Communities of Practice Movie Reviews

This is an amazing Ashtanga introduction for beginner's. If you have been avoiding Ashtanga because it is a hard workout and requires significant body strength, this dvd will gradually help you make the transition from easier forms of yoga to Ashtanga practice. The instructor is wonderful and the scenery is gorgeous while not being distracting. The single best feature of this dvd (esp. for the beginner) is that it includes a real-time, pose-by-pose, explicit breakdown of each pose and transition to that pose as you go along in the workout. There is none of this having to look at the break-down of the poses after the tape is over and when you are out of the sequence and mindset. Also - this great feature is optional so you can turn it on or off per your needs. This dvd is a wonderful foundation for further practice and a arm-strength builder in itself! whew!

I'm a beginner to Ashtanga yoga and I liked this video very much. The editorial review above says it all. Nicki Doane's slow, steady pace and her stern voice help me concentrate on breathing and work deeper into each pose in Sun Salutation A & B. I tried and liked Rodney Yee's "Power Yoga" before, but his pace was a little too fast for me.
With Nicki's instruction, I can inhale and exhale to my full lung capacity, and I can have the time to fully appreciate my body's reaction during the practice. My body is fully stretched, generating a lot of heat, and I feel very refreshed, peaceful and strong after every workout.
You shouldn't expect to get into other poses than in Sun Salutations, since this video is aimed to build up the foundation for further yoga practice through repetition of these basic movements. So, if you are already familiar with Sun Salutes, you might want to start with her "Ashtanga Yoga Beginner's Practice," which includes some standing poses in addition to Sun Salutations. Or, if you want more variety of poses packed in shorter time, David Swenson's "Yoga Short Forms" would be very helpful.
But personally, I believe that a serious beginner should try this Nicki Doane video first. She doesn't talk much about yoga's spirituality, but you'll find it through the practice yourself, which I think is the way it should be.

I found this to be a very helpful introduction. Whilst I have started yoga classes at a studio, this video helped me learn correct breathing and transitions. Very slow and deliberate -- it's great for building a foundation to further practice, and a good workout in itself. Nicki Doane is a no frills but solid instructor. I look forward to moving to her next video.

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.

This two tape set, is jam packed with 32 moves, including everything from basic Turns to Swivels, Kicks and syncopated steps. You learn steps from the Single and Triple Swing.The instructors demonstrate each step to music followed by the "guy's gig" and "gal's gig" in which clear shots of footwork and body movement show the leader's and follower's patterns. Follow up demos of each move are done to both show and fast music and a review sequence is shown after every five steps. High production value and higly recommended! Additionally with the DVD comes the Zoot Swing CD music of the band featured in the DVD for fun and practice!

EDITOR -BETTE LEE FOX

"In this complete program for beginner-intermediate and advanced levels, you will learn 45 steps. Also, it comes with fun Swing Music practice of the Band ZOOT. Tap artist, Ginger de Paris adheres to the concept "Practice makes perfect" First each step is demonstrated to music. Next, it is shown in close-ups of the feet from the back, repeated 4 times and finally the viewer can follow along with 3 reviews to music. This is an EXCELLENT, reasonably priced introduction to Tap.

Beginner Level: Shuffle, Flaps, Cramp Roll, Clap Step, Comic Slide, Shim Sham Routine, Broadway Time Step, Rythm Time Step, Turning Time Step, Basic Roll, Essence...

Intermediate Level:Paddle Rolls,Trills, Paddle Roll Workout, Paddle Roll with Stamps and Variation, Walking Step, The Third, Rolling Step, Maxie Ford,Jump & Click, Time Step with stamps
Time Step with Thrid, train Step, Turning Step, Double Shuffle

Advanced Level: Warm Up, Boogie Step, Riff, the Chug, The Retro Step, Slides, Wings, Turn with Tap, Pull Backs, plus 5 different Hoofer Time Steps.
Recommended for public libraries and dance collections."
Editor Bette Lee Fox

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Forget about any instructional video seen on ESPN, this is the one you want to have. Great organization! Creative.
The video isn't boring and neither are my practices anymore.
Should be required by all parents who love baseball.
Only giving it 4 stars because I wish it was a
little longer. A hint. My local library had it.Check out
yours. You will end up buying it like I did.
Check out what this guy calls the "rag ball" drill.
Fun stuff! Pirates need to get this.

