Kathy Smith With Rod Stryker: New Yoga Challenge: Advanced Workout

Kathy Smith With Rod Stryker: New Yoga Challenge: Advanced Workout | Kathy Smith, Rod Stryker | Great Yoga Workout--Kathy Smith in Name Only

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Kathy Smith With R...

	Kathy Smith With Rod Stryker: New Yoga Challenge: Advanced Workout Kathy Smith, Rod Stryker Sony Wonder (Video), 2001 average customer review:based on 25 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

"Each of us has unlimited potential. How completely we realize it is the challenge," says fitness guru Kathy Smith. Smith has been enjoying yoga as part of her own program for more than 20 years. She finds yoga beneficial on its own, and complementary to her other fitness activities. Here she teams up with yoga master Rod Stryker for a rigorous, intermediate-to-advanced yoga routine. This workout is more vigorous than you would expect from yoga--you move from one challenging pose to another without stopping, building strength and stamina as well as flexibility. Stryker does almost all of the verbal direction, and he is a superb instructor: precise, personal, welcoming, and offering plenty of alignment cues. Both instructors demonstrate the poses beautifully with exquisite form--you may get distracted just wanting to stare at them. Occasionally they show modifications so you can do a pose in good form even if you're not as flexible as they are (and who is?). The production is polished and top quality. Running time is one hour, divided into deep breathing and warm-up (5 minutes), continuous standing poses (30 minutes), floor poses (20 minutes), and guided relaxation (5 minutes). If you're experienced in yoga and would like a new challenge, this tape will delight you. --Joan Price

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ROD STRYKER AND KATHY SMITH, AN EXCELLENT YOGA COMBINATION

By way of giving some background, I've been practicing daily Yoga for 7 years,have over 70 yoga videos, and study with a fabulous teacher as well.

I must admit that I was skeptical about a Yoga video w/ fitness star Kathy Smith. I was concerned that this was strictly a "Let's get on the Yoga Bandwagon" project. However, knowing that Rod Stryker was her partner in this made me give it a try because Rod is the "Real Deal".

This video is actually led by Rod Stryker w/ Kathy Smith assisting him (which is a very smart move on Kathy Smith's part and gives it much more credibility "Yoga wise" in my opinion).

It's a very complete yoga routine, with Gentle Warmups, Sun Saluations (w/ pushups between up/down dog), a complete standing pose practice, Short balancing segment, a very complete backbending routine plus forward bends, inversions and relaxation. There is a clear explanation of Ujayi Breathing at the beginning as well.

I found this tape to be enjoyable to practice with, easy to follow and challenging as well.

I actually took it out of the library to try it out and was so impressed that I just ordered her Ultimate Yoga DVD set which has her three Yoga Programs, I've tried all three and had to have them.

By the way, I thought Rod actually came across better in this video than he does in his "Yoga For Longevity" video where he seems a bit stiff and mechanical (even though that is a WONDERFUL video which I highly recommend).

Also, if you want to try another really great and challenging video, check out Sherri Baptiste's "Baptiste Power Of Yoga" video (which is an intermediate level video)as well as her brother Baron Baptiste's excellent collection of videos (in particular his "live" set). Of course Bryan Kest has some of the best videos out there as well if you're looking for a real challenge with another excellent teacher.

Namaste

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Great Yoga Workout--Kathy Smith in Name Only

Kathy Smith on the cover of this tape is a little misleading. She shares the stage with Rod Stryker who is the yoga guru behind the sequences and workout. He is very skilled, has a lovely calm manner, and leads you through a balanced and definitely challenging sequence of poses. I've been using this tape for five years. Be forewarned, in the early days, I was always sore afterwards--make use of the less difficult posture suggestions until you are VERY comfortable with the tape and your ability. Still one of my favorites.

Great Yoga program.

Just a great workout. John leads it, but it is still very effective and balanced, you work hard, but you don't really know it until you stop. Usually I start with the standing poses, skipping the breathing excercises ( that takes too much time :-) )I had this in Vhs and then bought it again in DVD. Thats how much I love it!

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I love the combination!

This was a great combo! I have to admit, I was a little worried about having a fitness guru, Kathy Smith, assist Rod Stryker in the dvd, but it worked! In fact, it made if MORE beneficial. Great practice and not too challenging for the beginner/intermediate student. I will suggest this dvd for sure! Also check out Barnon and Kest. TAMARA'S YOGA FUSION

Many poses in great yoga routine, but bad chemistry from Kathy

This is set on a stage with a beautiful ocean background. It's Kathy in the front & Rod always behind her & sometimes even barely on camera. Sheela mentioned they were in competition of each other which can ruin the mood. I felt it as well, but I know it's Kathy since in any other dance, kick boxing, etc. workout though she's not an expert, she always had to be front & center, hogging the camera & ignoring the expert. I was pleasantly surprised with this since she only has a lengthy intro of 5 min of telling all about yoga, after that she barely speaks; though early on she tries to hog the mic but Rod calmly hints to her to get back to work.
Rod has vast knowledge & I learned a few terms from him. His cueing is perfect, he tells you when to breathe, always check posture, use of props, how to get the most of the pose, the modifications, and when he reminded to relax the shoulders, I immediately was able to though hadn't realized they were tensed.
The workout is I'd say beginner who already has taken classes or owns shorter, easier yoga videos already & already has strength & endurance in general. I've seen intermediate, this is closer then most, but not there. It starts with Ujayi breathing which means Victory. Then downward dogs & fwds bends, then the the usual sun salutations A &B w/chair pose.
The standing poses still has sun salutations between: triangle, side angle, revolved triangle, wide legged fwd bend, warrior 1 & 2, three legged downward dog.
The sitting routine has: sitting fwd bend, pigeon, butterfly, bridge, tabletop, shoulder stand, plow, flying locust, bow, supine spinal twists, sitting spinal twists & some ab crunches.
I'm not telling the poses in the right order & I might have left out 1 or more poses. This is one of the only videos I've seen that do so many poses done. The pace is as long as it takes to teach each step, about 1-3 full breaths depending on the ease of the asana.
I took off 2 stars because Kathy or "Kat" as Rod called her, made it hard for me to finish the routine because of all her negativity & felt a bit more tired/negative myself after. I've had trouble completing any of her DVDs from negativity: Latin dance workout, kick boxing & Flex appeal. (I made sure after her first 2, I've only rented any thereafter.) She is unable to handle taking a backseat for even a minute to someone more experienced/knowledgeble then her but Rod makes up for that mostly. Most other yoga workouts I felt at least stretched out, slightly beter mood or like Rainbeau Mars, Wai Lana, Ateeka, Teigh Mcdonough, Yogi Hari & Kristen Stroheker, very uplifted, fluid, balanced & calm.
Great yoga workout for those who aren't influenced by bad vibes from Kathy competing with Rod.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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