20 minute and step-by-step DVD. You will sweat with this and crunch your abs! If you can get past the music and Baron's funny lines this video is one of the best!"

Well, it was instructional

Andrea | Toronto, ON | 02/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I borrowed this DVD from a friend who didn't like it because she found the host annoying. The host indeed, was annoying. However, it is a good beginner workout and I will return it to its rightful owner with new knowledge of yoga moves that I can do on my own without Baron Baptiste's cries such as, "Power, People!" and "Unleash the monster within!""

Had my doubts at first, but this is awesome!!

Andrea | 10/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been disappointed in the past with yoga DVD's. This one is really good. I have been doing the crunch yoga for a while and wanted a change. I seem to sweat with this one. The moves are not complicated for beginners. At first, I thought it was going to be boring because Baron is a little monotone. He does simple moves but over and over. I recommend it."

It's Power Yoga, not Ashtanga

beccathegreat | Ok, USA | 05/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've had this yoga dvd for years and do the first sun salutation section every day. Recently, I've been adding the second, fifteen-minute lower body toning section onto the first. I have lots of yoga DVDs and tend to rotate the different ones, but I still consider myself a yoga beginner, as I often only do a few poses a day. I have a half a dozen of Rodney Yee's programs, plus various others, but I've found that this basic sun salutation sequence is my favorite for daily practice. If all I get is twenty minutes of sun salutations, I'm still getting a good all over workout--even though I don't feel I'm working hard, I feel more energized, more flexible, and stronger.

Power Yoga is its own type of yoga. Baron Baptiste is the originator of Power Yoga, which is based off of Ashtanga, but with a different philosophy. It's definitely a more western approach, as Power Yoga focuses more on the ability of the individual to discern his or her own path (self-discovery)in the exercises, instead of on the technical aspects of the yoga poses. As one earlier reviewer noted, Baron Baptiste studied under Iyengar, Patthabi Jois, and Bikram Chondhury (originators of Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Bikram Yoga). Power Yoga focuses more on the individual's own intuition and not on dogma. This can be reallyc onfusing, because Ashtanga Yoga is sometimes also referred to as Power yoga.

My first introduction to yoga was in the Iyengar style, and it didn't work for me. Baptiste's approach is more comfortable for me, and I like that he gives frequent reminders of when to breathe and tips for improving the poses. It helps if you try to take one breath for each movement, other than when holding the asanas. I appreciate that he doesn't talk much about Yoga philosophy, because it makes it easier to listen to the routine day after day. I find the sermonizing on some other DVDs tiresome after a while.

Sure, it's an older DVD and the production values are not top-notch. Baron Baptiste has a unique way of speaking which some (including my husband) find annoying, but that's really only an individual response. He doesn't annoy me at all, though I get a chuckle out of his careful pronunciation of "e-QUAN-imity." But I think he describes the poses accurately and gives time to deepen the poses. It's not difficult to follow the movements; even when the poses are difficult to accomplish, at least you know what you're supposed to be doing. The focus here is on improving the poses and releasing toxins, and of course on flexibility and toning, but not on variety or novelty. Especially for someone who hasn't done yoga much or consistently, sun salutations are an easy place to begin, and not intimidating. For someone who's done yoga for years, sun salutations make an excellent beginning to any further yoga practice."