Vinyasa Unlocked DVD - Developing The Salute to The Sun, Jumping Through and Jumping Back, Back Bending and Inversions

This is an excellent supplement for beginners or, I imagine, advanced practitioners. Before you buy, it's important to understand that these DVD's do not attempt to introduce you to (Ashtanga) Yoga, nor do they attempt to guide you through the primary series. Instead, it's best to think of them as a collection of highly focused workshops.Sweeney helps you master transitions, inversions and so on. What makes the DVD's so valuable is that he presents each concept as a progression. In other words, he will start with the most basic and easy-to-master variant. Then he will show you the next challenge. And so on. I also note that there are many steps - he doesn't jump from "easy version" to "perfect version". Instead there are typically 6 to 9 steps outlined as you continue to develop strength and flexibility.I don't know of any other resource - book or DVD - that provides so much detail and structure about these particular areas. Therefore I highly recommend this to folks like me who are beginning or further developing their practice.

This is an awesome video if you're looking to bring your practice to the next level. I'll find it amazing hoping to get the flying.

At first glance did not care for it until I eventually understood the format....He sequences different aspects and demonstrates the practices to advance in sequence...unlike many videos of this nature, there is only a small number for the repetitions on the screen for an advised count.....which in the end makes for a much more soothing/calming experience. Will use this for years to come in developing more difficult routines.

Excellent explanations of many complicated asanas.

I haven't had time to get through it, but what I've seen is quite good. Sweeney is calm, methodical and clear, even if achieving what he does so effortlessly is beyond reach for me, now or ever. The point is to make the effort, "following the path of my own breath," as he puts it.

Outstanding quality, inspiring, original, Mathew Sweeney is a living example of this practice, down to earth. If you want to invest in only one DVD this is it.I find the quality really merits higher price. I will rebuy this for gifts and donations.

This guy is amazing

I ordered this directly from Mathew's site. I'm not sure which is cheaper but I bought it as part of a set. I have only watched the first DVD because it is so loaded with good information and technique that It will keep me busy for months perfecting my form. This is the most thorough and accurate yoga DVD I have ever seen. If you just want to casually work your way through a relaxing DVD with soft music and a scenic background then this is not the DVD for you. If you want to do the poses correctly so you can safely do inversions and still be rock solid I HIGHLY recommend this DVD. This is everything I wanted in a yoga DVD. I have bought many and I am always left wanting. Please remember my review is of the first of the two DVDs, but I imagine the second is just as good. I am also coming back to yoga after many years of nothing so I guess you could call me an educated beginner???? I learned from books and DVDs so my form needs to be fine tuned and that is where Mathew's teaching style excels.Pro's1. Everything is explained in crystal clear detail including angles of your feet and hands and how that affects the pose and your progress in the future.2. Mathew's voice is pleasant to listen to. I have one DVD that breaks my focus every time the instructor talks.3. The teachings are methodical and in the perfect order to build strength before moving on to the next pose.4. Inversions are taught in step by step increments building the balance and strength needed before doing the full inversion. (I have only seen this done before with 1 or two increments. His approach is much more thorough.)5. I like the camera work and the plain background. It doesn't distract you and the poses are very clear.6. There is not a lot of fluff. I am not a big fan of fluff. If I want to know the history of yoga, I will study that on my own. I do not want a 10 minute over generalized intro at the beginning of my DVD.7. Based on my knowledge of yoga, his form seems to be perfect and his movements are so fluid it almost looks fake. My niece actually thought we were pausing the video at one point. That's what I aspire to be and some yoga DVD instructors look like they can barely do the pose themselves or the are using improper form which is both unsafe and limiting.Cons1. This isn't really the kind of DVD you can throw in and do as a workout. There is the Sun Salute section which shows 5 different Sun Salutes from heavily modified to floating and jumping in and out. I use that to go along with but it's really more of a demonstration.2. It can be a little dry if you need a more inspirational feel.3. His perfect form makes me feel like a wobbly fool, seeing as I am soooo out of condition right now. I could see that as being a deterrent to the very beginner. I just hold on to the memory I have from 15 years ago when I was the rock solid yoga junkie doing seemingly impossible poses despite my learning only from books and DVDs. I will get there again. Don't let that discourage you if you are a beginner. It is better to learn proper form from the beginning than have to fix it later.4. I hate when DVDs come in cardboard sleeves. It guarantees they are going to get scratched before I remember to get a new case for them and then I have to cut the cardboard sleeve and try to find a way to keep it in the case I buy. It's just an annoyance but it seems to happen a lot more these days.5. He does this prayer thing at the beginning in another language with a caption in English. I'm sure it's important to him. I just find it annoying.I truly feel that the Cons are insignificant in compared to the amazing value in this DVD. I only include them for the sake of veracity.I hope you find this review helpful. When I get past the first DVD I will try to remember to update it.