Yoga Short Forms

And many thanks also to those who had already reviewed Short Forms...I based my purchase on your opinions. I've flirted with yoga in an irregular manner for the past few years, knowing that it is right for me, but never finding the correct focus until now. Ashtanga yoga as presented by David Swenson in a calm (not boring), caring and genuinely enthusiatic manner has truly caught me. The movement and breathing, unifying body, mind and environment seemed to have been the magic key. I would rank myself an intermediate beginner in things yoga and find the 30 minute workout approachable, yet challenging enough to take me down the road awhile. I also have Rodney Yee's Power Yoga DVD which although beautifully filmed, I found the pace too quick and poses too difficult. The lack of guidance was also disturbing. In contrast, David Swenson provides significant guidance for each pose, including breathing, physical warnings, attitude orientation and genuine encouragement without being "icky", as well as providing alternatives for beginner to advanced practitioners. The instruction is very clear which is especially important to those who have never had formal yoga instruction. Short Forms is beautifully filmed (although I actually swatted my tv a couple of times only to find it was one of many bees on David's side of the video) including superior tonal quality. I am very happy with my purchase and expect to use this video for a very long time. With enough practice and self-discipline I can finally move out of the beginner's ranks and perhaps even approach the full primary series. And hey, I just found out there's an Ashtanga class in English right here in Tokyo that I'm going to look into. Read more

This set of short yoga classes is a compromise. It could be more or less useful if you have been practising yoga for a considerable period of time, but for beginners it is not that great. I found that the 45 minute program does not provide enough warm-up and, naturally, skips some postures, so I was not prepared for some asanas, my muscles were still somewhat tight and not warm enough to do the asanas comfortably. I still was able to do all the postures, it just did not feel quite right. You can use this DVD when there is no time and a short form would be better than no form at all, but, in my opinion, yoga likes long forms. Read more

This is a good way to fit a bit of yoga into your daily routine. Swenson goes through the poses at good rate and doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, although he also gives alternatives if you find a pose too challenging. I regularly go to vinyasa yoga classes, and I was looking for a DVD to use when I travel -- something shorter than the full Ashtanga series, but not something aimed at beginners. I really like the flexibility of being able to choose a 15-, 30- or 45-minute workout, and the deep relaxation and the end is very pleasant. I'm not very good with the Sanscrit names, so here is a summary in English (from memory, probably incomplete) of the poses in the 45-minute workout. He does them in the right order, so if you practice Ashtanga and want to do a pose that he leaves out, you can just pause the DVD at the right place and do it. sun salutations A and B, 3 each forward bend triangle wide-stance triangle wide-legged forward bend balancing on one leg with the other one in front half-lotus and fold, or tree pose warriors, A and B seated postures (vinyasas between many of these): staff pose forward bend forward bend in half lotus forward bend with one foot on the inner thigh of the other leg marichiasana A and B (spine twists) boat pose (3 reps) backbend (1 prep, with your shoulders on the floor, then the option to do one full backbend) forward bend as counter-pose shoulder-stand, then plow (fish as counter-pose) head-stand (child's pose as counter-pose) lotus with forward bend deep breathing in lotus lift off floor while in lotus corpse pose Read more

The 30 min workout is quite mild, designed for beginners. It is easy to follow and has a relatively moderate pace. If you are up to some challenges, the 45 min workout incorporates more asanas. However, between each side of asana, there's no flow. I feel that there's not enough warm up for that workout and I feel rushed. If you are looking for a shorter Ashtanga workout, you can follow the primary series for all the standing poses, then take a few asana, then do the finishing poses without skipping the flow in between. It is important to have enough flow during the practice to really open up and receive the benefit of this yoga practice. Read more

I was very disappointed with this DVD. It is not for a beginner yoga person like myself. I am not in bad shape; I do aerobic exercises 3-4 a week, yoga, 2x a week, strength exercises 3x a week. I read good reviews about this DVD and that is the only reason I bought this. This video was moving way too fast for me. Look, I've watch just the short form of the 15 minute segment and who can do yoga in 15 minutes? He went right away into these forms and poses. I've hurt my thighs following this guy's method! He should have warned beginners should do a warm-up before trying these supposedly "beginner" poses. Unfortunately, after I watched this video and followed along, it was a big mistake. (Especially when you pull a muscle doing the poses to follow along with him). The forms are not at all for beginners. As a matter of fact, the intro of the video the instructor is seen doing extravagant and crazy poses. Clearly, he is a flexible teacher. I just don't think this is a good video for beginners of yoga. Read more