This is the yoga DVD I did today. I wish I had read the Amazon.com reviews a little more thoroughly. While I'm not a rank beginner, I wouldn't classify myself as intermediate yet. Usually, that's not too big an issue because yoga instructors on the DVDs will offer and/or demonstrate modifications to the advanced poses. Not so in this DVD. At first, it seemed there were some modifications as a nod to folks who are not as advanced. And then the instructors completely forgot about beginners. "Next pose, head stand." They're in headstand for almost all the breaths before one of the instructors says that if you can't do it, lean against a door. And if you can't get into the pose leaning against a door? Just sit there and watch them do it!! There was also very little in the way of detailed instructions as to what your body should be doing/feeling like in each pose which made me have to stop what I was doing and really get close to the computer to see exactly what they were doing. And then many times realizing there was no way I was going to get my body to do that--at least not today or anytime in the near future. :)
Anyway, I liked the DVD because it introduced me to some new poses after doing some real heat-building preliminary poses (sun salutations--fast). I wished for a little bit more or at least (like Baron Baptiste does in Trainer's Edge Yoga) re-building the heat a bit after you've been doing more stationary poses. I actually liked the music and didn't find it distracting. The instructors counted breaths which helped me keep my mind focused on breathing.
The only thing I really took issue with was Sharon Gannon pushing vegetarianism and veganism. I get it. Some folks feel the way the eat is activism and is spiritual and can change the world and all that. It's important to Ms. Gannon, I get that. [I know that a dietary change including no animal products has changed folks' lives. Mine? I think I complicated things for the worst. I eat tofu? Takes forever to digest sometimes with massive amounts of gas. I eat a piece of salmon, by dinner, I'm completely empty--literally.] Anyway, say it once and drop it. Instead, she mentioned it once. And then really pushed it a second time which was annoying. I just wish folks, especially those traveling alternate paths from the dominant practices, would let up on certain things at times and give others space to do what makes them feel best/better.
I didn't mind the other philosophical speak that the instructors shared throughout the workout because I actually agreed with a lot of it. Much of what they said was in line with my own world view. I really liked that the instructors on this video made such an effort to connect the practice of yoga in a meaningful way to our everyday living.
I skipped the mantra part in the beginning. I need to look up the meaning before I jump right in to chanting it. My relaxation/savasana was cut short by Z2 screaming.
I will probably look to do this DVD again in a few years when I am more advanced. It's very different from others I have done and as much as I could, I enjoyed it.
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