Customer Reviews

Ashtanga Yoga: Beginners Worko

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

 

 

I teach Ashtanga yoga. Always looking for ideas, I bought this video intending to see how she explains and modifies some of the more difficult poses for beginners. I was both surprised and disappointed.

On the negative side, her voice is really annoying. While narrating the practice, she sounds exactly like the character "Lilleth" from Fraiser or Cheers: cold, serious, unapproachable, monotone. (In the interview section, when she is just talking, her voice is fine. I wish she had just been herself for the practice part of the video).

Then, the practice. Another negative. Ashtanga has a set series of poses. Always the same poses in the same order (the idea is the practice is the same so you can notice changes in yourself). She does not do the standard sun salutations but breaks them down into smaller components. OK, fine, beginner video. But I would like to see the option of just doing them AS THEY WOULD BE DONE IN ANY ASHTANGA CLASS IN THE WORLD, and that is not available.

Also, the flow. Breathing is an important part of Ashtanga. 5 breaths per pose. No fiddling around getting in and out of position or it will be over. She states up front (but not on the cover of the box) that each pose will be held longer for explanation time. Fine. But again, give us the regular Ashtanga flow as another option.

Modifications for beginners: I did not see a lot. This practice would totally discourage my beginning students who have tight hamstrings. She assumes everyone can put their palms flat on the floor but does not thoroughly explain what to do if you can't.

Included poses: Standing poses. What about the rest of primary series?

Hypocrisy: She tells the audience to relax (in that Lillith voice) but the sun is shining so brightly in her face that her eyebrows are pinched together. I can almost feel the tension coming through the screen!

Positives:
This is one of the few yoga DVDs that actually tries to make use of the medium's capabilities. When a special logo appears you can click and get more in depth information about the pose (this would have been a great place for modifications!)

The production values are high; The setting is beautiful and it seems professionally done.

Overall:
I would not recommend this DVD. Someone new to yoga (unless they were already into ballet or something else that makes them exceptionally flexible) might be very discouraged.

Someone who has done other styles of yoga already and is curious about Ashtanga, this might be too watered down. The real practice goes faster and is more flowing. And half the primary series is missing: no seated poses.

If you have done yoga and want to learn the Ashtanga sequence and timing David Swenson's videos are much better. Swenson's production is not as professional the setting not as gorgeous, but his yoga is the real Ashtanga. And, he does give modifications for beginners!

I gave it a star because the setting (Hawaii) is nice to look at, and another because of the excellent production. The yoga...not the best.

I love this DVD. I have the introductory as well and I love that too. The more negative reviews here have their points. The biggest ones being:
A) Her voice is monotone or boring. I think there is some truth to that, but because it is so monotone I have not gotten sick of it after doing this workout for months. I actually have always liked it. It seems to lull into a point of focus I feel helps me to concentrate better. I don't know. Not for everyone, I guess, but helpful to me.
B) The second DVD is the same as the first. This I don't really agree with. In the first one you learn each pose one at a time and do that one pose (or one pose to the second pose) like 5 times. That gets boring after you've done it a while. The second DVD (this one) goes through Surynemaskar A and B much faster. I was happy to move onto this DVD and not have to do samasthiti to ekam to samasthiti 6 times in a row.

If you are serious about ashtanga and want to work hard, you CAN do the whole DVD, with time. It's not the easist yoga to do, but it's really fun and I like Nikki Doane's approach.

I found this video to be one of the most useful/instructional video on Sun Salutations A and B. Although I know both these routines by heart in my head, my body has yet to master them. This approach, vinyasa by vinyasa, with regular practice is exactly what I need to learn and progress. Contrary to some other reviews, I found nothing wrong with her (Nicki Doane) voice or style of teaching. If you are serious about yoga and need to start at the beginning, this video might very well be for you.

