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Holistic Guidance - Bryan Kest Power Yoga Complete Collection
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List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $13.99
Your Save: $ 5.99 ( 30% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Bryan Kest
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790791340
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 079079134X
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2004-05-11
Running Time: 162
Studio: Warner Home Video
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Editorial Reviews:
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Feel the power. Be the power! Unlock the strengthening slimming detoxifying and re-energizing of Power Yoga. Bryan Kest leads you in a vigorous workout based on the robust Ashtanga style of Yoga. Three programs on one DVD: Energize Tone SweatFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre:Â HEALTH/FITNESS UPC:Â 085393446628
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome video series
Comment: I bought this video after getting a recommendation from my yoga teacher and reading other Amazon reviews, before leaving on an extended vacation (where a live class would not be available). Like many others here, I think this yoga set absolutely rocks- it is an excellent and balanced yoga series (bends, balance, strength) which is challenging, but not dangerously so (and there are three levels to choose from). I can see how it would be a matter of personal preference whether you would like the constant chatter and direction Bryan Kest gives during the set, but in my opinion his encouragement and focus on breathing calmly through challenging poses is very motivating and keeps things focused and moving along (others may like silence and peace during their yoga) I find this series very similar to going to a live class where there is generally direction ( and this style is my personal preference). In any event I cant say enough about this dvd, I find it as beneficial as going to live class, and you will definitely get a good yoga body/ mind experience here, along with a strengthening amd motivational workout. One of my favorite things about this set is Kest's frequent instruction to work with where you are at, challenge yourself to your own edge, but if you need to bend your knees etc, so what, its your practice and you are built differently then everyone else, so push yourself only to the point where you can breathe calmly etc... good stuff and good instruction..
Finally, a personal note as to the effectivenees of the wokout series, at first I was challenged and sweating during parts of level 1 such as holding down dog for minutes at a time and the constant chattarongas (sp?)- but after 5 weeks level 1 and 2 have become challenging but very doable without much sweat and flexibility and strength have improved dramatically ( ie can now hold standing prayer twist and camel pose at length etc0 and attribute this to the effectiveness of the series ( and there were no injuries over this time)...
Customer Rating:
Summary: loving this series for over 10 years
Comment: I used to practice this yoga series back when it was only on HVS and was thrilled to be able to update that and buy it now on DVD.
Bryan seems to inspire both sides of the spectrum in terms of reponses to his teaching, which is interesting. There's no right or wrong when it comes to a person's experience, but let me offer my own two cents on why I love these classes so much.
First, let me say that I tend to have a touch of reverse discrimination when it comes to overly-hunky or attractive teachers that seem like models rather than true practitioners. Granted, that's judgmental, but I'm saying this to illustrate that Bryan's long hair and attractive physicality and shirtless yoga stud thing was something he had to work against in me. Bu honestly, it's not even a thought in my head, nor has it been for many years, because I love the way Bryan teaches. He has a sense of humor but he also teaches things I think are universal and so healing, like reminding you throughout the class that you need to stay out of your ego, remembering that no two people are going to look the same in the poses, and that our bodies are not meant to conform to the poses, they are meant to conform to our bodies. His reassurance that if you are feeling something good and breathing deep you are doing the class perfectly is a constant reminder to stay present, listen to your body and allow the depth to come over time. How people miss that and label this as a dangerous class I don't know?
I have had a history of back problems since high school, so I'm particularly sensitive to that issue in all things. My personal favorites are the first two sets, which I personally have no problem completing in terms of back safety. Again, this goes back to listening to your body because while he is guiding you into something like camel pose, you are the one who determines how far you go.
I will agree that it's not a series I would recommend for absolute beginners; I'd say this is for advanced beginners, intermediates and beyond. I also think the varying levels represented in his class are inspiring and lovely; not everyone does the poses like contortionists, but some are very experienced practitioners and why should they be excluded from the video? Personally I like to see that. It doesn't make me feel "less than" because I'm not built that way, it just seems rather beautiful, although after the initial viewing I'm not sure why anyone is looking at the screen anyway? But I notice at least one practitioner in each class who is using modifications to make the poses approachable.
As for how Bryan physically corrects students, having been to his live classes, I've never felt there was inappropriate touching going on there. The fact that he uses the same technique for helping a male and a female student to release more deeply within a pose tells me it's not about sexuality at all. This reminds me of the objections to Ana Brett's choice of clothing in her DVD series, and I have to wonder why the puritanical residue when it comes to working with the human body?
Certainly, not every teacher will resonate for every person. I respect Rodney Yee tremendously but I'm not a big fan of his teaching style or videos. I see why others like them, but they just don't speak to me. And that's ok.
I have to wonder, with reading comments from people who really hate this series and speak of it being dangerous and back issues, if they are pushing too far or ignoring their own bodies? I don't see how a teacher could be more clear and supportive about honoring when you need to take a break and only going as far as you can comfortably, because it's your class and it can all be as easy as you want it to be...I'm almost quoting verbatim here.