As my kids would say, this is the bomb. The drills really help keep practice interesting and provide new ways to teach the same old things. The kids have fun while learning.

This video has many benefits. It is appropriate for ages 7-12 year olds. Of great value and interest is the fact that the video does not go into boring explanations like most instructional sports videos do. The "59 Minute Baseball Practice" will help you run interesting practices if your are willing to put in a minimum effort.

I like this set mostly because there is something for whatever yoga mood you are in, whether you need a challenge or a chance to relax. Rainbeau is a very good teacher, although I will agree somewhat with another reviewer who said she talks an eensy bit too much during the practices. However, the things she is saying are important and I am always glad to have been listening. I have purchased some real cheeseball yoga tapes and this is much, much better. I would definitely recommend it.

i was blown away..i've tryed year after year to get
my health right...the doctors put me on pasta and it
helped a little but pasta ain't even close to the
health in this video..i've lost 250 pounds in a year
and have already started dating again because i feel
like a new man..yoga (don't confuse this with yogurt
the popular dairy desert) this is totally different..
this is all about breathing..this has also helped me
quit alcohol..i was an alcoholic for 54 years...i went
to jail for being drunk at a taping of "wheel of fortune"..
that long night in jail got me thinking about a new way
of life..that's when a friend of mine from the church
gift shop turned me on to this video..without it i'd be
dead and i never would have heard of yoga..i would have been
one unflexible corpse..but now with this yoga video i feel
like i'm never gonna die...i feel like it's not even real..
sure friends of mine have died this week but they were
screwin around with speed...i feel like i'm gonna live
forever and i want to thank Mrs. Mars...i also heard
she's a big fan of the red hot chili peppers and i love
them too..all the guys in that band do yoga...i guess
it's the hippest thing goin so don't feel like it's gonna
make you uncool...i've been busting a move more than
ever since the chicks found out that i do yoga...i feel
like i can fight Tyson with the new power i got in my
leg muscles...this video will change your life if you're
a boozer or junk food addict..it'll even change it if
you're just plain bored...believe this yoga thing has
something to do with god..i couldn't touch my toes a
week ago now i'm feeling holy.

I got this set because i wanted to try out vinyasa yoga. I was skeptical because rainbeau was an actress and i thought yet another hollywood type trying to sell her wares. But i was wonderfully surprised. THESE ARE SOME OF THE BEST DVDs I have purchased and i have purchased many of them. This really gives you the feel of being in a yoga class with rainbeau.

This was a wise investment for me and i think that if you like yoga or are even just curious to see what it's about this set has everything you could ask for.

Rainbow Mars is a great instructor who uses many positive affirmations in her practice. I like a more powerful and flowing workout, and hers is very focused on the Iyengar-style of pose perfecting. I was hoping for more of a challenge. But you will sweat with it!

I enjoyed the setting and the instruction in this workout and found the routine to flow naturally. With Pure Sweat as the title, I was expecting a bit more challenge to the workout and definitely would have liked it to be longer. I will use this as a quick workout when I am pressed for time or in combination with another routine to get fuller workout.

I enjoyed working out to this dvd, looking at the cover, I expected more challenging poses, but the tape does live up to it's name in terms of sweating. The workout is roughly 30 minutes long, which is good, if you're starting out, or just want variety. I prefer longer workouts (60-90 minutes), but Rainbeau starts off very slowly, and progresses to get you sweating. Overall, I thought that this tape was good, but I would have enjoyed a longer workout, and maybe even an interview with the instuctor.

