This two disc set is the first in a series that features the inspired yoga of Max Strom. This practical and beautiful DVD presents an introduction to yoga that is easily accessible to the beginner-to-intermediate practitio... more »ner. It is easy to follow, yet also challenging. Too many people confuse yoga with simply being an exercise regime for the body, while others worry yoga is overly spiritual. The classes presented are a holistic practice for developing strength, grace, and healing, of the body, emotions, and mind. Although Yoga appears to be primarily physical, its benefits are far reaching. This is the first yoga DVD to make full use of the most popular features offered by the DVD format, including: ? Two separate lengths of a beginning level yoga practice ? a 45 minute version and a 90 minute version. ? A Workshop option allowing further instruction on difficult-to-master poses. ? Special segments to help you practice meditation, and to get a deeper understanding of yoga. ? Three audio options: Max?s voice alone, music, or both. Max Strom is known for his transformational classes and for inspiring and impacting the lives of his students with his soulful, gregarious nature, and profound integrity. Over 400 students a week come to learn his unique Vinyasa-style yoga which integrates Yoga, Chi Gong, and Movement therapy. His rigorous and flowing classes purify and realign the body, while cultivating a feeling of deep inner peace. Max Strom is the founder and director of Sacred Movement Yoga in Los Angeles, now merged with Exhale Mind/Body/Spa. He is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and registered with the Yoga Alliance. Max is known for his philosophical insights and has authored a forthcoming book on Yoga.« less
Genres:Fitness & Yoga Sub-Genres:Yoga Studio:Megaforce Format:DVD - Color DVD Release Date: 02/07/2006 Original Release Date: 01/01/2006 Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2006 Release Year: 2006 Run Time: 2hr 15min Screens: Color Number of Discs: 2 SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 3 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English
K. Bandhauer | Meridian, ID United States | 06/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am an intermediate yoga devotee (can do unassisted headstands, but not handstands, etc.). I started in 1998 with Total Yoga (Tracey Rich & Ganga White). I have practiced yoga throughout my martial arts training, through 2 pregnancies & recoveries, and I remain devoted and inspired by what yoga does for my mind & body.
While I consider Total Yoga to be the ultimate workout for a true beginner, I now consider Max Strom's workout my ultimate yoga experience. This DVD would not be ideal for a beginner, as he does not explain yogic breathing at all (Total Yoga was perfect for this), and it is a challenging series of poses. I believe I found this DVD at the perfect time for me. After years with Rodney Yee, Bryan Kest, Shiva Rea, Yoga Zone, Kripalu, and various others, I now find it difficult to do any other workout besides Strom's. No other practice leaves me feeling strong, fluid, and peaceful. What a gift! There are variations of poses that I have not seen, and the flow of the class is effortless. Strom's voice is calming, and the meditation at the end of class is extraordinary. I cannot recommend this DVD highly enough to anyone who is at least somewhat experienced in their yoga practice."
What really moves you?
Thomas Rosen | Santa Monica, CA | 01/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to say that after several Yoga DVDs, I finally found and got what I was looking for. Max Strom has such a peaceful manner about him and his class took me to a level of comfort in my body that I am always trying to create. Technically, this is a really cool DVD that is different than others I have seen in at least one significant manner. When I want more instruction at any point in the class, I can simply click an icon that summons Max to provide more in-depth instruction as if he were with me in my living room. If i don't want too much information, then I let the class go on un-interrupted. This puts the choice in my hands and I found that to be very "friendly".
I consider myself to be an intermediate Yoga practitioner. Max's class was perfect for me in that it asked me to 'show up', but also reminded me of the crucial fundamentals and the way not to get hurt. I believe this DVD would be a perfect introduction for anyone who is starting out with Yoga. Something about Max's manner was very encouraging, special. Judging from the way I felt after following Max's class, I hope to make this a more regular part of my life."
The Holy Grail of yoga DVDs. This will make you thin, witho
Lisa M. Mims | Austin, TX United States | 05/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Beyond what has already been said about this DVD, the only thing I have to add is that this is the Holy Grail of yoga practices. This is the type of class that will make you thin.
I feel like a hypocrite for only talking about what this will do anatomically, but it's really all I have to add. This practice has a sequence of poses that will change your metabolism. It will also teach you how to avoid injury in any yoga class, and help you sleep at night.
First, let's talk about what this will do for the metabolic rate--the largest muscles in the body are in the back of the legs. The more muscle in the back of the legs, the more calories you burn. If you want to become slender and strong in the least amount of time, you have to do a yoga practice that is heavy on the leg exercises.
There is no problem with that here. The first ten minutes of the class are devoted to a kung fu horse stance that will leave you in tears because of the length of time the pose is held. The sequence continues with a lot of standing poses that will make you really sweat.
Second, this is a phenomenal practice because the instruction is incredibly clear. If you have even a basic knowledge of yoga, you could do most of the class without ever looking at the screen. The safety cues are superb--you will learn what you need to avoid injury in a more active practice. (The cuing is so good that, having watched this once, I think I figured out why I can't do backbends, after years of trying.)
Third, this really calming, in a good way. A lot of the more advanced power or vinyasa yoga dvds have practices that energize. That is great, if that is what you need. However, if you have a nervous or competitive personality, and you do a lot of energizing yoga, you are not going to sleep at night.