There's a narrow perception out there of what a yoga teacher should look like or sound like. I feel you can teach a beautiful and transformative class without the need for such severity and austerity, as Bryan does. His personality shines through as it does for all teachers, so it comes down to whether you click with that personality. I love that he makes me smile during yoga. In his live classes, we laugh out loud all the time. It's a lovely way of releasing tension, but the yoga is pure, as is his background and training.
Needless to say, I love these classes. I find the warm up to be ample and effective, I love the sequencing, the music and the comments. I've found the concept of honoring where you are, because you're already there, so helpful in my life off the mat. So many things he says are now intertwined with my practice no matter who is teaching, and they support my experience in the world. Isn't that what yoga is all about? To yoke, to join...union? That's what I get from Bryan's classes.
My favorite aspect of this series is the way I feel inside throughout and afterwards; peaceful, self accepting, patient, focused. The physical benefits of increased strength, releasing tension and allowing energy to flow are all secondary for me.
But in a collection of over 30 yoga DVDs of all styles, this is still my all time favorite and I suspect it always will be.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Review is long, but be sure to read all of it to get all the pros and cons!
Comment: I only have two complaints- (1)when it says "beginners" for the first session, that means "beginners who have done yoga before, either videos or classes, but got out of their yoga practice routine, and want to get back into it again." In other words, if you don't have experience with yoga (any kind-it doesn't have to be Ashtanga or Power Yoga) then you may want to go with something else first, so you can get the basics. I have over 20 yoga videos, but it didn't "click" with me until I did Rainbeau Mars' DVD's. (These are the best, in my opinion, to start with if you are a true beginner-she gives constant attention to correct form and you begin to understand what your REALLY supposed to be doing with your body in downward facing dog, from your toes all the way to your fingers-and other poses as well.) (2)Also,it would have been nice to have had someone in the class showing what the modified forms would be-b/c some of these poses are tough, and I didn't want to lose the focus and just plop down on the floor! Child's pose is good, but there has to be a modified version, where I would still be getting the benefits of the pose, without going as deep.
That said, if you come to this practice as someone with yoga experience, trust me-you will love it! I've never done "power yoga" before, b/c I thought it would be a lot of "moving quickly through a sequence, over and over" and I was pleasantly surprised. Believe me, Bryan Kest shows you that you don't have to move quickly to work up a sweat! I've never sweated that much to a workout video before-and I usually don't sweat that much, anyway (TMI!). It took me a while to get used to his tone of voice (not a soft, soothing voice like I'm used to) but towards the end, I liked it b/c of his intensity and I felt like I was in a gym taking one of his classes, instead of in my home. I was also proud of myself-I did a tough pose I've never done before and I kept thinking about how I want to stick with this so I can work up to doing the poses that I couldn't do! (with the correct form, of course!) And, like I mentioned before, while I wish he had someone showing a modified form, he did do a great job of reminding me throughout that it doesn't matter if you aren't able to do everything like they are-"if you're doing the best you can, then you're doing it perfectly".
Customer Rating:
Summary: Everything a yogi shouldn't be
Comment: Although I bought another Kest product (Spinal) I wished I would have done my homework more thoroughly and read these 1-stars. Almost everything stated here is what I also experienced and Texas Yogi had it right. Kest is a seriously flawed yoga instructor not only for the reasons that I stated in my review of the product I had the misfortune to buy (and subsequently throw away to save anyone else to suffer such a bogus yoga instructor), but for the fact that his conduct is soooo inappropriate and seriously unbecoming of a good yoga instructor. In response to another reviewer who didn't understand the rave reviews, my only guess is that they don't know any better- either in understanding the reverence in which the yogic tradition is held or the conduct of its highest acolytes- the yogi/yogini. It does not surprise me that I had, until I'd browsed Amazon.com for yoga material for backs, never heard of Bryan Kest before, read about him in the many yoga magazines I read or find anything else about him. With so many really good instructors out there, no one should bother with this bum. The upside- I've gotten some recommendations for other GOOD instructor's videos.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This is a dangerous workout
Comment: I cannot stress enough that this is a dangerous yoga workout. There quite simply is not enough warm up at the beginning of each section, then after the limited warm-up, he goes right into VERY long downward dog poses. Which are fine, but such long poses need proper warm-up or you WILL injure yourself. I've been doing yoga for 8 years and the MOST IMPORTANT factor in not injuring yourself is proper warm-up. Its a decent workout otherwise. When the rare occasion pops up that I actually do use this DVD, I warm up first with another yoga DVD. Not to mention his inane coaching is also dangerous. He mentions that its not important to do the poses properly, just as long as you do "something" and other nonsensical babbling like "its not important what you do, but how you do what you do" and the immediate workout killer "come down gently into plank pose as if an old lay is living underneath you". WTF?????
His 90s heavy metal hair doesn't help any either. One bonus is the beautiful women in sexy workout clothes. But that shouldn't be enough to buy this.
I strongly recommend avoiding this. Tony Horton's P90X yoga is a MUCH better workout, far better instruction and MUCH safer.
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