I came here to look for more videos by Nicki after using Introductory Poses for a few months. I also have some Rodney Yee videos and one reason I prefer Nicki's is her voice. So I was quite surprised to read the first review here complaining about it. I feel completely different and find that her voice calms me down and helps me concentrate. It's obviously a matter of personal preference, but I would say don't let the other reviews put you off. She's a great instructor!

I really like these two workouts. I do believe, however, that you need some background in yoga to really get the full benefit of the DVDs. I, too, ordered both DVDs. They were exactly the same. They are not supposed to be the same, though. It's a production mistake. I sent back the Introductory Poses DVD and received the correct one from Amazon with a very sincere apology.

I was curious how Yoga Journal would present Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. Traditional this is a system of hatha yoga poses that are done in a specific order while continiously moving with the breath. Originally, each individual pose was given to a student one by one when their teacher felt that they were ready. Now the Ashtanga Primary sequence is often taught in a class that goes through the first series in one session(which is 90 mins to 2 hours long and has some fairly intense poses).

There are a number of ceritified or authorized Ashtanga teachers (given this distinction by the co-founder of this system who is still alive) that have videos of the whole first series. The three I know of are all quite good and are done by David Swenson, John Scott, and Richard Freedman. So what could another video have to offer? Well, as Nicki Doane herself states in the interview, she feels that a lot of these videos are overwhelming for a complete beginner. What she does instead is focus on the Sun Salutations; the very beginning of the first Ashtanga Series and breaks them down. She then continues on to a few standing poses. I believe for someone who wants an introduction to Ashtanga and cannot get to a good teacher, this video is actually quite a nice alternative and would recommend it. In fact, if you want to go futher in the series than she does; it is highly recommended that you study with a qualified teacher to cut down on the risk of injury.

I had been looking for the perfect beginners Ashtanga Yoga workout video and this was exactly what I was looking for! The instructor goes through each of the basic moves until the end when you put them all together in a continous flow. But don't be fooled by the word "beginners." It's a hard workout and you may want to try Hatha Yoga first to get stronger. But this video is great if you want to learn more about Ashtanga Yoga while getting stronger and more flexible (especially your arms!). The extras include a step by step guide to the basic moves, an interview with the instructor, an advanced demonstration, and the full workout. I definantly recommend this for all you Yoga lovers out there and for those who want to try a new workout!

I have been searching for quite some time now for beginning Ashtanga videos that are of a slower pace so that I can focus on alignment, breath and the locks. This and the companion video "Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga Introductory Poses" are perfect. I have been using David Swenson's Short Forms DVD and although it is excellent I find the pace too fast to adequately focus on alignment, breath and the locks due partly to the shape I am in. I have recently been doing "Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga Introductory Poses" and on alternate days David Swenson's "Yoga Short Forms" 45 minute routine.
The 1st video in the series "Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga Introductory Poses" breaks down Surya Namaskara A & Surya Namaskara B in to shorter movements so each asana of the vinyasa can be focused on. The second video starts with the Sun Salutations and then moves through the Standing Asanas.
Nicki Doane, the Yogini on both the Beginner's Practice and Introductory Poses, is an excellent instructor and I look forward to her future releases. If you do not already own these 2 videos and want to get into Ashtanga Yoga I highly recommend that you get both videos. You will not be disappointed. Even though the pace is slower if you are like me you will still find both videos very challenging.

Nicki Doane is the only teacher you will ever need. Never did I know this much about yoga in all the classes I had taken in the past. She is thorough, and excellent!

The session has its points, namely the explanation of the poses, as some of the other reviewers have stated. But I cannot get past her annoying, grating voice! I have not been able to actually complete a workout: not because of the difficulty of the poses, but because of that voice. "Monotone" doesn't begin do justice! I must admit, I'm somewhat sensitive to this issue, being a professional singer and voice teacher. However, the number of other reviewers who mentioned this distraction leads me to believe that this is something that Ms. Doane should adjust in future tapings. Again, her "interview voice" was perfectly pleasant. This was my first purchase of a Nicki Doane yoga video; it would take a notice that she has revamped her instructional delivery, and at least an audio preview to entice me to purchase another.