DVD INCLUDES — Five full-length yoga workouts — Guided relaxation and meditation — MAKE EVERY DAY MATTER — Put a daily dose of variety into your at-home yoga practice with five energizing — workouts. Yoga masters rod stryker an... more »d suzanne deason cover all the bases with
these full-length programs to get you strong and centered. Each 20 30 minute
workout offers a unique style and enough variation to keep you challenged.
You ll learn basic standing and seated poses, breath and alignment techniques,
and how to use guided relaxation and meditation to feel renewed and recharged.
Props Recommended: Yoga mat, yoga block and yoga strap
Actor:Suzanne Deason Director:n/a Genres:Fitness & Yoga Sub-Genres:Yoga Studio:GAIAM AMERICAS Format:DVD - Color DVD Release Date: 03/03/2009 Release Year: 2009 Run Time: 2hr 10min Screens: Color Number of Discs: 1 SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Total Copies: 1 Members Wishing: 0 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English
"...once you figure out which workout is which. I was quite confused when I first started working with this DVD because the workout descriptions on the back cover do not match the workouts as they're numerically ordered on the DVD. It's definitely a shortcoming in the editing that the workouts are only numbered, and not titled. Having said that, now that I've gotten to know the sessions, I find this a good resource. It's particularly good for traveling, because there is a nice selection from which to choose. Below is the index, as I have come to know the DVD. I hope this helps other users!
1. AM Peak Performance (Rod Stryker)
2. PM Weight Loss (Suzanne Deason)
3. PM Peak Performance (Rod Stryker)
4. AM Yoga for Weight Loss (Suzanne Deason)
5. Stress Relief Yoga (Suzanne Deason)"
Buyer Beware!
Cheryl D. | 05/19/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I just got this DVD, and it's really disappointing. The segments are fine, but the Suzanne Deason segments are the exact workouts from her other DVDs. For instance, the "stress relief", the "AM yoga", and the "PM yoga" segments are on separate DVDs by Suzanne Deason that I already own. When I purchased this DVD, I thought I was getting 5 new routines; it turns out I only got 2. The description for this DVD is highly misleading.
The next thing about this DVD is that the set up is terrible. On the screen where you choose which of the five workouts you want, your options are "1, 2, 3, 4, 5." Once you choose your workout, you have no idea whether that particular one is meant for morning or night (there's not even a title when the segment starts). There's a list on the back of the DVD that describes each of the 5 workouts, but--surprise!--they are not in the same order as the workouts on the DVD.
Finally, this DVD has two workouts that are geared for PM. I work out in the morning, and I probably would not have bought this DVD if I had known this. So now, my 5 new workouts have become 1 new workout. How frustrating and disappointing!"
Poorly presented re-releases of beautifully produced mild, e
Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 07/17/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I agree this is a poorly presented re-release of 5 20-27 min. sessions by Susan Deason & Rod Stryker.
Straight from Gaiam's site, the order of "workouts" (Way too easy to be considered such), are:
4. A.M. Yoga - Conditioning For Weight Loss w/Susan Deason (1999/2002)
5. P.M. Yoga - Conditioning For Weight Loss w/Susan Deason (1999/2002)
The list on the back of the DVD case lists them in a different order which makes no sense. The reason there is no intro was because when filmed, the intros were also a different section/menu choice. But they still could have included them or at least have identified them somehow. On Susan's Stress Relief, there is more content then just the 20 min here & on her Weight Loss, there is 20 min. Breathwork that goes deeper & is more of a workout, though still easy.
These are professionally done, beautiful outdoor scenes, all were originally on VHS as well & re-released on DVD previously except Rod's AM/PM which never was until now & is still is listed on VHS here. (This is not his Longevity DVD version.) You can check reviews for content.
None of these are going to make you sweat or work your muscles, or lose weight unless you are obese (>30 BMI). They are mostly relaxation poses w/a few triangles, lunges, side angles, chair & maybe a warrior thrown in, 1 standing pose per workout almost.
This is for beginners to yoga, those just starting to workout & don't want anything that will be daunting, those who are inflexible or limited endurance due to health issues, or those looking only for slow, careful, easy relaxation only.
Susan Deason & Rod Stryker's style is not flowing, more a stretching "workout", very different from Rodney Yee's who's more fluid in both how he decides the order in the poses as well as his teaching style that is more mind/body while Susan's & Rod's comes off more stiff & only about the physical ability.
Copy of my 7/23/07 review for VHS A.M. Peak Performance - Focus w/Rod Stryker:
Fusha wrote a great review. This is set right at a Maui beach by the rocks with the water spraying nicely. The music is very light, like Kenny G type light sounds.
He does not say the Sanscrit names & talks as minimally as possible about how to do the pose right & barely mentions how they benefit the body. He doesn't use any new age lingo.
He does the poses one at a time like a gym session, w/o flow & goes into seated or basic stand to rest in between. He starts off easily, does the pose very modified a few times before actually doing the pose fully. Each pose is only held a few seconds then given a rest & repeated or to the next pose. There are no sun salutations.
Considering it's only 25 min, he does a considerable amount of poses such as upward dog, downward dog, upward dog, locust, cat/cow, chair, lunges, triangle, modified side angle, seated spinal twist, sitting straight leg single & double leg fwd bend. (not in that order)
I did this after being awake about an hour & found it too easy. My endurance isn't that good, but my flexibility is above average. I found myself annoyed at the lack of flow, light/non deep beat music & stiffly executed intention of the poses. I did held a pose longer while he went in/out of the next pose or did other ones to stretch out more since I had limited time before rushing for an appt. I did not sweat at all or feel anything other then enjoyment for being stretched out & getting more circulation from physical work rather then being lazy.
This would be good for beginners if he gave more detailed instruction. For those looking for a very short & easy session w/decent amount of poses, this is for you.
Gaiam has a video trailer for this
Stress Relief yoga video clip can also be found on youtube"
Rush job with poor presentation
D. A. Lewis | Palmdale, CA | 06/28/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I work out a lot. Usually 2 hours in the morning and 2 to 3 hours in the evening after work. (Some of my evening workouts are done in front of the TV). So I'm always on the lookout for some nice PM yoga DVDs. Yoga is the perfect way to wind down the day (actually, it's also a good way to start the day)
As soon as this DVD started I was in for disappointment. First off, the title screen is bare bones ans is simply numbered with 1,2,3,4,5 exercise designations. There is no indication what the numbers mean. And the numbers on the DVD title screen do not coincide with the exercise order listed on the back of the DVD box. And finally, the DVD has no extras. Nada.
Okay, so they skimped on the frills. All could be saved if the workouts are any good. I can not speak for the AM workouts but PM workouts were nothing but some gentle stretching. And worse of all this gentle stretching did not induce the sense of calm and well being I was looking for with my last workout of the day.
I really hate giving these fine people such a poor score but this product not only failed in its presentation but the actual product itself did not work for me at all. BTW, I accidentally played one AM yoga session and the only difference was the use of blocks (none in the AM)
On the bright side, I will continue to search for more PM yoga DVDs. I like doing that."
You will not be fit with this DVD!!!!
New mom in California | San diego, CA | 07/15/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"As the other reviewers have posted this DVD is plagued with problems, from the poor presentation to the actual workouts. The order of the workouts are totally wrong according to the sleeve, in addition the workouts are just poorly described and feel rushed all throughout. I did 2 of the workouts back to back and did not break a sweat at all, so to say that they will keep you fit...maybe you can do them right before bedtime and maybe they will make you feel a tad limber...SAVE YOUR MONEY...THERE ARE BETTER PRODUCTS OUT THERE!!!"