Felipe Adan Lerma

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/02/the-poverty-of-dvd-yoga–colin-hall/

Teaching Yoga – Preparing a Class (my beginner’s view) (yoga-adan.com)
DVDs vs Live Instruction, a Comment (yoga-adan.com)
DVD Review – “Body by Bethenny” (yoga-adan.com)
Teaching My First Yoga Class – One Month Later (yoga-adan.com)
DVD Review – “Jazzercise Core” (yoga-adan.com)
My Yoga-to-Dance aha! Moments! – # 3 (yoga-adan.com)

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Categories DVD Reviews, Felipe Adan Lerma, Fitness Area, Seniors, Yoga-Adan

DVDs vs Live Instruction, a Comment

1 Mar

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“the intent of this blog is to incrementally build a body of thought that works toward integrating various topics, yoga, fitness, and the arts – it’s a process…”

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dvds vs live instruction, a comment

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intro

below is a comment i placed to an article titled, “the poverty of dvd yoga,” by colin hall

the article makes excellant points that are actually extremely important, but i disagreed with the presentation, mostly, i suppose

i don’t know if the link above still works, or will be working in the future, as the article is posted on elephant journal and i’m new to their articles and not sure how long the article’ll be available -

i hope it is in some form since, as mentioned above, it presents very important valuable points

the comments, of which mine is only one, also appear interesting good discussion generated by this article…

directly below is my comment :

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a really large # of good points about the preference for more effective instruction, in this case yoga, when done live vs taped or scripted as in a dvd

Adan Lerma

the problem i have reading really well written points-thought-out articles, whether like this on teaching, or on the necessity for accepting oneself as a large participant, for example, is the intense rejection of what is being advocated against

for example, “The yoga DVD may play a role as a motivator if you have a hard time practicing at home, or as a source of inspiration if your teaching is getting a little dry and repetitive—but ultimately the yoga one encounters on DVDs is a yoga of poverty utterly bereft of the living experience of yoga necessary for actual yoga instruction.” -

the yoga dvd “may play a role” and “a source of inspiration if” both legitimately attempt to “see” the possible positives or use for an individual in certain circumstances – i like that, i can begin to relate to the thesis, then -

“on dvds is a yoga of poverty utterly bereft of the living experience of yoga” – wow

what happened to the understanding compassion?

is that what i am missing by not attending the live class?

is there a disconnect here? or am i merely “utterly bereft” also?

and in all fairness, though this is highly prevalent in yoga, it’s also seems highly prevalent in discussing immigration laws, women’s and minority rights, or either being very poor or being very rich, and, certainly being in the middle, any middle i guess

i totally agree that “live” instruction, whether in dance or singing or football or trading stock options, is “usually” better than taped or scripted or written non-interaction non-live mediums

does that mean the above article is merely then, the “same crap” as described in the article? – i certainly don’t think so

but neither are other articles that foster dialog or even “just” private thought

nor are dvds from, say, paul grilley or denise austin or stronger seniors, among many many others, i believe, faltering in “usefulness” -

would the inability of a living human being to attend or afford a “live” session, assuming it was taught or conducted by someone who actually cared to some hypothetical higher level, or was knowledgable as per someone else’s esteemed opinion, make the use of a dvd or tv program or tape unworthy, or invalid…useless? “crap?”

i don’t think so, and that’s while also believing live “can” be best

my mildly offered apologies for the return-rant…

but i feel the author has such valid points, it hurts me almost as much to see them lost on people who need them, because of unnecessary betterment-battering, as it surely hurts the author above to see the value of “competent” live instruction under-appreciated

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INTEGRATING YOGA FITNESS AND THE ARTS

Tags: DVD, Yoga

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Categories DVD Reviews, Fitness, Fitness Area, Philosophy/Metaphysics, Seniors, Teaching

DVD Review – “Jazzercise Core”

28 Feb

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“the intent of this blog is to incrementally build a body of thought that works toward integrating various topics, yoga, fitness, and the arts – it’s a process…”

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DVD Review – “Jazzercise Core”

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my wife sheila has jazzercised since the beginning of the 80′s, and i joined going to class with her on her birthday, valentines day, 2001

so we’re familiar with the regular class format [1]

going to a jazzercise class from galveston is a time/driving challenge at times, so we decided nearly a year ago we needed a dvd for home use

“jazzercise core” has turned out to be one of my own personal favorites for routines i frequently go to and enjoy doing

there are 4 routines offered on this dvd, a 60 minute, 30 minute, 20 minute routine – all standing, and one floor routine

my review will concentrate on the two segments i use almost exclusively, the 30 and 20 minute standing sets

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things i liked:

* video and sound quality are both top-notch [2]

* variable time-sets cover a useful range, less than an hr to a full hour

* three alternating instructors [3]

* a few modifications offered

* excellent anatomical & movement cueing

* music is upbeat yet soft and in the background

* really liked the encouragement to both put some attentiveness into each movement, yet pace or alter as needed for each person – very yogic

* there are sectional breaks even within the 30 & 20 routines, for instructor changes and change of exercise sets

* nice range of movement styles, from aerobic to latin to boxing style

* weights included in some sets [4]

* many of the moves are used in class, providing welcome continuity

* humor and smiles and clarity from the trio of instructors

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Reviews: Clear Sailing?

