| Customer Reviews (or write your own review) |
Sara Ivanhoe's Yoga on the Edge |
 Another thumbs up |
| While I too haven't found the two shorter practices particularly interesting, I've definitely found the DVD worthwhile just for the hour-long morning practice, which I've returned to over a dozen times now, I think. Stylistically, the blend of mentally soothing (her voiceover has a near-hypnotic style)/physically challenging is exactly what I like (Rodney Yee's Total Body Power Yoga is a big favorite). Though the flow is continuous, this isn't a heavy-breathing workout pace-wise; however, the slower pace means more working into poses and longer sustaining of them, a good development for me that's increasing my strength and flexibility. A few of the balances (there are, I believe, at least four different one-legged balances, which are really fun!) require flexibility beyond my current state, but she usually offers modifications, and the encouragement is clear enough that I'm happy to work through with my own versions. I would say that the cueing is occasionally implied rather than explicit in repeated sequences, but it's easy just to catch up if I miss a move and it's kind of fun to go by rhythm rather than direction. Since she's clearly dealing with the realities of a spontaneous outdoor practice (she'll kick the sand around to get a better purchase, for instance), this is also inspiring me to move into my garden for practice when the weather improves! - posted by Jane on 1/5/2010 |
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| Just plain fun, the way it ought to be! |
| Sara is my yoga teacher, after trying several others, I'm sticking with what works for me, and Sara is it. This series is, to me, what doing yoga should be all about, enjoying the moment, and not worrying if you screw up. There are some poses my body will not let me do, at least not yet. Sara clinched it for me when she says that "If nothing ever changed from the way it is now, I'm still doing pretty good", and instead of trying to be perfect, rejoice in the fact you are practicing yoga at all!! I'm sold! - posted by Jerry on 1/2/2010 |
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 Worth it. |
| If you’re a fan of Sara Ivanhoe’s teaching style, and own and enjoy many of her routines, this should be a nice addition to your collection. But expect something different. As the description states, these three practices were created more spontaneously, and some work better than others. I’d say it’s worth purchasing for the Sunrise session alone, which is one of Sara’s most physically challenging video routines to date.
If you watch these practices beforehand, you will notice that, at times, the image speed has been slowed down to flesh out certain poses etc. So, as always, listen to your body, and let your breath, above all things, be your guide. Just as these routines were created in the moment, we must also strive to stay in the moment. So don’t be afraid to come out of poses when it feels right to you, especially during the first half of the Sunrise session. Enjoy these routines, and take Sara’s advice and “feel free to color outside the lines.” - posted by C on 7/31/2009 |
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| I Like This One So Far! |
| I just did the morning workout today and I must say that I did enjoy it. This is a little harder than her other videos but in a good way. I can't wait to do the others! - posted by Lori on 7/30/2009 |
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| I Like This One So Far! |
| I just did the morning workout today and I must say that I did enjoy it. This is a little harder than her other videos but in a good way. I can't wait to do the others! - posted by Lori on 7/30/2009 |
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| Awesome trio |
| I really enjoy all 3 of these yoga practices. Sara has a calm, gentle voice and lets you know it's ok if your poses aren't always perfect. Beautiful setting and relaxing music fit the practices. I find the sunrise and high noon practices very energizing and the sunset one very calming and relaxing. - posted by Tess on 7/23/2009 |
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| Beautiful scenery unmatched by yoga practice. |
| This is a lovely DVD in that it has three routines and has gorgeous outdoor settings. However, I really only even liked the Sunrise practice. I didn't like the High Noon practice--I didn't feel like she warmed me up at all and then was doing things like triangle pose! Without any heat in my body, I wasn't very flexible and thus felt the poses weren't very effective. And in general, it just didn't feel good (the way yoga is supposed to feel)!! The Sunset practice is okay but absolutely nothing special. Overall, she focuses on standing primarily and so I felt like the practices weren't very total body. Or, at least, my body never felt as warm and stretched and strong as when I do my favourite yoga DVDs. The Sunrise was pretty decent but the other two weren't worth doing, basically. So is it worth $25 to get one hour-long yoga practice? And does anybody else find it really weird that she doesn't do full sun salutations? - posted by Holly on 4/5/2009 |
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| Great DVD! |
| This is a fantastic dvd! The setting is beautiful and her cueing is great. The music is calming and relaxing and like the other reviewer said, her voice is really breathy, but it works with this dvd. Some of the poses are tuff for me because I'm fairly new to yoga, but I just alter where I need to. I do wish the sunrise segment was shorter than 59 minutes (so I had the time to do it in the morning), but overall, this is one of my favorites so far! - posted by Carla on 2/9/2009 |
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| Edge of balance. |
| This one is a hit with me. There are three practices (sunrise, noon, sunset) and all evolve from a central exploration of standing balance poses – and looking at them and experiencing them from the ground up. There are some very well thought out inhale/exhale vinyasas, but most of the flows are very slow indeed: a great opportunity to linger in the balances and explore them.
The sunrise practice is the longest (about an hour) and the most active. The noon practice contains the longest balances (90 sec. trees -- fabulous). The sunset practice is the shortest and, although it’s designed to be a calming practice it’s active enough to keep it out of the truly restorative category. For one thing, it includes some standing balance work.
It’s true that there's not much instruction, although what Ivanhoe does tell you is helpful. She makes a point of encouraging the home practitioner to explore the poses on their own. She calls it “coloring outside the lines” (I bet I get tired of that phrase after a while). For that reason I’d say that this one is more appropriate for experienced yogis, those who already have a yoga practice and some knowledge of alignment: intermediate (video) practitioners and experienced beginner (class) yogis.
The music is Krishna Das; the setting is pretty and interesting (Bahamas beach). The instruction is voice over. Although Ivanhoe’s voice is perhaps a tad breathy, I still found it pleasant and she’s lost that kindergarten teacher manner of some of her earlier releases.
Okay, I do have a gripe: there are no chapter points within each practice. This is almost a deal breaker for me – but I like On the Edge enough to forgive the struggle.
The sequences on this DVD are very different from Sara's previous releases: the practice is more demanding, it's not aimed at beginning exercisers or those new to yoga. This is nice for the experienced yogis who have looked forward to a home practice geared toward us.
Me: Yoga practitioner for over 15 years. I’ve done teacher training and have some teaching experience. I’ve been a home exerciser for over 25 years. - posted by Sharon on 1/24/2009 |