This practice, in contrast, is very slow and quiet, while being physically difficult. If what you need on a particular day is to calm down, I would do this practice before many of the others out there.
However, because it's so quiet, I can't honestly say it's all you need. It's about half of what you need: when you have done a day or two of more energizing practices--I like Shiva Rea and Rainbeau Mars--this is the best counterbalance practice I have found so far.
"
A WINNER!!!!!!
Shannon V. Burns | Crazy California | 01/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a yoga FANatic and a body worker, which is why I am a great critic for this dvd. I am a stickler for safety and integrity, in life and any movement therapy, which, is why this dvd is so wonderful. My teacher moved away and ever since I am practicing with this lovely fluid and graceful (like the cover says) video. I found Max to be clear, helpful and supportive. It is timed perfectly, like a true class, and I can click on specific poses to really work inside a pose instead of pausing and just standing there "checking out". For me, the most fulfilling aspects of the dvd are comprehension and logical progression. It starts with simple breathing then moves into greater effort "work" and finishes without any unrealistic or unnecessary poses. I don't like to see a bunch of super difficult poses that I am never going to achieve, nor would I even try on a whim. I value health, safety and am more interested in the overall experience. If you want a dvd that will work your core, keep your stress level down and remind you of what is important this is the dvd. Oh yeah and with GRACE!! Have fun!"
Calming, slow paced, great cuing/teaching 90 or 45 min yoga
Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 09/29/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Disk 1
Getting started, safety, epilogue (Max in video)
Workshops -
2-4 min each detailed instruction - bridge, cobra, crescent, down dog, sitting single fwd leg bend, lying knee to chest, plank, sphinx (baby cobra), sun salutations (great on fwd bend), tree, triangle (also can be accessed during the 90 min session at an OM symbol pops up)
90 Min Session -
Choice of music & voice or just one or the other. Set in a studio with white walls, large windows with sun streaming in, wood floors. One woman in front who is a level 1, a woman in back who is level 2 both in plain white leotards & a guy in back who is a level 1 in a regular t-shirt & black shorts. Max narrates with a calm, strong voice with detailed cues about body position, what to watch out for, etc. The level 1 girl & guy, especially the girl in the front would do a VERY modified version... such as the foot only goes to the ankle in tree or just bends her head back in table. The level 1 girl & guy would also use blocks sometimes. Pace is EXTREMELY slow. In this session, it was too slow for my limited attention span, I did get through most of it in two separate viewings. His cuing & voice are amazingly calming.
Lying down knee to chest, spinal twists, horse stance, wide legged standing fwd bend 2-3x, downward facing dog 2-3x, plank, downward dog, standing fwd bend, mountain (almost always wide legged), standing fwd bend, plank, sphinx, down dog, child's pose, down dog, standing fwd bend, mountain, chair & standing fwd bend 4x, down dog & plank 3x, locust 2x, cobra, child, down dog, 1 leg down dog, lunge, repeat on other side, crescent, down dog, repeat on other side, lunge, down dog, repeat on other side, plank, cobra, down dog, standing fwd bend, mountain, warrior 2 both sides, side angle & warrior 2, repeat on other side, wide legged fwd bend, mountain, slightly twisted standing wide legged fwd bend, triangle (both sides), standing on tip toes, tree (both sides), down dog, table, simple sitting spinal twist, sitting single leg fwd bend, plank, cobra, child, sitting spinal twist, reclined figure 4 knee to chest, reclined knee to side spinal twist, bridge, repeat reclined spinal twist, simple reclined knee to chest (72 min point here), meditation w/legs up along wall for 6 min w/only music, sitting meditation for 6 min.
Disk 2
45 min Session -
Same choice in narration/music, setting & people. Begins with breathing while standing & stretching arms out gently w/breath, downward dog, standing fwd bend, plank, upward dog, chair several times for sort durations, more modified easy sun salutations, modified locust, updog, 1 leg up downward dog, lunge, repeat, sun salutation, warrior 2, side angle, wide legged standing fwd bend, tree, down dog, table, seated spinal twist, 1 leg sitting fwd bend, plank, updog, child's pose, half seated twist, bridge, knee to chest stretch & then end w/meditation w/legs up against the wall.
I loved this pace very much, at first I thought it was slow, but after 10 min, I loved his calm, detailed cues that helped me be aware of my body & go deeper & within 15 min I was calm myself & enjoying the slow paced session.
Meditation -
4 min w/video of beach, him playing a metal singing/tibetan bowel & guiding you softly w/woman sitting nearby
Unifying Aspects of Yoga -
short scrolling text of his opinions of yoga, that Hatha yoga isn't a religion, that Om may have come from something
Yoga Room Guidelines -
very quick scrolling text to keep away phone & distractions from your planned yoga session
Max Strom's bio is very interesting about his congenital physical issue & his ability to overcome it. From MaxStrom com:
By the time he was nineteen, Max had studied Taoism, esoteric Christianity, Sufism and was practicing meditation and Chi Gong diligently. Max is grateful for his in depth studies with Dena Kingsberg (Ashtanga yoga), Gabrielle Giubilaro (Iyengar yoga), Master Hong Lu (Chi Gong), Sherry Brourman, PT (movement therapy), and John Hogan (moral precepts). He also acknowledges the influential teachings of Steven Freedman, Eddie Modestini, and Jim Keenan."