Ashtanga Yoga [DVD]

Being a part-time yoga teacher, this DVD is the very first ashtanga yoga that I bought. It contains Surya Namaskar (sun salutation) A and B. You need to first get familar with A before moving to B. It is with less postures but more physically demanding than the classic Surya Namaskar.Nicki is a great yoga practitioner. Watching her demonstration gives me a sense of peace, simplicity, and joy. Compared to other yoga DVDs that I have seen, Nicki can place every posture accurately and almost without any minor adjustments while changing between the postures. It is flowing so smoothly and effortlessly. The instructions are pretty clear - not too much or too fast, so that all the details can be well captured after practising together with the DVD for few times. The pace between each viyansa (one breath + one movement) is moderate which will help you breathe deep enough in order to catch up the speed. I also like the way to chant ashtanga mantra in the very beginning, but for the text of the mantra you have to find it by searching in Google. The DVD which runs smoothly can be used for daily practice.The DVD was shot at Hawaii where Nicki lives. The scene setting is next to the sea. The background music with mantra chanting is also great. Be sure to watch her interview, which will inspire your yoga practice.If you are not sure for the posture being demonstrated, in the DVD you can jump to a session that gives you more details, and after than the DVD will bring you back to the original point of demonstration.The only thing to improve is the inserted poster which gives Surya Namaskar A only. Do not understand why B is not provided. But if you follow the DVD for few times, your body will remeber it, so for me it is not really necessary to have the poster.I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to explore ashtanga yoga, regardless with yoga experience or not.

Im experienced at Ashtanga having been practising it for almost 5 years. However no longer enjoying my particular class and finding YouTube a bit faffy I thought I would get a DVD to do on my own. Whilst I can recall most of the sequence I thought it would be helpful to have a video to guide me through it.This was so basic and sooo slow. I had actually almost completed my standing sequences myself before this one got through the first sun salutation sequence.Far too much verbal instruction instead of just demonstrating the pose. The slowness actually undermines any physical challenge of doing ashtanga. Gave up and went back to YouTube

Due to long working hours, I could no longer get to a yoga class in the evenings. I had never tried a DVD before, so was amazed to find it's just as good as going to a class. The tuition is as detailed and the lesson lasts about the same length of time.

After several 'hit and miss' tries with different yoga programs on DVD I have finally found 'the one' and I will stick with it. Whenever Nicki Doane is ready to come out with her next set of lessons I will be eagerly waiting. In the meantime this will be part of my daily routine.She not only obviously has the stamina to carry you through all the steps and doesn't just tell you to do repetitions-she does them with you which, along with her wonderful voice, keeps you going. Her interview is lovely as well, gently inspiring and completely natural..a good sense of humor.

Only for ex-ballerinas or the truely supple gymnasts, amazing to watch the beauty and grace of the movements, and be in awe of someone elses suppleness, but not for your ordinary mortal.

If you have never done yoga and you want a form of yoga that is going to really work your body into a sweat then this is the DVD for you. It is challenging enough as an introduction and is detailed enough for a total beginner to follow. If you have done another form of yoga, e.g. Kundalini, then you will find some of this is familiar but there is more of a continuous flow. Highly recommended.

Easy start up video with detailed explanations to assure correct execution of each pose. Fun, clear and so much easier than gym taught sessions!

i have added this to my collection of yoga dvds and have found some of the exercises give a different slant