Baron Baptistes Power Yoga Level 2
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars The Most Powerful & Significant Yoga Workout on DVD
In order to understand this set, one must know the origins of how Baron Baptiste developed this classic hatha/power yoga fusion. There is no randomness in this sequence. Realize, Baron studied under Bikram Choudhury, the man who has set up “hot yoga” centers across America. The exact sequence of 26 poses Bikram uses came from his teacher, Bishnu Ghosh, the younger brother of Paramahausa Yogananda (author of “Autobiography of a Yogi”). In classic hatha yoga, there is a theory of perfecting the diamond body in order to perfect the clarity of the mind. What Baptiste did was take the Bikram system and link it to vinyasa in order to give it fluidity. In the Bikram system there is an emphasis on will, focus, and concentration which occurs through the mastering of the single leg standing poses. There is also a theory that these poses should be done twice to be effective. Baptiste precedes this sequence with three A salutations and four B (using a crescent lunge) to generate strength and heat before the classic hot yoga set begins. He also modifies the sitting poses by adding crunches and wheel. Somehow he knows intuitively how to pace a workout. Whereas his “Long and Lean” or “Journey into Power” DVD’s are slower, more suited to power yoga poses, this tape moves quickly to fuse an aerobic quality to an emphasis on pure concentration and focus. What is amazing about this workout are the results. My endurance and ability to handle all or any daily pressure or activity is amazingly increased. Instead of merely pumping the body with hard lunge combinations or anti-gravity poses, strength is being simultaneously enhanced while the mind must focus on balance and maintaining proper form. Bikram understood the power of this in his set, but only Baron Baptiste evolved this principle with the fluidity of the Astanga style vinyasa to make this the most unique and significant DVD money can buy. Aesthetics aside, this is truly a magical sequence.
5 Stars Awesome Power Yoga Workout
I am a personal trainer and owner of a fitness studio who has tried many yoga classes and dvd’s, and I love Baron Baptiste’s style of teaching more than any class or dvd I have tried. This is definitely not a beginner level workout, and it’s not going to give you the “new age zen yoga experience” that many do. But if you are a “type A” exerciser like myself and many of my clients, and you love a hard workout that makes you sweat, such as kickboxing, running, or weight training, Baron’s style will appeal to you more than other teacher’s styles. Yes, he does talk thru the video, however, he is giving excellent form and cueing advice that is necessary to achieving correct alignment and form. I recently purchased a yoga video by Shiva Rea, who came highly recommended to me by several yoga instructors, and was quite disappointed, as I felt the workout wasn’t quite athletic enough and too “zen” for me and she did not give enough instruction and moved thru the posed quickly. Baron’s workout level 2 and level 3, which is the primary series of ashtanga yoga, move at a good pace, are challenging, but do not include arm balances and several of the more difficult poses that one finds in an ashtanga workout. Beryl Bender Birch, for example, has a wonderful ashtanga power yoga dvd, but it moves at a fast pace, without as much instruction, and includes very challenging arm balances and headstands, which are definitely for the advanced yoga practitioner. This is a great workout for those who have done beginning yoga and are looking for a great stretch, and the next step in power yoga. I use power level 2 as a workout on my off days from running and weight training, as it provides a great stretch for my muscles and joints.
5 Stars Outstanding Yoga Training for Athletes & Not Really Annoying
I must respectfully disagree with the other reviewers about the impact of the music and Baron’s teaching and cuing on this disc. The music is a little cheesy as indicated, particularly at the beginning and end of the session but the routine itself is excellent. The music during the session doesn’t bother me at all. It should also be said that men usually do Yoga without a shirt, so it’s not as if Baron is showing off by walking around in his white cotton shorts (nor does he wear a speedo or spandex shorts like David Swenson does). It is also important to note that Baron’s “chattering” is essential to the quality of the session, since he instructs on the details of the pose, reminds and cues you to breathe, and tries to bring you back to your original intentions in doing the class (relaxation, calming the mind, etc.). Without the cuing, it would be harder to do the poses correctly, easier to forget to breathe deeply and fluidly, and easier to get tense and agitated during a challenging workout. I think the cuing is just fine, and continues to be useful for intermediate students.
The routine itself is the most challenging of all Baron’s video presentations, and presents one of the very best video sessions available to those who are seeking the power yoga experience to develop strength, balance, cardiovascular capacity, flexibility and calmness in a single workout. Some of the poses have been changed slightly to focus more on areas of stiffness or weakness common to traditional athletes, and the routine includes several other balance and strength exercises or poses not usually found in yoga routines. It also seems that those poses which place more stress on the joints have been changed or left out to make the session more appropriate for practicing athletes. If you are a conditioned athlete, an intermediate yoga student, or anyone else looking the power yoga experience, this is a great session for you. It includes excellent strength work, hip opening, balancing poses, joint stabilizing and strengthening, abdominal work and breathing exercises. This disc is the one that should be called “Power Yoga for Athletic Performance”.
4 Stars I just loved this DVD!
I am an advanced beginner and just love yoga. I borrowed this from a friend and I thought it was great! It was a bit over an hour, it allowed me to push myself to the edge, and most importantly, covered a lot of poses that will help me to the next level. My weaknesses are the standing balancing poses and I was very glad to see a segement on this. Yes, I would much rather watch him doing it rather than the students, but I did find his talking actually helped me with proper form and to maintain the form. Just like they do in a real class. There is no doubt you will build your strength on this one. To me that is important so I can progress.
3 Stars Really 2.5 stars–because he never shuts up
I needed a yoga dvd quick and grabbed this one, without investigating him. While I do feel peaceful after, and stronger, I would’ve felt more peaceful if he was quieter. He chatters nonstop, even during the corpse posture! Everything constantly goes back to the Sun Salutation constantly. Some of the asanas are too easy, and some too hard. While he does tell you there are variations, they are never demonstrated, so you can only imagine. He also calls plank asana “the push-up position.” He does not even demonstrate the asanas, but tells a group of fit, slim Yoga students (and occasionally adjusting them) while walking around in just white shorts. He also claps often to signal that the position is over. While it is a decent workout, I have a feeling that after owning this DVD for a while, it will sit on my shelf for only occasional use.