Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series [DVD]

Little background: been doing yoga off and on for a couple years now and this was what got me back into one of my "on" periods. So while I'm not a newcomer to yoga I was one in reference to how flexible/strong my body was.This DVD does have a lot of really good stuff for the beginner or advanced. The 90 minute series is truly where this DVD shines as they do a complete body "stretch" and the two person setup allows for showing the beginner an alternative pose to one which Darby (the main practitioner) is doing (sometimes the positions are simply impossible for the new/intermediate level). Combine this with the 10 minute "Sun Salutation" section for the quick "morning wake up" and this is well worth the 4 stars.So why not 5? The 90 minute version is bit long (it actually stetches almost to two hours) which as a person with a fairly hectic schedule means I almost never do this portion of the DVD. The 30 minute version (which start to finish really takes about 45 minutes) might seem to a good middle ground (and for the most part it is), but I have found it to be lacking in several aspects. The forward facing portion of the legs (quadricep mostly) is completely ignored and excepting the cobra position of the numerous sun salutations the same can be said for the stomach area. Outer hips area, neck/shoulder area fall victim as well (though the latter to get worked, just not as heavily as others). If however you want dramatically increase you're hamstring/groin flexibility and get a ton of push-ups in the 30 minute is for you.Basically I just think they did an excellent job on the 90, but ended up skimping a bit on the 30...truly a 60 minute instead of the 30 would have been ideal with the 90 for someone who wants a heavy work over

I have been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for about 2 years now and bought this DVD cause I really couldn't afford to pay $20 every time I wanted to take a class. After watching it all the way through I realized I have never done the full primary series and have never seen it in it's entirety in any book I have read on the subject...which I found a little unusual. I found myself fast forwarding through a lot of moves I found to be repetitive or just to difficult for me to do. The complete series is pretty long and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. With that being said, Richard Freeman is very thorough and moves at a good pace. The video is broken down into chanting, breathing, standing and sitting poses.If anyone knows of any Ashtanga videos that are broken down into 45, 60, 90, and 105 minute guided practices, please let me know. If there isn't one, it would be a great idea cause sometimes it would be nice to have shorter options when time doesn't permit.

The primary series is a wonderful practice. And a very complete one. It has standing poses, forward bends, seated postures, arm balances, inversions... And Richard Freeman is a suberp teacher. His decades of practice are evident. Every instruction he gives takes me deeper into an asana. I find this practice extremely calming. It may have to do with the amazing sequence, with Freeman's relaxing voice and with his focus on the dristhi (gaze) and breath. Throughout the dvd the length and rhythm of the breath is kept constant. Freeman marks each inhalation and exhalation and he never gets ahead of himself or slows it down. Then, the drishti. He also explains, in every pose, where you should be looking at (usually between the eyebrows, the tip of the nose, or the thumbs). And in hatha yoga it is said that 'when the eyes are steady, the mind is steady'. I do find it quite calming, indeed.The whole series is about 1 hour and 50 minutes long in this dvd. I have been doing yoga for over 3 years and I still can't do all of the poses of the series. I modify some. Freeman doesn't show most variations, but if you have practiced yoga for a while you will probably know the easier variations. All in all it is quite an intense session. Luckily, the dvd comes conveniently chaptered.The main menu looks as follows:-Opening chant and practice guidelines-Introduction-Ujjayi pranayama-Sun Salutation instruction-Complete primary series practice session (1h50min)-Sun salutations & standing postures (36min)-Seated Postures (51min, divided in 2 segments: 27 min of forward bends and twists - paschimottanasanas. janu sirsanas and marichyasahas- and 24 min of arm balances, more forward bends and hip openers, inversions and backbends)-Finishing postures (22min: shoulder stand, plough, karnapidasana, headstand, lotus...)-Contact InfoSo, in the days when I decide to do this series but I don't have it in me to go through the whole thing, I skip a chapter or two, like an ashtanga teacher from the Yogatoday site does. For example, one may do the Sun salutes & standing poses + the First part of the Seated postures (27min of forward bends). Or the Sun salutes and standing poses + the Second part of the Seated Postures (before introducing these asanas, Freeman pauses, addresses the viewer and comments on the right attitude to engage their practice, so it is easy to know when this section begins. It includes shoulder press, kurmasana, supta kurmasana, titthibasana, legs behind the head, bakasana, cock pose, baddha konasana, upavishtha konasana, handstand and many others) + the finishing poses.There is no matrix here, but one can skip through or return to the main menu to make a new choice.Also, the half sun salute (chaturanga, upward dog, downward dog) is practiced after EVERY pose to 'wipe the slate clean'. So, when my energy level is not at it's max I sometimes rest during every other salute -although doing the whole thing as it is shown is fabulous. The body feels awesome afterward-.I've had this dvd for 2 years now, and I use it several times a month. It is one of my favorites and I keep learning from it: from the concise instruction, and from Freeman's serene power and grace. He is the real thing. And a teacher's teacher.(If you want to see which poses are included in the Primary Series you can google it. There are several sites that show the entire sequence in pictures.)

I have followed Richard Freeman over the years and I really wanted this to be my go-to source for an Ashtanga workout, but the DVD kept getting stuck on my DVD player. Maybe it was the DVD; maybe it was the DVD player? Don't know, so I had to return it.

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I ordered this dvd, but it was way more advanced than I expected. I've never taken a formal yoga class, as they just aren't easily found where I live. I enjoy yoga, but this was way more than I planned on biting off. First of all, it is two hours. I don't know too many people that have two hours to dedicate per day to any work-out. Second, some of the poses are far too advanced to do at home, unless you have had a great deal of personal instruction. I was a bit scared to try some of the poses for fear of hurting myself. For crying outloud, this man is Gumby. There should be a disclosure that this is for advanced yoga students, not beginner or intermediate. And frankly, it's a bit creepy.

I'm quite experienced at Yoga and was looking for a good challenge, but this dvd sets a quite impossible standard. Richard is like an Olympian, absolutely beautiful to watch and that is what I did after trying to follow the first section of exercises! Very little in the way of alternatives in his masterful Asanas (a couple of pop-up boxes in top corner). I also feel that it is a very masculine style with a great emphasis on upper body strength of an Advanced kind. I would say that it is almost a gymnastic routine with philosophy!

Challenging and rewarding - this is a great DVD for those looking for real authentic yoga that will physically and mentally challenge.

Wonderful - clear and accessible for all levels, Om Shanti xx

I was not familiar with this teacher when I bought the DVD but I'm so glad I took a chance. This master practitioner is clearly attuned to the philosophies inherent in yoga (without being at all heavy handed) and has a wonderful way of describing the asanas in great detail - which is not always a given in Ashtanga! Importantly, the timings are well considered so, once you are familiar with the postures, you can follow and breath comfortably. This is my favourite yoga DVD.

This DVD is fab. Although perhaps a bit intimidating for total beginners. I have been practicing Ashtanga for the last year & found this great for helping to progress my studies, as there are no primary series class's beinging taught where I am from. Wonderful explanations, I'm not sure though if this would be suitable for a total beginner, as I think so of the poses & his fluidity in the series may intimidate new yogi's.