Search - Yoga Journal Presents: Iyengar Intensive at Estes Park DVD Set on DVD

"...LIVE AND UNCUT"

YogaMom | Oregon | 02/12/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I was so excited to get this DVD set! I wanted to learn directly from Iyengar in his own words, to be able to replay his magical wisdom and see him in action. There is much of that - if you can HEAR him. The audio and video are very BAD. The reason the set is 5 DVD's is that there is no editing. You have to sit through various instructors often reminding the mass of students to get out of the way of the camera that is often situated in the back of the room apparently on someone's tripod. In some parts you have to wait until the instructors converse with the cameraperson until they realize they are ready or are already rolling film before they can begin their session...watch as they fidget with their clip-on microphones...listen to the crew or teachers talking amongst each other...Iyengar kept loosing his clip-on microphone as he was in the middle of a lengthy, interesting (from what I could make out) monologue, someone had to keep adjusting it for him, clipping it back on, it was distracting to me, and I think he even became a little annoyed. This video does not seem to have been professionally done. As I said the audio is very bad. Since, I'm sure they aren't going to do this again with Iyengar; YogaJournal could have spent the few extra dollars to get it closed captioned. I feel that YogaJournal should have had more respect for Mr. Iyengar in making this commemorative DVD set by making it the best it could have been. Someone said it is boring - I agree, most of it is, but not so much when Mr. Iyengar is on. It is certainly NOT 25 hours of Iyengar, it is 25 hours of DVD with his name on it - There's a big difference. It could have been streamlined for efficiency. YJ advertises it as "live and uncut" - Is that always a good thing? In this case, no. But Sri B.K.S. Iyengar is still loveable in any setting! :)"

Much precious information about yoga and its teaching method

T. Fresko | Istanbul, Turkey | 09/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Who am I to "review" the work of the "guruchi"?

So, let me make it clear that what I am about to say, is no way a review of "him" per se; it is a review of the contents of these particular DVDs. In other words, it is a review of the information that is intented to be given in this set of DVDs. Having made that clear: in my opinion, this is a very good set of CDs for "the yoga teacher" only.

Which means: although a very valuable set for a teacher, especially for those who are short on either money and/or time to go and get the information and the experience "live" - on the spot; I would not recommend this for a novice student. Maybe OK for a seasoned student, just maybe...

Very valuable tips for teachers, about teaching methodology, also. No matter what kind of yoga you are teaching, the info in these DVDs provide a valuable insight to everything that you don't know; or thought that you already knew!!...

Nevertheless, it is only "a glimpse" of the guruchi's wisdom and intelligence. As he himself also keeps repeating in the DVD, it would have been impossible for him to transfer all his knowledge in such a short amount of time, and setting."

A True Master of Yoga

Cheryl L. Malone | Costa Mesa, CA USA | 01/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How could anyone give B.K.S. Iyengar any rating but the highest. It is always a treat to watch him in action; plus see his top students being the student, still learning and being corrected. It goes to show that yoga is an on-going process; there is always something to learn, something to tweek a little further towards perfection. Even though perfection does not exist. I love these DVD's and will always cherish them and watch many times over."

Great DVD for serious students and teachers. It does requir

E. Alavi | California, USA | 02/04/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a student as well as a new teacher of yoga and I really liked this DVD. Once you get past his interruptions --which he does a lot, but who cares that's his style and he is there to teach the students/yoga teachers how to do things correctly-- you will enjoy this. I guess he is also teaching the way it's done in India with the interruptions and at the end of every instruction or wisdom he says "follow?" I just loved it.



Anyway, I actually took my notebook out and started taking notes rewinding and forwarding all the time (since it's a bit difficult to understand him sometimes). I am referring to the notes ALL the time. His little words of wisdom on a pose or in correcting a student are super. For example in Adho-mukha Svanasana he says the "patella should kiss the knee", when you picture this is makes so much sense and he also emphasizes constantly "broadening" the heel and the knee. Other gems are "grip the knee on all four sides" or for example in warrior 2 he emphasizes that one should extend from the armpit not your arms and that you stretch the little finger further and further. These tips and words if wisdom are sprinkled all over the place.



I wathced it in segments and when I had seen each DVD, I'd re-watch it and take extensive notes."