Customer Reviews

Energy Balance Yoga - DVD

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!!

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!

The reason I love Rodney Yee's Energy Balance Yoga is because there is little instruction and just pure yoga. Tho I've practised yoga for 30 years I am just not flexible enough for backbends and during the backbend portion of the DVD I do supported backbends using a large exercise ball. I like the sequence of poses on this DVD and the music. I've used this program in VHS format for years and am upgrading my yoga video library to DVDs.

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.

This video as well as the others that comprise the beginners practice series is the best outside of a classroom. As Patricia Walden states in Yoga practice for Flexability, these tapes are supplemental to your weekly Yoga Practice! These tapes are very well done and really teach you the fundamentals of Yoga. And YES the third segement "Creativity" I believe, does seem to move quickly, BUT of ALL the segements, this one teaches the breath/body movements. I.E. one exhalation to get into the pose, then Inhale, exhale fully while moving into the next pose. THIS IS what YOGA IS. If you don't link the breath with the movements then it's gymnastics!

Rodney, slow down! The 3rd section moves so quickly it's like watching very flexible and beautiful yogis put on an exhibition. If you enjoy leaping from pose to pose, never spending more than 2 or 3 seconds on each one, then this tape is for you. Up dog. Down dog. Jump to plank. Jump to forward bend and so on. As long as it took you to read those words is as long as you will spend in each pose. If you are extremely flexible and experienced with yoga you will probably enjoy this tape. I use this tape for a change now and then, and when I go thru the way too fast paced 3rd section I just do my own thing at my own pace. Normally I practice with Ali McGraw's Yoga Mind and Body. I gave this tape 3 stars because it is beautifully done, and I like the other 4 sections which do not move so quickly. I agree with another viewer that the warm up section is not long enough.

This video of Rodney Yees is very useful and beautifully made.

The quality of the filming and the scenery make it very appealing. The music is also very serene to help create a spacious atmosphere for doing yoga (there are some videos where the music is too oppressive).

It has many different types of routines that can be used depending on your level of energy and differing needs.

I would highly recommend it to anyone but would certainly get
Patricia Walden's "Yoga Practice for Beginners" first in order to learn the basic yoga poses first.

Other tapes I would recommend are "Rainbeau Mars" new 4 tape series "Sacred Yoga" which is a vinyasa flow style that has two more gentle tapes "For Beginners" and "Pure Tranquility" and then two more challenging tapes "Pure Power" and "Pure Sweat". Then of course there's the excellent "Total Yoga Flow Series" by Tracey Rich and Ganja White which is a three tape set moving thru levels from more gentle to VERY challenging. These are fabulous tapes!

Another recommendation I would make is Eric Schiffman's book "Yoga, the practice of moving into stillness" for an excellent guide to the "internal" practice of yoga. Also Donna Farhi's "Yoga, Body Mind and Spirit is an amazing guide to making Yoga more internal and personal. These books will help you make your poses more "alive" as you practice.

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.

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.

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.