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things i would’ve liked:

* my perennial favorite wish item: closed captions [5]

* muscle captions to go with the excellent verbal cues of primary muscles being used [6]

* more modification samples, which i believe they include more so in some of their other dvd’s, so this may’ve already been addressed

* probably asking too much, but maybe a ten minute, well rounded set [7]

closing thoughts:

i want to point out that, though both the 20 & 30 minute routines “work the core,” the shorter set has more weight work, and the longer set has more range of footwork movement (you’ll need more floor space to move in) -

and, i really like having those two differing-emphasis to work with; the shorter set is more strength orientated while the longer set leans more toward cardio, though both of course engage the core

sheila and i continue to find that jazzercise and yoga are great compliments to each other; and have recently seen more yoga showing up in the choreography, which is nice

ultimately, we don’t see any need nor necessity to choose between the two; they compliment each other, yet each style (yoga and jazzercise) provides distinctive benefits and enjoyments the other touches on, while emphasizing its own strengths

that’s the beauty of integrating one’s interests, they feed each other, and should make us happier

namaste – con dios – god be with you

dvd review series

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footnotes

[1] there are jazzercise classes for seniors we’ve attended a handful of times, and classes for teens, which we’ve been far too removed from to attend

the senior classes seem to be as well rounded and paced as the regular classes

[2] there’s a short behind-the-scenes look at the production and studio on the dvd

[3] judy sheppard missett, founder and creator of jazzercise, plus her daughter, shanna, and one of their certified instructors, chere, model the routines

judy’s elegant easy fluidity are a perfect compliment to her daughter’s more power-based solid moves, while chere is a treat to listen to and watch and work out with, great humor and clarity in her instructions

[4] chere gives some weight-modification cues within one of her sets too, very useful

[5] though i’m an early senior my high-frequency hearing loss is something i’ve had since at least my mid 20′s

[6] “body by bethenny,” a nice yoga dvd i reviewed last week, does a nice job of placing a written caption onscreen for the primary muscle group used – please see under related dvd below

[7] denise austin has several dvd’s with ten minute sets; in the future i’ll review one i’ve used for nearly 10 years!

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INTEGRATING YOGA FITNESS AND THE ARTS

Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana) – Original Yoga Poetry (yoga-adan.com)

Tags: DVD, Jazzercise, Physical exercise, Yoga

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Categories dance, DVD Reviews, Fitness, Fitness Area

DVD Review – “Body by Bethenny”

19 Feb

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“the intent of this blog is to incrementally build a body of thought that works toward integrating various topics, yoga, fitness, and the arts – it’s a process…”

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DVD Review – “Body by Bethenny” – Bethenny Frankel

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i recently won a free dvd from acacia via a tweeter contest-alert from them

while i wasn’t expecting to, as the dvd cover promises “unleash [my] your skinnygirl!” – i also wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as i did

for what it’s worth, my wife [1] previewed it with me and says she enjoyed it also

also, the review is our own, ie, it hasn’t been previewed by acacia or anyone associated with them, and is our honest first impression as best we can express it

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things we liked:

* playfulness between bethenny and the instructor, kristin mcgee

* the surprisingly challenging curve of poses that started from very basic ones

* good range of simple to moderate to more challenging poses

* nice array of clear stop & start instructions, yet kept a narrative flow

* that the “student” contributed movements that kristin supportively recognized, with reasons as to why

* yoga workout not too long, not too short (approx 40 min)

* captions for muscle groups being used (only a few very girl-centric)

* good alignment cues

* modifications abounded, especially creative bethenny-co-contributed ones

* short bonus workouts, recipes, bio info

* clear video, clear audio

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Reviews: Clear Sailing?

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things we would’ve liked:

* sub-titles – this is a common gripe for us older folk

* captions for muscle groups sometimes not on-air enough time to catch

* emphasis on “skinny girl” as much a distraction, as touting “being-heavy” [2]

closing thoughts:

i felt, since i am studying to be certified as a personal trainer, that it was really useful for myself, even as a guy to see how a one-to-one session could be handled

the humor, well grounded knowledge, and interactive awareness with the “client” was to my liking, much like i would like to do things beyond a group classroom setting

mild concern if, after a number of viewings, maybe 3-5? , the enjoyable interaction and instructional cues might become tedious; possible solution: optional soundtrack change to simple cueing, similar to yoga journal’s various audio options in their 3 vol set, “step-by-step 3 pack“

but to be fair, that same concern has not become an issue in one of my wife and mine’s favorite dvd’s, anne pringle’s stronger seniors chair yoga dvd so, who knows

all in all, sheila and i liked the dvd

namaste – con dios – god be with you

dvd review series

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footnotes

[1] sheila, like myself, is AFAA group fitness instructor certified, plus is also licensed for Zumba and Zumba Gold; in addition she’s taken SilverSneaker instructor courses for MSROM (muscle strength, range of motion) and Cardio Ciruit

we’re both scheduled to take silversneakers’ yoga instructor course soon

[2] while recognizing the marketing value, sheila feels the skinnygirl emphasis is distracting, that it may send the message that being skinny is the goal, whereas, good health is the real goal; and she feels the same way about the opposite extreme where being heavy is touted the same way

thus, while accepting ourselves as we are is good and necessary, recognizing how we may improve ourselves for our own benefit, is just as good, and needed

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INTEGRATING YOGA FITNESS AND THE ARTS