This was so similar to Baron's Live tapes that I had to pop in Soul of Strength immediately afterward to see if it wasn't the exact same set of poses. It's not, but it is very similar to Unlocking Athletic Power and SOS in both look and flow. Even the box cover is very similar. If you like those and want more of the same, then this might be a good choice, BUT...

Jonathan Fields sounds like a cross between Baron and Pauly Shore. There's just something about his accent that recalls Encino Man. ("Meat group!") And if you hate Baron's chatter, DO NOT buy this tape (unless you're a really big Pauly Shore fan and want to invite him into your practice!) Everything out of his mouth is pure Baron, although Jonathan refrains from walking around and commenting on different people's poses (No "look at Clyde! He's modifying with a block! That's beautiful!!" as if it's the first time he's ever seen such a thing) and he doesn't talk about angels and glowing toes. But he does repeat himself. "Bend forward. Knees rolling back. Rolling back. Back." It's effective cueing, but sometimes you wonder if it isn't a Rainman-type thing. And every once in a while he slurs his s's and sounds like Sylvester the cat (crossed with Baron Baptiste and Pauly Shore.)

Much to my surprise I don't recall *any* mention of the whole "Only style proven to burn 540 calories an hour!" garbage. If there was any it was at the very beginning when I was distracted with setting up my space. It did not sound like an infomerical in that way that Bryan's new tapes do and Baron's new tapes almost do. That was good.

As far as workout intensity goes, it's pretty solid. There's a thigh-toasting lunge series (although not nearly so toasty as Bryan's Volume 2 Killer Lunge Sequence) and the ab work at the end will probably get you, too. As with some of Baron's tapes, the final resting pose is reclined cobbler. It's a pose I like, but I've been trained to finish in savasana and old habits do die hard.

Verdict: I think despite Jonathan's Pauly Shore-ness ("Da Weeez-alll!!!!) and the STUPID name ("Sonic Yoga"???)I will keep this. I like the sequencing, I like the breath cueing, and he said something in standing wide-legged forward bend that I'd never heard before and that really helped me. (When you have your hands on the floor between your feet, push the edge of the mat away with your fingertips to help you get deeper in the pose.) Time will tell if it becomes a regular in my rotation, or if I decide that it's too annoying or so much like Baron's live tapes that it's not worth having.

Instructor Comments:
Jonathan sounds like a cross between Baron Baptiste (who he trained with) and Pauly Shore. Aside from that, he cues well, and doesn't go all woo-woo on you. He also does *not* harp on the 540 calories an hour nonsense that is plastered all over, and I mean *all over*, the video box.

Renee D