The setting is beautiful (Maui) and Rainbow Mars has such a soothing teaching style. I'm a pretty advanced yoga person, however, so this DVD just sits on my shelf. It would be great for beginners or those who need to start very slow with yoga, plus gain the added relaxation benefits.

I have been doing yoga for almost 2 years now and thought I might be up to this level. NOT!
This is basically an ADVANCED class recorded onto a dvd with little to no instruction. Yes, there are people at different levels in the video but they hardly show them and she never goes into modifications for the poses. She barks out orders first in the sanskrit name (i guess, because she never explains that either) and then (sometimes) in the english name. Very annoying.
The shooting makes it difficult to see the details of the poses and when Beryl does demonstrate a pose, it's so quick and from too far away, that it's just more of a frustration than a help.
The class is very fast paced and the fact that there are no "chapters" makes it practically impossible to review anything. The further along the class goes, the more ridiculous and more difficult the poses get.
I like a challenge but unless I develop plans of joining the circus and becoming a human pretzel, I won't be working with this video. This might be a great dvd for an advanced yoga student or teacher with a daily practice who just doesn't feel like driving to class every day. Otherwise, forget it. My search for the perfect yoga dvd continues.

I really, realy enjoyed this DVD. I've been doing regularly (5-6 days a week) for about a year now and so I'm basically a beginner but I have gotton SO MUCH BETTER since using her tape in conjunction with classes and independent practice.

When I first started this dvd (I had done the modified primary series for a few months already though) I was familiar with the poses and a bit flexible but not incredibly strong or limber. I have really benefited from this DVD. She reminds me of all the key points and assists with breathing etc. I can't believe how much better I am. I do have a history of dance so I'm not a complete novice, but I do feel she has helped me advance more than other DVDs I have tried.

I feel great as I'm more advanced than quite a few of her students in the DVD. Of course, I'm also quite a bit LESS advanced than some of them too-- but i's something to work towards!

I loved this DVD. The workout is by no means easy. I think that if you either have good endurance or want to improve your endurance, then buy this DVD. This DVD goes no stop for roughly 75 minutes. This is the full primary series she is doing, plus a few poses she throws in. The DVD has no bookmarks or stopping points, it's basically either you do the whole thing or you just fast forward past what you don't want to do.

I know some reviewers saw this this as a hindrance moreso than a help, but the idea is do all of the poses in a certain sequence. The fact that there 8-10 people of different skill levels doing either the full pose or some modification makes up for lack of bookmarks/stopping points. If you do want to just perform segments, then purchase Richard Freeman's Primary Series workout. You can elect to do the whole workout (including opening and closing chants), or just perform segments (sun salutations, standing poses, seated poses, etc.). However, there are no modifications, and Freeman is performing these poses at a near perfect level (check your ego at the door). If you are looking for a shorter more accessible version of Ashtanga yoga, then try either Baron Baptiste's Power Yoga 3 or MTV's second power yoga tape. While Baron offers a condensed (45 minute vs 75-90 minute) version that includes most of the easy to intermediate poses, the MTV version is a loosely based version of the primary series where many of the poses are there, but not necessarily in order, and the instructor uses a lot more creative license.

I found this DVD highly motivating. Seeing people of different skill levels get through the entire workout spurred me to go on. Berly makes the primary series fun and accessible, but you will sweat. If you think that 75+ minutes is too long, then try one of the other tapes I suggested, however, if you want to try to complete the primary series, and want to build the endurance needed to do 1-1.5 hrs of yoga, then buy this tape.

I've done Brian Kest's yoga tapes for a few years now, and was looking for something different. Rainbeau was reccommended by someone, and while I thought her teaching was good, and the scenery and music were great, I was really disappointed in the simplicity and duration of the routine. None of the challenging poses Rainbeau is seen doing are taught, nor are the easier poses leading up to them. It's really just a basic sun salutation with a few other things. It wasn't nearly as challenging as Kest. While I liked her personality better, it looks like I'll have to stick with him for a challenge and/or an hour-long session.