Playing the Edge

I love all of David’s classes. I think, however, that I’ve done this class and his other classes before music tracks were added, and I prefer the peace that yoga practices offer one without the distraction of music. I find the music in this class particularly distracting because the volume is too high and the particular selection with the drumming for me isn’t conducive for creating a calming atmosphere.

I’ve been practicing yoga for 52 years as well as teaching yoga as a certified Integral yoga teacher. There never used to be music in any yoga class with the intent being to bring one’s awareness more inward in preparation for meditation. ☮️

Well-paced and thorough, but the benefits fell apart at savasana. The vigorous, intermittent drums under (and over) David's narration undid any relaxation I could muster.

When I did this class for the second time as part of Week Two of the Ongoing Intermediate Program, I used a strap for the binds. This resulted in some very deep and satisfying stretches, instead of the frustration I experienced the first time around.

I did this class as Day Two of Week One of the Ongoing Intermediate Program. It was good for me, even though I couldn't quite do most of the binds, but impossible for my boyfriend who is a beginner. It is definitely an intermediate stretching class.

I find the "vigorous" label on this practice misleading. I was expecting a good workout, but this is pretty much all stretching and flexibility, with virtually no strengthening. Not a bad practice, just mislabeled, and not what I was after.

I love this class and have done it many times. Usually in the evening when I didn't get a more vigorous workout in the day. It's a sweet, deep dive into some beautiful flexibility work and I usually pass right out at the final savasana waking up deeply restored. :) Thank you for your great presence of being, David! :)

I found much of this class incredibly frustrating. There weren't any modifications given and I had to skip many of the poses, especially the ones with one leg folded under to the side of the hip.

I found much of this class incredibly frustrating. There weren't any modifications given and I had to skip many of the poses, especially the ones with one leg folded under to the side of the hip.

This class was a step back in time, reminds me of the “pretzel” classes in the 60’s and 70’s, but taught with so much more instruction(safety) than way back when. Yoga in the US has evolved so dramatically since then; I loved the class and as always, the instructor. Back then the classes did not put emphasis on shavasana which is “icing on the cake”, and so I appreciate this complete full thorough class. Outstanding! Thank you

This was such an excellent class! Very clear instructions and I like how the instruction comes a bit before you move so that we know your intention and can move with you. Loved the music as well. It's my first class with David and I look forward to repeating it on the non-scheduled days of this series and beyond. Thank you.

Beautiful! It is a challenge but looking forward to doing it again and again.

I found this class quite challenging and would have appreciated some modifications, but I liked the intentional pace. Thank you.

Good class! Lots of stretch for the hips and leg muscles. The pace is very chill, which is good.

Thanks again David. I feel that my flexibility has improved since doing this class in the first week. Some of it I have to adapt but I do see improvement in my flexibility. Its one of those classes to go back to if you feel you want to improve the strength in your legs for running, hiking or any other activities. I loved the heat suggestions in the corpse pose. I was in cold room at the time, but you know I felt the heat on my skin. I'm enjoying all of this intermediate ongoing program.

I do have question that is really just out of curiosity. When we come up to a straight back from the forward fold pose, why do we do this? I feel the stretch in my hamstrings. Is this where the stretch is intended?

I think this class definitely needs a warning for folks with vulnerable or sensitive knees. I found a few of the floor positions would have been too much for my knee that is healing form injury, and I felt a bit discouraged as I didn't know how to modify that part of the class.

Wow! What an amazingly relaxing and freeing class!! This class allowed me to really delve deep into all those areas where we hold stress. I love the long savasana at the end!!!!! Thank you , David, for another fantastic class!!

this ought to come with a warning label for those of us with bad knees. I was unable to do much of this workout. I would suggest if fall later in the sequence of classes, when I might hope to be slightly more flexible.

I loved this class. I was more flexible than I thought I would be and the stretches were yummy! David’s pacing was perfect for me and he’s not too chatty. I will come back to this one often.

that was the hardest class yet. There were literally 6-12 inches between my hands and feet during some stretches and I said at least once - Yeah I can't do that. But every day will get better

My most favourite yoga sequence ever, including the music. Thank you David!

Yay! This is my first intermediate class and it went very well.
I started with David’s tutorial s, tried some other instructors as well (Melissa in particular) and now after one year - have the confidence to move beyond beginner to intermediate.
Thank you DYWM from the depths of my increasingly stronger core!

After a difficult week which left stressed, anxious and emotionally strung out this class brought me wonderful relaxation. I loved the music! It made the fast paced sun salutations fun and my savasana felt deeper. Thank you David! Namaste from Switzerland

I have chronic back muscle tightness and pain, and this felt like it touched on every sore muscle back there. I learned a few new stretches I will do regularly and just hold them for long periods of time to really release my back. I think you do need to have some degree of flexibility to benefit the most from this practice, but for those not there yet- hang in there, it will come! I am usually always pro-music in the classes, but I agree with some of the comments I read here- I felt like the percussive sounds at the end were a little jarring. I'd be very relaxed and then a louder drum sound would startle me out of my relaxation a little bit. Perhaps fade the percussion towards the end? Thanks so much- wonderful class.

This class was frustrating based on where I am. I am following the beginner to intermediate plan, but I have no idea how to modify any of the floor poses. Even if I were more flexible, some of the poses are impossible for someone my larger frame. First class I have been disappointed with.

