This is the most physically challenging of all of
the yoga tapes I have tried. It requires strength,
stamina and endurance. The unbelievably flexible and
strong Rodney Yee leads both practice sessions.
Session one is a series of inverted poses which start
with a vinyasa to warm you up and prepare you for the
moves to come. Then it is on to headstand preparations:
bent-arm dog pose, headstand touch and dog pose. Next is
bridge pose, and then the shoulderstand series which
includes: plough pose, one-legged shoulderstand and
finally shoulderstand. You end with leg stretches and
relaxation pose. The shoulderstand poses are extremely
calming, and can be modified based upon your flexibility
level and ability to balance. When you are doing a
shoulderstand I would recommend that you place several
folded blankets under your shoulders to protect your
neck.
Session two is a series of balance poses that require
all of the strength you can muster. You begin with a
vinyasa and the move on to: mountain pose, triangle pose,
side stretch pose, half moon pose, standing forward bend,
tree pose, exalted warrior, standing forward bend, brave
warrior, standing forward bend, boat pose, pendulum pose,
crane pose and reclining twist. This session is tough,
the standing poses become more difficult as the tape
progresses and require you to balance on one leg. The
pendulum and crane poses are floor poses where you
balance you entire body off of the floor with the
strength of your arms. I would imagine that it would take
several years to work up to holding these poses for any
length of time.
This tape is one for those who like to see the
rewards of their practice. It is much easier for me to
see the gains I make in strength and balance than the
gains I make in flexibility.
I find Rodney Yee to be a terrific instructor. He is
athletic and muscular, yet has an incredibly calm and
soothing voice.
Laura Harper
8/25/97