This is a 55-minute power yoga video. The cover states that it is appropriate for all levels. I would agree, except I think those who are very advanced would get bored with all the instruction. It would be very appropriate for beginners and intermediates, though. I definitely fit into that category as far as yoga videos are concerned! The setting is a resort in Jamaica. I think that it is the same set that is used for the Yoga Zone program on Fit TV. It's very pretty, very tropical looking. There are some ducks nearby--I kept waiting for them to walk into the workout area! I wonder if they had to stop filming at any point! The music is new agey and more upbeat than the music on many other yoga tapes. I recognized some of it from the stretch sections of a few other tapes I have (Angles, Lines & Curves?).

Now to the workout. You go through a series of sun salutations, lunges, standing twists, warrior 1&2, upward and downward dog, awkward chair, rotated chair, right angle pose, and crescent pose with the right foot forward. There are several series done here. You then repeat the entire series with the left foot forward. That seemed to take a really long time and got a little repetitive to me. I really felt it in my quads and hamstrings, though. The second half of the tape starts with balancing poses, which are tough. The modifications are definitely doable, though, giving A LOT of room to grow with the tape (sorry, I don't know all the names of the poses offhand): prayer twist, standing on one leg with the other leg (or knee) extended out in front of you, standing on one leg with the other leg extended back (you are in a "T" position at this point), and some standing twists. There is also the raven pose (Bryan Kest does this in Volume 3) where you balance your knees on your elbows and use your arm strength to lift your feet off the floor. NOT!!! I was *definitely* not worthy here! Gina shows a modification where you lift one foot up off the floor at a time. Needless to say, I followed Gina on this one! Next is the 3-point, which is like downward dog except one leg is extended up as far as you can go with good form, then you bend your knee up and bring it down facing forward in between your hands (does that make sense?). You do some seated and lying poses at the end--stretches, twists. Standard yoga video stuff here. One-legged forward bends, bow pose and for those familiar with the Method toning, a form of the teaser for the abs (although it wasn't held nearly as long here). Bridge pose is done, and a more advanced modification is shown where you lift one leg at a time until your leg is perpendicular to the floor. Lying twists are next, and then of course corpse pose to finish.

Lisa does a good job of explaining form and modifications. The other instructors demonstrate the poses well. The setting is nice, and the music fits the workout. As far as whether I like the workout--I do, but it just hasn't grabbed me like some other yoga videos have. As far as difficulty level goes, it's less difficult strength-wise than Bryan Kest's Volume 1, but the balancing poses are more difficult. It's more difficult than Ali McGraw's Yoga Mind and Body (if you do the advanced versions here). I can't compare it to Baron Baptiste's videos, since I don't have any of them. The "feel" of this video is athletic rather than spiritual; it's kind of similar to the feel of Crunch Joy of Yoga in that it demystifies yoga. There is a lot of instruction, so it would probably be a good choice for someone new to power yoga but who has some experience with the basic yoga poses. That being said, I prefer Bryan Kest's approach (just MHO). His workouts seem to "flow" more smoothly.

Instructor Comments:
Lisa Bennett is the blonde who demonstrates the advanced beginner poses in the original Yoga Zone series. She is one of Yoga Zone's master instructors. She appears frequently on Fit TV's Yoga Zone. In this video she strikes me as being a cross between Susan Harris of the Firm and Sara Ivanhoe (the Crunch Joy of Yoga instructor). She's kind of breathy at times, and relaxed and hip at others. I wouldn't call her demeanor relaxing, but then again this is a power yoga tape. Just don't expect the hypnotic relaxing flavor of Alan Finger in the original Yoga Zone series. Lisa is very good at describing the poses, proper form, and body alignment. She does border on being a little too chatty at times, especially for a yoga tape. A couple of times, she giggles (almost a nervous giggle). Lisa does not demonstrate many of the poses, but there are two other instructors: Charles, who demonstrates the advanced versions, and Gina, who demonstrates the beginner modifications. Their form is good, but I do see Charles wobbling a little bit during some of the tougher balancing poses (but of course by this time, I've fallen on the floor already)! Overall, this video has very good demonstration and instruction.

Kristin Aziz