By tobyp | Sunday, July 24, 2022
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It’s been a couple of years since I did this practice, despite being on YDL daily. Today I was feeling a need for open chest, and I remembered the feeling after this session — shoulders strong in back and chest forward. It’s going back in the rotation. I love all of Michelle’s classes.

By Yvette | Wednesday, May 13, 2020
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chose this as I m trying to imorove shoulder flexiblity & strength and have a tricep injury so modified sone if the poses. did find that I had to keep coming out of postures to see what was happening and bit disjointed as I was using a strap to help open shoulders so thay didn t flow so well.

By Donna Esposito | Sunday, March 17, 2019
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There are some good stretches in this class but the reason I gave it 2 stars is because the description and Michelle s opening words claim that this is good for someone with osteoporosis. I am an active woman is my late 50 s and have been recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. I started to do research on what yoga poses to avoid with osteoporosis and every site that I found (and doctors) say that you should avoid any pose that require spinal flexion (i.e. rounding your back). One of the first poses is a forward bend which is a big NO with osteoporosis. Also, mild side bends, twists, and avoid hugging the knee poses. Michelle does not refer to any of this in her video. I was really hoping that this was a class that I could add to my routine. I hope that yoga download will remove the wording about osteoporosis in the description of this video. I am also hoping that yoga download can add some classes for people with osteoporosis that are created by someone who has some expertise on this topic.

By Rupal | Monday, November 12, 2018
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I agree that this one is hard to follow. I enjoy the poses and shoulder openers but it is more cued for the model or for someone who is simiply watching rather than being cued for a viewer who is actively participating and following along. It is truly a focus on shoulders (and some on hips). Good stretches though, thank you!

By tjduckett | Saturday, October 7, 2017
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I found this a little hard to follow and was not sure what she meant by all of the pointers she gave ("access" your shoulder blades?). I also would not personally describe this as all levels - there were plenty of modifications given to adapt for limited mobility or strength, but the assumption was very much that you have experience of yoga e.g. there was no instruction for down dog or savasana other than the names. It seems like it would suit someone who has been doing yoga for a long time, but who has had an injury or specific issue with their shoulders that they need to address, rather than someone new to yoga.
That said, there were some poses that I liked and that I will remember for another time. The pace was nice and I feel like I ve worked my shoulders pretty well.

By tobyp | Saturday, January 21, 2017
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Since first finding Michelle Berman Marchildon s sessions three weeks ago, I ve opened and strengthened my body in so many new and effective ways. She says this Short Shoulder series enabled her to heal a broken arm. I m working to heal an injured shoulder and will do this one on the regular to isolate the back muscles and get stronger + looser. Blocks are used creatively to really get in there and open things up. BIG THANKS to Michelle for this one.

By Josie Cline | Sunday, April 17, 2016
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I came to this class hoping to relieve shoulder and neck pain. Like others say I had to constantly try to look at the screen to see what she was attempting to instruct, which as we all know can end up causing injury while in certain positions. I ended up having to still modify a lot of the poses just to get the "opening". After 15 years of yoga I am back at a slow and steady beginners level due to a neck and shoulder injury. If you are not already strong in the shoulders be very careful.

By mcmurdw | Thursday, February 11, 2016
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Michelle is an incredibly intuitive teacher, whose voice and pose instructions inspire as much as they comfort and protect. This class helped me get into that weird spot in my upper back like nothing else.

By ljsmom | Friday, January 8, 2016
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I thought the shoulder poses were definitely strong. However, agree with other reviewers that she doesn t cue you as clearly as she should. It s like she is teaching Ryan, her model and you are watching. She asks you to look at him but it is hard given the pose she has you in.

By Lisa J | Saturday, December 26, 2015
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I agree with what others said about the instruction not being as clear as it could be for those on the mat (if you watch what she does with her assistant though, it s clear). The poses made up for that though. There were some moves I haven t tried before and my shoulders felt great at the end.

By Gelateria100 | Sunday, September 13, 2015
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Several moves were hard to follow, hence 4 stars. Good pace, engaging. The class went by quickly.

By sanmi | Monday, August 17, 2015
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Overall a good class mixing shoulders and hip openers. The back bending and the pigeons-on-the back exercices were a bit hard to follow though as I couldn t see exactly what the model was doing.

By BBBritt | Saturday, July 11, 2015
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It was amazing, my shoulders and chest feel more open.

By CeliaRose | Monday, April 27, 2015
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This was a very nice class and did exactly as it said it would. The instruction got a bit confusing at the end as the instructor was working more with the model, rather than making it clear what we should be doing at home, but other than that it was very easy to follow.

By Lisa Dodaro | Wednesday, April 8, 2015
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Lives up to its name. I appreciated the clear instruction and just-right challenge (for reference, I can keep pace with most Advanced Beginner and shorter Intermediate classes). I definitely feel more open, taller, and "squarer" the day after doing this one. I m sure I ll come back to it again and again.

By Hillary | Wednesday, March 11, 2015
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Just finished 4 weeks of physical therapy on my shoulder and this is a great way to continue rehab. The only questionable piece is how to get into one of the final poses with the arm wrapped around the Achilles heel and the arm behind the head. A bit tricky and the view of the model is difficult to see.
Other than that, liked it very much. Enough to repeat.
Thanks!

By Bernadette Mullen | Sunday, March 1, 2015
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Loved this class and was fascinated to learn about the link between shoulder and hip tightness. Thank you for a fabulous experience.

By J Tree | Monday, February 9, 2015
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As a climber, this is exactly what I was looking for.

By Manya | Saturday, February 7, 2015
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Fantastic shoulder opening practice. Only suggestion is that the instructor spend more time at the beginning and the end of the practice...it felt rushed on both ends.

By Choppy D | Sunday, January 25, 2015
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That was a great class for my shoulders. I m amazed at some of the moves I had not tried previously and how they perfectly target sections of my shoulder I ve though inaccessible.

By Dawn | Sunday, January 25, 2015
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Wow! I knew my shoulders (and hips) were tight, but I had no idea how bad it was! This was a great workout for both of them. I can definitely see myself going back to this one - especially after a long day at the computer!!

By Sarah | Sunday, January 25, 2015
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Although I would not categorize myself as someone with strong shoulders, I have been doing a lot of chaturangas as part of this 21 day challenge and this was perfect! I like that she incorporated hip openers into this practice as that is always an area of tightness for me.

By Debbie | Sunday, January 25, 2015
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I learned some new poses to stretch my shoulders