Ana Forrest - The Pleasure of Strength (2009)

A sweaty and exciting Forrest Yoga class with Ana Forrest for the intermediate and athletic beginner yoga student. Set your intention for the day, on the mat and in the world, by cultivating pleasure, delight, and strength. Narrated and demonstrated by Ana Forrest, who excels at showing how yoga can be relevant and transformative, this DVD's class sequence features fundamental asanas prized for building strength.
Contains pranayama, abdominal/core work, sun salutations, and challenging apex poses. Instructions are clear, precise, and direct which makes this DVD the one to come back to when looking for ways to establish a daily self-guided routine. Variations are always offered to bring the challenge level of a pose in line with the student's ability. Ana Forrest also consistently revists the idea that in order to maintain a quality that is personal and fresh, a healthy yoga practice must blend equal parts work and joy.
DVD includes “The Pleasure of Strength” a complete workout (1 hour). In addition, there is a 30 min. version for those busy days when you have limited time for your practice. Special features Includes a delightful presentation with Ana Forrest and her husband in a partner yoga demonstration as well as instructions on Forrest Yoga Basic Moves.
I did the full Pleasure of Strength "workout" last night. Wow! I discovered places inside me that I would never have suspected were there – or maybe I should say my breath did.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the focus is on "core strength." You really work your abs and back muscles.
More importantly, Ana's instruction facilitates self-discovery. It gives new, embodied meaning to the words "strength" and "stretching." If you do the work, you'll know what I mean. If you don't, as it appears one reviewer didn't, you won't, especially if you pay attention to externals, such as the "look" (the eighties????) rather than the "feel."
I should point out that I am recovering from cancer (prostate) and I consider this part of my healing process. I work at my own pace, do the poses that I am capable of, and listen to my body in the process.
I also practice Russian martial art (Systema). Like Forrest Yoga, Systema focuses on breathing and slow movements for instructional purposes. The physical conditioning can be very demanding. You are taught "not to feel sorry for yourself" so that you can discover what you are truly capable of in your development as a human being. I showed a performance of Ana's to the group I train with and they were awed – and these are people not easily impressed.
Ana Forrest is a phenomenal teacher.