Yoga DVD Review: MTV Power Yoga

This is the worst yoga DVD I've seen (so far.)

The sun salutations that open the sequence involve repeated forward bends with your hands clasped behind you and then rotated over your head to open your shoulders. This is a nice choice if you hold the posture for several breaths and give it a chance to work in your shoulders, but she moves in and out of it several times very briefly, which seems pointless and just became irritating after the sixth time.

She moves through the poses very quickly, and gives very little instruction, both of which are potentially painful or injurious. For example, since there are several Vinyasas in the sequence, you go into Downward Dog over a dozen times, but she never gives you any cues on what to do with your body in D. Dog. (Some suggestions: Move the elbows closer together. Spread the shoulder blades apart. Press down into your thumb and forefinger. Extend from your hands back through the shoulder blades and put more weight into your feet.) So 95% of those doing this video who are new to yoga will crash all their weight into their wrists, sink into their shoulders, and have a bad time. Despite there being a beginner doing poses beside her, she never encourages beginners to take a Chaturanga from the knees once in a while, or do a Cobra in place of an Upward Dog (both of which are easier on the lower back, and provide a way to turn down the intensity without a complete rest.) Oh yes! She doesn't even mention a resting posture at the beginning of the DVD, either, she just barrels right into it. Some choices she made in the sequence are tiresome, as well, but not actually dangerous.

The music, which is one of the selling points of this 2003 release "hot new recording artist Blue Six!" is not very good. But I can say the sequence warmed up the body. At some point I just lost interest and started doing the poses I felt like doing.

Like all yoga videos, it starts with a waiver of liability and urges you to consult your doctor before starting this or any exercise program, but I've never watched a yoga video which gave such short shrift to beginners and to injury prevention. And the class, while it did warm up my body, didn't feel logically sequenced and was paced poorly.

I give it a C.