Product Description

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: HEALTH/FITNESS UPC: 085393446628

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #343 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2004-05-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 6.10 pounds
• Running time: 162 minutes

Amazon.com
Anyone wanting to get in shape like the stars need go no further than Bryan Kest's videos. Kest teaches wildly popular yoga classes in Santa Monica, California--so popular that stars like Rhea Perlman, David Duchovny, and Elisabeth Shue willingly sweat alongside the hoi polloi in Kest's packed, ancient loft studio. If you don't happen to be in the neighborhood, not to worry: Kest's yoga videos are nearly as good as being there. Volume 1: Energize is a beginner level class that nonetheless is smartly designed to provide challenges for all levels of users. Kest's Jersey-boy voice at first seems in contrast to the serene environment and inner-peace objectives, but it gradually becomes soothing and hypnotic in its own right. Stretches and strengthening moves are alternated with just enough repose to keep even first timers on track. After mastering Vol. 1, practitioners can go on to Volume 2: Tone or Volume 3: Sweat to further challenge themselves. As long as you keep in mind Kest's personal mantra--"If you're doing the best you can, you're doing this class perfectly"--you and this video should have many satisfying years of workouts together. --Anne Hurley

Customer Reviews

Who gets to define what yoga should or shouldn't be???
I have to begin by addressing the wide array of reviews here. It seems that the biggest discrepancy is whether or not Kest is truly doing yoga or if he is truly a yogi or an appropriate teacher. Really, I agree with the person who said that it is a personal thing. I had not done yoga before getting this set. I had done pilates and have a good foundation of body awareness, so that helped in overcoming the fact that I did not have a teacher there to help me with my form. But as long as I felt good, I didn't worry about it. And now, my form has improved greatly.

I have used Yoga Journal's website to read about each pose to educate myself further about body position and pitfalls to avoid. But overall, just doing the tape again and again, my body has learned the poses and grown into them.

I gained 55 pounds during my pregnancy with my now two-year-old daughter. I went from a size 4-6 to a size 14! The last two years, I have really struggled to lose the weight and it has affected me emotionally as well. This summer, I began using this tape and I immediately began to lose weight. I am now back to a size 6 and down to my pre-pregnancy weight (I was 15 lbs. over when I started this program).

More importantly, it has completely changed my way of life. It has affected the way I eat, breathe, sleep, and look at the world. I don't know why and maybe that is not the case for everyone, but I truly feel that my life has been changed by my practice.

To each their own...I greatly dislike many of the DVDs that folks who have dissed Bryan Kest's have recommended. There is no need to dissuade people from trying this because it is not "true yoga." Who gets to decide that anyway? Diversity...tolerance...acceptance...isn't that "true yoga?"

Awesome video series
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)...

loving this series for over 10 years
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.