Kristin McGee Power Yoga [DVD]

In total just over 45 minutes long but with an option to stop at about 25 minutes. KM starts with an unusual and gentle salutation flow, which loosens you up nicely. You're lulled into thinking you've bought a really basic lesson until - before you realize something's changed - the tempo's notched up and you suddenly find that you've progressed to a slightly more vigorous and challenging vinyasa flow that really builds up some heat. Then she moves to a cleverly choreographed series of standing poses that stretch, strengthen and twist you thoroughly. At that point she pauses and invites you to stop there if that's your limit for the day, or to finish the whole program with her. The next 15 minutes include some more challenging balances before cooling down with some more twists and stretches on the floor.KM comes across as friendly and keen without being too gushy. The instruction and cuing are good, but KM doesn't really explain the technicalities of placement and alignment for each pose so a complete beginner may not be quite sure which direction his/her hips/feet/shoulders/hands should be pointing/dropping/lifting/pushing/pulling. And there's no instruction at all on ujaii breathing (other than KM occasionally reminding you to "breathe in, breathe out"). A complete beginner could read up a little on these points before undertaking this DVD. Not because they won't otherwise be able to do it, they will, but because these subtle points are what makes the difference in yoga.A relaxing, refreshing lesson in simple surroundings with clear sound and a likable instructor. The flow is fun and varied, with interesting transitions. The asanas are not too tough or advanced, but, as with any yoga practice, more experienced yogis will make it as challenging as preferred by focusing and putting body and mind into every moment.

I am 34 and I work out every day and am in good shape. I added yoga to have some variety about 2 years ago, so I was already familiar with the poses etc. This video is doable for a beginner if you are in decent shape and familiarize yourself with the basic yoga poses before you attempt this routine. Some parts go pretty quickly and you might not be able to keep up and do the poses properly with good form if you don't have basic understanding of the poses first.I really liked the workout, but for the price I would have liked to have more than one routine. There is the option to do either just the first half or just the second half of the routine, but I don't consider that to be 3 workouts. The routine was also a little bit short, which is good for the days where I have limited time, but I would have liked a longer workout too that would contain some backbends and ab work since I felt the routine was lacking in those two areas. The routine just wasn't long enough for me to get a really good workout. My body felt warm after the first half, but cooled down during the easier second half and I never broke a sweat. I still felt like I needed more of a workout when I finished, so I put in a different dvd and did some cardio and added some ab work to make a more complete workout.Overall, I would recommend this dvd as a good addition to your yoga dvd collection and is a good yoga workout for when you are short on time.

I had bought Kristen McGee's yoga app for my IPad and enjoyed the short practices within it, so went searching for a DVD with a longer practice, and based on the comments on this site, I decided to try this one. I am glad I did. The practice is about 45 minutes (with an option to do only about the first half). The practice is made up of mostly basic poses, but with a few tweaks, and put together in a slightly unconventional way, which I enjoy and which keeps me engaged. The biggest challenge comes from doing several poses in a row on the same leg which would not be difficult in themselves, but which together really take me to the edge of my strength. I feel challenged but not tortured, and at the end of the practice, I feel focused and relaxed, and like I really accomplished something. I also quite like Kristen's voice which is calming, but not that strange breathy tone some yoga instructors affect.

I just did this DVD for the first time today.On my copy there is a choice to do the whole program or the short routine or the floor routine. I chose the whole program. It is about 35 minutes of standing poses then Kristin says for those of you continuing with me here we go and that is where she gets into the harder poses like half moon and crow. These poses last less than 10 minutes then it is floor work which is mostly relaxing or restorative postures which are again less than 10 minutes. These include seated forward bend and side bend with one leg out and one leg bent and pigeon both with leg stretched out long behind and then bent into armpit. The last pose in this session is the relaxation or savasanna.The hardest poses are the half moon and crow and standing split and also some of the balancing work where you fold your hands into prayer behind your back and then lean over. All in all her chose of poses is similar to that in Body By Bethenny for the standing series. There are no wheel postures or shoulderstands in this practice. There are also not a lot of poses which target the abs although she says you are always supposed to pull them in during all of the poses.Overall she is an absolutely great instructor. She is very happy and encouraging and easy to understand and you definitely will get a good workout. She does include some modifications. There is easy music to listen to in the background. There is no chanting. I also have her MTV Yoga videos and this workout is definitely harder than the 1st MTV Yoga video but I would say about equal to the 2nd MTV Power Yoga video although that video I didn't like as well because of the music and background and the way things were arranged.Overall this is highly recommended. I can't wait to try her Yoga Tone.