I have done Power/Vinyasa very regularly for a few years now, and I was beginning to get distracted or bored in classes. I enjoyed this class with David very much. For me and my active mind, the yang quality at the beginning of this class was exactly what I needed. The music kept my mind occupied letting my body progress past a few edges in the beginning sequences. The music naturally receded into a calm yin state. I would agree that folks with questionable knee cartilages would need to be aware in the seated sequence. As long as I keep my "toes up" (ankles dorsiflexed) whenever possible, and smoothly progressed into David's consistent extension counterposes, the knees had no complaints! :)

This was frustrating and not good for sore knees and ankles. And the music was really stressfull. But I still enjoyed it, and had to work on accepting not being able to do everything easily. So... a better practice for my mind and self-acceptance than for my body, at least today.

Thank you David, this is a wonderful class, as well as the whole website.
Just one little thing - I find music a very subjective, personal choice. I found it hard to fully concentrate with this music, and especially relaxing at the end.
Perhaps you could offer the classes with an option of no music at all?
Silence is great, I think yoga doesn't need any help :)
Thanks again, namaste.

This was the first intermediate class i tried and just loved it! I felt the poses were not too challenging but not too easy either, definately "on the edge" for me.. now my body feels weirdly relaxed and energized at the same time. Thanks for the class! Though I did one of Davids relaxation classes before and the phrase "it feel soooooooooo goooood" always makes me giggle a bit, I dont know why ;D the classes do feel good!

What a WONDERFUL practice, beautiful stretch, delicious feeling on the body and I absolutely love how you moves from an asana to other. Please upload more intermediate and advanced videos :D

I am doing the 8 week program Beginner Progressing to Intermediate and this was the first time I have done this class. Wow! I took my body to places I've never been before. I feel wonderful and have been brought to tears as my body continues to release and amaze me, with each class. Thank you so much for touching so many lives in the way you do. Thank you David from the bottom of my heart and thank you DYWM.
Love and Gratitude.

Amanda's comment made me laugh out loud. I felt so challenged in this class. I too feel like my arms will never reach around. I used the strap to modify those poses as much as I could. I haven't felt so inept since I first started experimenting with yoga. Apparently I need to challenge myself in this way more often. I will have to say it wasn't my favorite, but I will try again (and, to be effective, again...) to see if I can overcome my own limitations. Maybe one day I will feel as enthusiastic about this class as dacarj79 or parisblues.
as always, thank you

Excellent class! Above it, excellent presentation and teaching technique. The routines are presented in a very user-friendly way: clear, simple, slow, excellent video angles (showing postures from the right perspective so that it is very easy to see all the details). When I watch it I have the feeling of full engagement in the class. The video gives the feeling that it was individually tailored for each and everyone who watches it. Thank you very much.

Nice long floor sequence with atypical yoga asanas that provide my body and mind with novel stimulus to promote concentration and to challenge my body in new ways. Great to mix in with the typical yoga classes! Great voice and music but music a bit loud at one point. Namaste!

Excellent, very good for tight hips, thighs etc.

I'm making this a once a week class!I feel so free at the end!!!

I enjoyed this program. I have been having difficulty with Ashtanga series 1 seated poses and have found this incredible helpful
a black or half block ( under hip) might help us in-bendy people with the hurdler stretches. Well well done

This is by far one of the best yoga classes I've ever taken online. Thank you so much for sharing! Namaste.

this was such a lovely practice, filled with gentle stretches that really allowed me to play with my edge. like others, i was surprised at how flexible and how much core strength i had by the end.
David's voice is calming and the instructions are precise; i especially appreciate this when i do a video frequently.
Thank you!

This was my first hatha class. I normally enjoy a vigorous vinyasa flow and being so new to yoga I decided to branch out and give this a try! I found myself in tears after this session, it was a HUGE emotional release for me. Thank you David and DYWM for these great videos!!

A lot of this sequence seemed to require strength and length I just didn't have for some pretty basic stretching. It would have been great to have some modifications for those of us whose arms will never wrap around our backs. I've liked most of the practices here, but this one just isn't for me.

I loved this class! I am a beginner, with very tight runner/cyclist hips, hamstrings, and shoulders. I was able to do this class with modifications. It definitely emphasized where I was tight. During one particular hip lift I wasn't even able to lift my hip off the floor! Had no idea I was so tight. All the postures felt *so good*.

I also especially enjoyed the music. I loved the syncopation at the beginning that encouraged me to get warm, followed by the slower music that allowed me to focus on the poses.

Very much appreciated the wakening tones at the very end; I'd totally fallen asleep. =)

Thank you very much.

Great class! I felt like a pretzel, but was able to complete all the poses. Good transition from beginner to intermediate. Thanks!

Lots of stretches through the shoulders and hips.

I just did the "Playing the Edge" flow and I thought it was a great exercise- I did have some difficulties that I wanted to share for future reference. The first is that even though I have practiced yoga for some time, I didn't have the ankle flexibility for a lot of the sequences in the middle. This caused me some physical pain and I had to make significant modifications to the poses- I wish that these modifications had been offered explicitly by the instructor, but maybe my ankles are more inflexible than most.

My other feedback is near the end of the sequence the instructor asks the user to produce a strap, which I was unprepared for. I had to interrupt my practice to go find a belt, which wasn't the most inconvenient thing ever but a little jarring.

Other than that I was really pleased with this workout- and I'll be doing it again!