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Yoga Journal: Yoga Practice for Energy

Yoga Journal: Yoga Practice for Energy

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: NOT FOR BEGINNERS
Review: hello, i hve been pactising this video for a while now,before i started this video i was on Patricia Waldens begginers video. ayway, i would just like to say tha this is the most beautiful video in yoga, and the 5 sections are perfectly upto scratch!!
i now find the moves challenging, yet fulfilling.
i have more energy, flexibility, postue and muscle tone.
i would definatly reccomend this, however begginers should use a video for begginners, but once you know the moves, its simple!!!
my sister tried yoga and loves it too!
i am going to train to be a yoga teacher, i have a pssion for yoga, and this video is amazing!!
also, the people who give this a bad rating, im afraid are the ones who are still very much begginners and find it too challenging for them.
i definatly reccommend this video!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: excellent intermediate practice
Review: I bought this tape about 4 years ago--when stressed out, and in bad shape, and looking for a quick fix. This tape wasn't it. While I could handle the first two segments, I couldn't even begin to do the postures in the third, and I quit after a few days with very sore muscles. However: I've since begun a regular fitness program, and returned to the tape, and I now love it and use it frequently. The 5 segments are tailored to different energy levels and different needs. The first, easy segment is good for a wake-up, and sometimes I use it for a stretch when I am stiff from the computer. It's very short---probably not even 10 minutes, and just the right time period for a refreshing break. The second segment, "Centering," has a lot of balance postures that, with practice, really improve your focus and concentration not just in yoga but in other areas of life. This one is really my favorite---I look forward to doing it, and have felt very positive changes from having this routine in my life. The third segment is the most strenuous---sun salutes and backbends, but you can modify those poses with props. The fourth and fifth sections, "Reflection" and "Surrender," are, respectively, a seriew of quiet forward bends and stretches, and a total relaxation. The only problem here, as another reviewer mentioned, is that Rodney Yee comes in very abruptly with commentary at the end of the relaxation, and you have to be lying there on the floor with the remote control in your hand in order to turn him off.

This tape is a great, adaptible practice, and fits in with other exercise tapes (for example, you might want to use the "reflection" or "relaxation" to cool down at the end of an aerobic workout). I would suggest for beginners doing only the first part of the tape until you feel confident enough to go on...but you should really have a little prior instruction because he calls out the names of the poses and doesn't talk you through them. You have to know them already---it's hard to pick them up from a first time viewing. A book is more helpful here than a tape. I found that "The American Yoga Association Beginner's Manual" by Alice Christensen was an ideal supplement for me.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: NOT FOR BEGINNERS
Review: I have been doing yoga for 18 months so when this video said it was beginner/intermediate, I figured I fit into that category... he doesn't tell you how to do the poses. Plus it left me feeling really frustrated with my lack of flexibility with the yogis on the video. It really wasn't a good experience. I invested in props to help me through but he goes so fast that you can't keep up. Start somewhere else first- I doubt that most average people will ever approach the level on this tape!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best practice video yet!
Review: I have been practicing yoga for over 25 years and would like to find other videos like this one. The best part about this program is the lack of instruction, just a reference to the pose is all that is necessary. This is the video that I always return to and don't find tiresome. Most of my library of yoga videos are viewed twice at most. Right now I'm on my third copy of this particular release. If you need instruction, there is much on the market to choose from. There are precious few intermediate practice only videos like this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty great, but needs a longer warm up section
Review: I really enjoyed this video. I appreciated its format of little chatter, and the asanas chosen are terrific. My only gripe is the warm up section is a little short, and doesn't quite get your muscles as loose as they perhaps should be. Overall, a wonderfull video.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If I could have only one yoga tape, this would be it.
Review: I'll add my enthusiastic recommendation to the others found here. I've been doing yoga with tapes off and on for years (and have taken some classes) and have checked out at least half of the tapes in the Yoga Journal series. This is by far my favorite. With five different yoga practice segments on it, one for each part of the day, it's a great value for the money, and gives you a lot of flexibility to adapt your session as you wish. The mid-day segments are moderately challenging, but even a beginner could probably do them if first trained in how to modify poses and use props. (A segment at the end of the tape explains how to do this.) Warning: First timers will not be able to use this tape as it does not include instruction in how to do the poses; if you've never done yoga before, take some classes or get Patricia Walden's introduction to yoga from this series. For the rest of us though, the lack of chatter about "how to" do the poses makes the tape more relaxing to do and less boring to listen to. The tape as a whole allows you to try many different poses. Yet these are collected in sessions to fit any mood or need -- from "don't push me I just want to relax" through "make me work, I want to get strong." If I could keep only one of my many yoga tapes, this would be the one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Separate practices to meet different needs through the day.
Review: I've been practicing yoga with tapes for about 9 months now and consider myself to be an advanced beginner. This tape was very different from any of the others I've tried, mainly because there was no narrative instruction. The instructor, Rodney Yee, simply states the name of each pose, assuming that you are already familiar with the poses. Therefore, this tape is NOT for beginners who have never done yoga before. However, for those who have already learned the poses elsewhere, the difficulty of this tape is at a beginner or advanced beginner level.

