Customer Reviews

Yoga Journal's Yoga Practice for Intermediates

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not a bad routine, at all. However, the segment where he instructs handstands & headstands is just awful. AWFUL!

First, who has a solid, bare wall in their house where a full grown human being can freely kick up against it, without any danger of knocking into furniture on the way down (we all wobble when we're learning, don't we)? Or, denting drywall with your heel on the way up, for that matter...

Second, from what I've read in various yoga books since aquiring this tape -- it is not recommended that students learn these poses against a wall! The thinking is, with the wall keeping your balance for you, you're not working all your stabilizing muscles; plus, with the wall essentially holding you up, a beginner is able to stay in these inversions longer than they really should, risking injury. Better to work your way up from the ground at your own pace, heeding the pressure in your neck & shoulders as indications that you need to come down, rest, and then try again -- gradually learning to hold the poses longer.

Experience has shown me this is true. When I first got this tape, I didn't know any better and diligently practiced these inversions w/ Rodney. After weeks of regularly doing the tape, I encountered a website with step-by-step instructions on how to do headstand (and a big warning on the page saying NOT to use a wall for support). I figured with all my experience from the tape, I shouldn't have a problem trying the pose a different way.

Yeah, right. I had none of the balance & coordination needed to do headstand away from the wall. All that work w/ this tape had been for nothing -- except, I guess, I was getting comfortable with being upside down, so that's something, at least. But not enough, for all my effort.

So I abandoned this tape & started working on headstand the way the website (and some yoga books I bought) advised. Within a week, I was able to achieve the pose. So much for Rodney Yee's method.

Otherwise, the tape is a nice workout. More like advanced beginner, I think, than intermediate, but then that's just mincing words, I suppose. If you're comfortable with backbends & shoulderstand, you're probably not gonna learn a lot from this tape. However, you might find this a handy tape to have around if you just want a decent workout that holds poses a little longer than Living Art's beginners stuff and provides some nice inversion work, to boot.

Just please, for your own safety, skip over the handstand/headstand section! Or, at least, research some alternative ways to master these poses and perhaps practice this way when you're ready to wean yourself away from the wall.

Have fun!

I have been practicing yoga for a year and a half now, and tried some videos and cd's. When I take my yoga classes, it's usually 75-90 minutes, and I wished this video was at least 75 minutes long. The Sun Salutation segment was way too short, and there weren't enough sitting posistions for stretch. But the flow was just beautiful, and you will definately get the work-out from this tape. Over-all, I do recommend this tape. However, if you are not used to practicing yoga by just listening to the instructor, you may want to see the tape first before practicing. The pace is pretty fast. :-)

I have been practicing Yoga for three years usually taking one class a week and keeping up my practice daily at home with books or videos. Rodney Yee is a great instructor, and this tape has helped me progress especially in inversions. The rating given of 4 instead of 5 stars reflects a bit of disappointment with the sequencing of the segments. I would have preferred if the inversions were presented at the end, because I find it impossible to do inversions in front of the TV. Otherwise, I highly recommend this tape for those with some yoga experience.

I've been practicing yoga for 18 months and was looking to expand my practice of inversions. Since my instructor does not always include them in my weekly studio class, I bought this tape. While I have enjoyed the other Rodney Yee tapes I have (AM/PM for Beginners, Partner Yoga), I have often found that he moves too quickly through the poses with limited instruction, so I was somewhat anxious about buying this tape.

My fears were unfounded - Rodney does a great job of providing very detailed instructions on working into the poses, alignment, etc. The pacing of the tape is great - poses are held long enough to make you really work at them if you know the pose, or to get into them with good alignment if they are new to you.

I am a novice at handstand and forearm stand, and found the instruction very helpful at learning how to get into the pose safely and effectively, while overcoming the disorientation, etc. that comes from beginning to work upside down. I have been practicing shoulderstand for a while, and found the hints about how to deepen the pose to be outstanding. The work in the wheel/inverted bow is also excellent. After a few weeks of using this tape a few times a week, I can get into these poses confidently (although I still can't hold them very long). I'm looking forward to continuing to use the tape to deepen my practice.

Yee is quite correct in providing a sound warning to menstrating women. Inversion postures should be avoided at all times by those with high blood pressure and (especially) during menstration as there is an increased risk of blood clotting during this time. Instead, try focusing on other restorative postures and please do not assume that Yee would want to do anything but protect your best interests.

Don't make the mistake I did of thinking that a flexible person in fairly good shape could skip the beginning tape and go straight to the intermediate. I can do Patricia Walden's yoga for flexability (a great tape and fairly challenging) so I thought I could do this tape. This tape is absolutely only for the experienced practicer of yoga. I found about ninty percent of the moves impossible and gave up on the tape about half way through and returned it to the store.

One cannot miss the good intention and effort that has been put in this video. The music and scenary are very suitable. The tape is reasanobly priced. The reason for my rating is that there is not enough warm up, some of the poses are not quite supporting of the following poses, not enough Savasana. Also, there are some poses that are not quite performed correctly by Rodney.

I'm so glad I bought this tape! It's challenging without being impossible. But I should mention that this tape is NOT a sequel to Patricia Walden's Yoga for Beginners; it's definitely way more advanced that that. And you'll be at a disadvantage if you're not very flexible (although I found that by modifying some of the standing poses with blocks the first few times, I could soon do it all). The strength comes to you in time, in my experience.
Rodney Yee is an excellent instructor - soothing, poetic, and relevant. The soundtrack and scenery are also very well done; I especially like the section on the relaxation pose... I sometimes call it to mind at night while I'm trying to fall asleep.
So, if you're looking for a doable challenge and have already had a year or two of relative success practicing yoga, buy this! It's sure to please.

Wow I had no idea I could do handstands, headstands, and backbends! Rodney gives specific instruction on how to do poses safely and more accurately. He shows how to hold poses longer,giving more detail on alignment and accuracy. This video uses you're already learned flexability and strength to give you more confidence, concentration, and satisfaction from you're yoga workout.Make sure you are ready for this workout both with you're body, mind, and spirit. Be ready to let fear go and recieve the many benefits that this work out provides. Thank you Yoga Journal and Rodney Yee!

All of Yee's videos are very worthwile. Although the packaging seems very mainstream, it is clear that Rodney Yee is a very experienced instructor. He is very bright, calming, and incorporates many aspects of yoga (including meditation and breathing) into the practice. The reviewer who complained of the warning saying that menstrating women shouldn't do inverted poses is uniformed and doesn't understand that Yee was not being sexist. It is meant to keep balance in a woman's body. Women who practice yoga regularily know this. Check out his other videos too! Yogi Hari, Wai Lana, and David Swenson are also very good.