Yoga: Gentle Vinyasa Flow

I once had a yoga instructor in Portland who did this incredible slow stretchy yoga. It was calming, meditative and when the positions were done correctly, it could also be a mild workout, but the workout wasn't the point, it was a side benefit. I moved from Portland and have been on a quest ever since for that same wonderful yoga. Years later I discovered the name of the yoga I was looking for and that was Vinyasa.This DVD does the best job over anything I've yet found to replicating that incredible instructor I had in portland.This DVD may not be for you if:If you're looking for a workout that makes you sweatIf you're new to yoga, you'll have a learning curve (which the dvd provides) to learn the names of the positions. Flow yoga moves from one position to the next so in any yoga situation you'll be better off knowing the poses.You want short bursts of exercise you can rush through and then dash out the door (10 minute pilates or yoga as an example).This DVD may be for you if:You like AM Rodney but wish you spent more time in a stretch or had a little more varietyYou enjoy relaxing stretchesYou enjoy taking your time and have the time to take. (shortest session is 36 minutes)My personal check list of what I was looking for:Is this Vinyassa or slow/stretchy yoga? YesIs it easy to follow along? Yes. Great verbal communication with only a hiccup here or there. Four to five stars.Does it have options/mixes? Yes. You're purchasing a lot for your money relative to some DVDs out there (looking at you am/pm yoga with great AM but grating pm)Is the voice relaxing? Yes, calm female voice.Pretty/calming background music? Yes.Relaxing natural background on video? Yes.Series A is easier, Series B is a little more challenging. You have different time limits to choose from starting about 36 minutes and going up to about an hour for a total of 6 different worksouts. It includes the meditative cool down time. The longer the times the more challenging it can become as well (challenge being relative... maybe complex would be the correct term).The DVD has a video to introduce you to the DVD and yoga. Also Has a video to introduce you to the poses.Overall I'm happy and impressed. It's exactly what I was looking for. Finding the time to do this will be challenging, but worth it.The last question some may have is "how difficult is it?" That's a difficult questions to answer. If you're relatively flexible and in moderate shape, this would be an extremely easy dvd. If you're extremely overweight or inflexible, this could be a little challenging, as are most workouts. It's filled with long moments in child's pose, 5-10 seconds holding plank, flowing into warrior 1 and 2, cobra, down dog, tree, bridge, mountain and other VERY basic yoga moves with only a couple that might not be completely possible for some until they're more in shape or better balanced (you can go to walls for support if needed as a modification). Shorter options will be easier and you can work your way into more difficult stretches if needed.That's about the best I can answer the question.Anyway, this was fantastic for me. Hopefully the review helps you decide if this is what you want.

I'm 48, practice intensive strength training and martial arts work BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), and am usually sore, getting injured or recovering from an injury. Two years ago I tried yoga on a whim after a particularly hard workout. I went into the session unsure of what to expect, but expecting to relax. I was messed up in my back and hips. Following the 40 minute routine (Vinyassa?) I was tired. Amazingly, it hit me hours later, I felt better physically than I had in months. I told my wife it was as if I'd had the equivalent of ten chiropractic adjustments worth of therapy! It was amazing! Fast forward to now: I'm a personal trainer certified in corrective exercise techniques, learning under the likes of Gray Cook and Charlie Weingroff. These leading experts on...well..."fixing" athletes both relate how properly done Yoga is phenomenal at reconnecting the body and autonomic functions together. I'm a huge Yoga believer now. For this DVD I needed something I could do at home since making it to Yoga sessions in town has become difficult. I needed something relaxing, not a workout (I get plenty of sweating in BJJ classes). This DVD and the voice (Zyrka?) is beautiful and simple...in fact I just finished my night of the beginner 36 minute session. Going into the session I was hurting, left leg numb and right arm numb with my back aching from a particularly tough night of class. I honestly didn't expect to get much "help" from the Yoga session, simple as it is, but again: WOW. I feel so much better! Amazing! None of my own stretching, twisting or other movements helped, but this gentle soothing session did. And as another reviewer wrote, Zyrka's voice-over is just so amazingly soothing and almost magically calm that I can't describe it. Her voice alone makes the session so wonderful.My only complaint, if you will, is the speed of transition in some of the routines. It makes a number of the stretches/poses transition at a rate much faster than one can synch with breathing (4 sec in/out) so there is a rushed sensation at times. This may be because she's narrating and the timing doesn't match well? IF the sequences would allow for a full inhale/exhale at all the positions, the DVD would get six (6) stars from me. As it is, it loses one. It is almost trivial but, seriously, that is the only "hit" I can give. I will be looking for other DVDs from Zyrka. If she has a meditation sequence, I will definitely get that--her voice, cadence and just....personality...carry through and would keep me focused and relaxed enough to put my ADD away and actually meditate! Hope this helps :-)

Like the different levels available. If you are a beginner I recommend this as the first programs are geared specifically to beginners

Very relaxing, the verbal instructions are good, but the demonstration is weak for the beginner.

Gentle poses that flow easily. Soft voice pleasant to follow. Six programs very similar, repetitive.

Bien pour débutant/intermédiaire. Fidèle à la description! Super bien!

Great instructor. Great pose guide and routines