The five sections of the tape are designed to be performed throughout the day based on your needs. The first, Awakening, is 9 minutes of mostly floor stretches and moves very slowly. The second, Centering, is 7 minutes of relatively easy standing poses and is designed to be used in the morning. The third and longest section (15 minutes) is Creativity. This section is designed to be done during the day for energy, and it moves much more quickly than any of the other sections. Although I enjoyed how Rodney flowed from one pose to the other, it moved a little too fast for me--for example, you must very quickly move from downward dog to a standing pose such as proud warrior. One interesting thing was that the standing poses weren't just done on one side of the body and then the other. For example, instead of doing proud warrior left and then proud warrior right, you do proud warrior left, then side stretch right, etc. in a whole sequence before eventually going back and reversing the sequence to do the moves on the other side. Again, I liked the flow, but it moved very fast.

The last two sections really are meant to be done together. First is Reflection, which contains 11 minutes of seated forward bends for tranquility. Finally comes Surrender, 4 minutes in relaxation pose. This is the only time which Rodney provides more instruction, as he leads you through a guided relaxation. At the END of the tape, Rodney talks about the purpose of the workout as well as how to modify the poses, so it would probably be helpful to watch this section first. The scenery is a beautiful beach setting, and the music is softly new-agey (flutes, etc.). For the three middle sections, Rodney has 1-2 others performing the routine along with him.

Although I liked this video, it doesn't really meet my personal needs. I think this workout would be best for someone who can purchase a DVD version, which would make it a lot easier to move between the different workouts. If you are someone who would like to do different types of yoga routines at different times of the day, this tape would be for you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Separate practices to meet different needs through the day.
Review: I've been practicing yoga with tapes for about 9 months now and consider myself to be an advanced beginner. This tape was very different from any of the others I've tried, mainly because there was no narrative instruction. The instructor, Rodney Yee, simply states the name of each pose, assuming that you are already familiar with the poses. Therefore, this tape is NOT for beginners who have never done yoga before. However, for those who have already learned the poses elsewhere, the difficulty of this tape is at a beginner or advanced beginner level.

The five sections of the tape are designed to be performed throughout the day based on your needs. The first, Awakening, is 9 minutes of mostly floor stretches and moves very slowly. The second, Centering, is 7 minutes of relatively easy standing poses and is designed to be used in the morning. The third and longest section (15 minutes) is Creativity. This section is designed to be done during the day for energy, and it moves much more quickly than any of the other sections. Although I enjoyed how Rodney flowed from one pose to the other, it moved a little too fast for me--for example, you must very quickly move from downward dog to a standing pose such as proud warrior. One interesting thing was that the standing poses weren't just done on one side of the body and then the other. For example, instead of doing proud warrior left and then proud warrior right, you do proud warrior left, then side stretch right, etc. in a whole sequence before eventually going back and reversing the sequence to do the moves on the other side. Again, I liked the flow, but it moved very fast.

The last two sections really are meant to be done together. First is Reflection, which contains 11 minutes of seated forward bends for tranquility. Finally comes Surrender, 4 minutes in relaxation pose. This is the only time which Rodney provides more instruction, as he leads you through a guided relaxation. At the END of the tape, Rodney talks about the purpose of the workout as well as how to modify the poses, so it would probably be helpful to watch this section first. The scenery is a beautiful beach setting, and the music is softly new-agey (flutes, etc.). For the three middle sections, Rodney has 1-2 others performing the routine along with him.

Although I liked this video, it doesn't really meet my personal needs. I think this workout would be best for someone who can purchase a DVD version, which would make it a lot easier to move between the different workouts. If you are someone who would like to do different types of yoga routines at different times of the day, this tape would be for you.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not for beginners.
Review: There is zero narration or cues of what to do next - only this : "Mountain pose. Up dog. Down dog. Happy warrior. Jump to plank." Quite literally, at that pace. As one pose is said, you're immediately told to do the next one. No pauses, no enjoying the stretch, not even enough time to find proper positioning.

I was left feeling hurried and frantic using this tape, rushing from one pose to the next, and wound up feeling only frustrated, not energized afterwards.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Energy
Review: This is definitely not for the yoga neophyte. And you should definitely view the tape at least twice before beginning practice. However, I must say that this tape was all that it promised to be and much more.

Rodney Yee guides you through five seesions designed to give you more energy and help you get more in tune with the elements. I like that there isn't a whole lot of talking in the tape and you can focus on your poses and breathing. As someone who was looking to round out my yoga practice, I found the tape to be challenging without being frustrating and to actually deliver on the promise of renewed energy.

I would suggest this tape for anyone who is ready to move beyond basic poses.


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