VHS : Yoga Journal - Yoga Practice for Strength

Rating: - Not one of Rodney/s best
I have several Rodney Yee videos (6) and I have enjoyed them all from his power yoga for beginners series to to yoga burn. But this one misses the mark. There is not real flow just a set of posture grouped together. Missing is that trademark Rodney Yee dynamic flow. Nothing about this felt helpful. This one won't join my regular rotation of Yee videos in my practice

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Rating: - Good Video to Structure a Session, but NOT a Complete Session
Many have found this video to be a fairly advanced yoga workout, but for those who are familiar with a Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga practice which generally last for 100+ intense minutes a session, you may find this to be of only moderate difficulty.

The video contains 2 "discreet" sessions with variations in vinyasa sun salutations that build up gradually in intensity. The sessions are short at 16 minutes for the first vinayasa series and about 20 minutes for the second, but Rodney is quick to point out that for a more vigorous practice, one should repeat the various sequences as desired or throw in additional postures as you see fit.

This personal modification would be necessary for those familiar with doing the full 10 Surya Namaskara A and B sun salutations, and means using the video as a fluid complete session is not really intended or possible as you would have to pause the video while the repeats are performed.

A couple postures from the Standing Fundamental Asanas are thrown in namely the Triangle pose and Utthita Parsvakonasana...but no real direction on how to do the postures properly is given. This means that some familiarity or formal instruction is beneficial so the postures are done correctly with proper alignment.

The end of the first session concludes with some relaxation poses, but not a complete finishing or Shavasana sequence.

The second session includes additional variants to the sun salutations, and then gets into some balance work with the tree posture, some moderate inversion and arm balance work using the side plank and Warrior 3.

There is a challenging session using a bent arm Downward Dog, and an extended Downward Dog held for 2 minutes. These are good elements to build into a personal practice and Rodney states that with time the postures can be held for 5 minutes and up, indicating again that the video is meant to be used for practice "ideas" rather than as a complete practice itself.

Rodney also includes some shoulder stand work and plow position(Halasana) work modified using a chair and straps. These are some standard postures from the Ashtanga finishing sequence. Rodney states that the shoulder stand postures can be held for up to 10 minutes as desired as strength increases.

He concludes the second session and the video itself with a discussion that the final postures are very challenging and are something to build up to. The crane posture used first is probably the first introduction most students get to arm balances and he guides the student into this posture in a fairly clear manner. The posture is challenging, but is one that is regularly practiced in my studio's Level 1-2 Ashtanga class so not something that is considered overly advanced.

The final posture referred to as the Pendulum posture has been criticized by many reviewers here as being impossible, but again, with yoga, the postures exist to challenge the practitioner. Rodney explains that using blocks will help the user get into this position, and while difficult, to those familiar with an Ashtanga style practice will recognize the Pendulum posture as the fundamental building block to performing the pass through vinyasas from downward dog to sitting...a sequence that is performed numerous times throughout an Ashtanga practice.

I would recommend this video to those who are reasonably familiar with a yoga practice and have some formal instruction so as to be able to get into the postures correctly with proper alignment.

The shortness of the sessions and moderate level of difficulty allow access to beginner practitioners, but the lack of instruction on adjustments and how to do the postures properly means that beginners will likely develop bad habits fast.

The sessions are good to use as building blocks for a personal practice and for variety in mixing-up one's repetition with the traditional Surya Namaskara A and B sequences, but given the shortness of the sessions, they can't really be used as a complete practice.

The practices done in series if you keep doing the practice without stopping at the conclusion of the first session creates a reasonable length session at about an hour...but is a bit clunky as finishing postures are included at what would be the middle mark of the combined session.

Again, a good video to be incorporated into an existing practice while finding less utility as a complete practice itself.

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Rating: - A remarkable practice
I don't recall where I got this video but from the beginning I loved it. I refer many of my students to this video. The only complaint I have is that I have not been able to find it on DVD.

This is a great video for beginners and intermediates and is wonderful for an easy practice for those intermediates who just need something slow and calming.

Gatlianne

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Rating: - Excellent but challenging
I started Yoga about 8 months ago at our local community college. I have purchased several DVDs to supplement my class. Rodney Yee has a calm and soothing voice. The inverted poses are a challenge for a beginner like my but I just go at my own pace and do my best.

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Rating: - Well-timed, excellent for beginners
Review: Strength Building Yoga by Rodney Yee

Challenging workout for beginners and intermediates who don't like to go to fast with power yoga. As others have mentioned, there are challenging poses at the end to work up to. For me, it was challenging enough to do the poses with form as beautiful as Rodney's. (I am new to Vinyasa, and have been doing gentle hatha for ten years.)

Well-timed. Poses are held enough to build strength, also to work on improving form and consciousness of that form. It will help the viewer to build form and strength in preparation for faster, more challenging workouts like Power Yoga Total Body Workout DVD.

The production value was excellent. (Package says filmed in inspiring Maui, but it actually took place in a dramatically lit interior space. That was the only mistake with the packaging.) The camera work and set design are excellent, very professional.

Namaste & thank you Rodney for a thoughtful challenging workout.