Search - Power Yoga: Strength and Flexibility on DVD

For absolute beginners only

littlebopeep | 08/14/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is not a bad yoga workout. The main reason I'm giving it two stars is for deceptive marketing.

When you start this DVD, you will notice the titles include the words "for beginners". In the accompanying interview with Rodney Yee, he talks about this being a starter workout, for the beginner. Yet nothing on Amazon or on the outside packaging of the DVD mentions that it is for beginners.

This is very basic power yoga, with sun salutations broken down into smaller and modified bits, and a few basic modified yoga poses. I would not even call it power yoga, as there is no way anyone who has any yoga experience will even break a sweat with this one.

There are two 20 minute routines on this DVD. I bought this to have a nice short routine for days when I don't have time for a full class, or even for 30-45 minutes of home practice. However, I don't find it useful for this purpose. David Swenson's "Short Forms" DVD is much better, and offers shorter routines of actual ashtanga yoga poses, in a more logical sequence."

Good for beginners

weezy | St. Paul, MN | 10/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite what other reviews have said, I really like this workout. I had never practiced yoga before and have suffered from a lot of back problems in the past. Once I started doing Rodney's workout, my back problems disappeared. After a couple of weeks I was noticeably more toned (hello triceps!). As far as the quality of the yoga, I can't say, but at the end I feel relaxed and completely stretched out. After a few months this workout seemed a bit easy (so I guess it's time to move on) but I still feel relaxed and stretched at the end, so no complaints. It is short enough that I can do it when I otherwise wouldn't have the time, and once you learn the basic routine, it is easy to follow along with just Rodney's voice and the pace is slow enough to follow but fast enough to break a sweat. I think this is a good workout for those who don't want something incredibly strenuous but want to stretch and increase their flexibility, as well as building a better body awareness."

Beginners Can Probably Do Better

M. C. Ciulla | 07/20/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have been weight training for over 15 years and feel very tight and stiff all of the time. I wanted to try Yoga to loosen up a bit. This DVD has helped.

This Flexibility section of the DVD has provided some basic stretching moves that have helped me to loosen up. I also find that I am standing straighter after the routine. I also like the relaxation period at the end of the routine. I find that it works very well.

The DVD's biggest weakness is that it does not spend any time demonstrating how you should execute each position. Rodney simply tells you the name of the position and he gets into it. True beginners have no way of knowing if they are doing things correctly. I would suggest seeking a different DVD is you are a beginner like me."

Great workouts, but very annoyed with Gaiam!

Judith Glass | 05/23/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am a big fan of Rodney Yee as a yoga instructor -- I've bought and use almost all of his workouts and I really appreciate his clear and straightforward instruction and the precision of his own demonstration of yoga practice in his videos. So when I saw this one listed, with a 2004 release date, I was excited at the prospect of adding some fresh variety to my workouts, which I like to do from time to time to keep it interesting and effective. I was very annoyed, however, to receive it and see that is merely a repackaged edition of an earlier DVD I bought 4 or 5 years ago -- and at that it was only 2 out of the 3 workouts on that older DVD (the 3rd was Stamina)! Maybe there are some additional special features, but the workouts are the same. I was torn over how to rate this DVD: These are great workouts, but if you bought that older video, don't bother rebuying it here. And I wonder why they dropped the Stamina workout? That one is also very good -- well rounded and thorough, and short enough to fit in those times when you want/need to do something but can't spare a half hour or more. Maybe the older DVD is out of print now -- but I'd recommend finding a used copy of that one than only getting 2/3 of it for the same price!"