Jul 17 2008
Rodney Yee Intermediate Yoga [DVD]
I started up the DVD to watch first, just to see what I was getting into with an intermediate level of Rodney Yee. I was pleased to see that none of the poses are unexpected or out of reach for intermediates - we should be able to do half moons, upward bows, bridges and shoulderstands, and be working on our headstands, elbowstands and handstands.
Then I tried it out for myself:
- Vinyasa
This first section starts with sun salutes and then keeps up a very steady vinyasa clip, with jump backs from standing forward bend into plank and some harder variations on the basic yoga poses. Upward dog is featured a lot. There are some tough transitions like half moon pose to triangle. This section is both exhausting and invigorating. Even Rodney looks tired at the end - he’s shaking by warrior 3 and the vein on his glistening forehead is throbbing. If he is sweating and shaking, I feel okay about taking child’s pose when I need it. 
This is the longest section on the program and it’s a real kick in the pants that it’s the first one.
- Inversions
Handstand, elbow stand, headstand - all against a wall, in what looks like the outdoor lobby of a Maui resort hotel. Rodney offers some useful preps to the poses and makes coming out of them look easy. Hand, head and elbow stands are the only inversions offered - no serious strength-related arm balances, no crows, no scorpions.
This is the shortest segment on the DVD, and I think the most fun. His lead-in to elbow stand uses a brick and a strap, and the headstand uses a brick.
- Integration
This is focused pose work - full supported bridge (leg up), camel, upward bow. Various sitting stretches and then plow to shoulderstand. Followed by some nice twisty stretches and restorative work.
This ends with a seated meditation to a gorgeous Hawaiian sunset.
The DVD plays one hour and five minutes, and it’s really all about the yoga. Rodney’s introduction is a few minutes and then he wastes no time hopping (literally) into the sections. The Maui setting is nice - Rodney does his work directly on the green grass of a garden setting overlooking an ocean cliff.
My advice to beginning intermediates is to start with the Integration section, then do Inversions, and lastly do the “power” section that leads off the DVD. If you enjoy yoga for the sweat, then by all means perform your practice in the order the DVD suggests.
Stumble it!
