Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ana Brett & Ravi SinghDVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 60 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-19
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Repnet
Movie Reviews of Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond
Movie Review: lovely Kundalini sets for beginners and intermediates
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been doing Kundalini yoga for a long time and even went through Teacher's Training (which is amazing if you can find a way to do it), so I came to this not as a beginner, but just wanting to augment my expansive library. I love the variety Kundalini offers.
The chapters and Matrix menu options are fabulous, with times listed next to each chapter so you can plan your time accordingly, and I really appreciate that.
The matrix option means you can pick and choose which chapters to do, if you have neither the time nor the inclination to do the whole DVD. It also lets you change the order, if you'd like to do the 5 Tibetan Rites before the spinal set, but I actually think the order they're in is absolutely perfect.
If you're brand new to Kundalini, the breath primer is valuable, and even a seasoned student could often do with a refersher...if nothing else it brings you into a place of focus and stillness before the Tune In and Warm Up. But again, you can simply skip that chapter or program your Matrix that day without it if you feel like you've got it down and don't have the time.
The warm up set is concise and to the point, but also gradual and very effective; sufi grinds, spinal flexes, the wonderful "washing machine" twists, an active stretch for the backs of the legs, etc.
The first set, Rise and Spine, I find a really lovely series. For a beginner, it will likely feel a bit awkward at times, and Ana's pace can seem overwhelming but they continually remind you to go at your own speed and take it slow when you need to. The end of the set includes some unique poses that incorporate bear grip in front of the throat and over the head while either holding breath in or out with the mulbandh/root lock engaged (contracting the muscles of the rectum, sex organs and navel) and then my favorite, Sat Kriya. Again, I think an absolute beginner might have more questions and need time to adjust to this unique form of yoga, but I don't think Ana and Ravi could have done more in terms of information and choosing approachable sets. I think this would make a wonderful morning set or a great quickie.
The set that I was really anticipating personally is the second, The Five Tibetan Rites. I've known about them for ages but like so many others I find doing them from a booklet a bit dry...must be spoiled by the home video/DVD life! But this is a great set, it challenged me. I did notice they do them in the reverse order from the presentation in the books, and they add a little Kundalini twist with adding full camel (or a modification) with breath of fire, and they don't seem to count them for us, it seems to be more about timing them. In the books about the Rites, they suggest slowly working up to 21 reps of each exercise. I counted Ana and she stops around that point but not exactly. If you're a stickler, count your reps. But I counsel everyone, beginner or not, to take these slowly. They are more powerful than they seem.
For those who don't know and are curious, the five rite are:
- spinning clockwise, slowly (even I was dizzy afterwards but they have you apply root lock at the end which stopped that instantly)
- lying flat on your back, raising the legs (they can be bent to accomodate your back) and the head, for a navel energizing exercise
- kneeling as if about to do full camel, but only arching back to where you feel a nice stretch, to which Ravi&Ana add coming down into child pose in between, which feels really lovely.
- moving from an upward dog/cobra pose (on the balls of the toes though, not the tops of the feet) into down dog, back and forth
- moving from a sitting position with legs in front of you into table pose and back
Traditional literature suggests beginning with literally just a few reps of each movement and to work slowly up to 21 reps. I do Kundalini regularly and found the Rites to be challenging but invigorating. A beginner might find them to be too much, so follow the old wisdom and start with just a few reps. It might seem like 3 reps isn't enough, but again they are deceptively simple.
After the Rites, you have a lovely deep relaxation as always followed by a simple but very effective and powerful meditation; sitting comfortably (cross legged or in a chair with the feet flat), with the index fingers and thumb tips touching (Gyan Mudra, the Mudra of wisdom) and just enough pressure on the fingers to feel the pulse within...or, if you can't detect a pulse there, to simply notice the rhythm of your heartbeat and to mentally chant "Sat Nam" (sounds like "but mom") in rhythm to the heartbeat/pulse. Yowsah. That really took me right out of my head and into pure relaxation. It's a great meditative choice for beginners because it gives the practitioner something to focus on without being too "woo-woo" as I've heard people say about other Kundalini meditations with mantra.
What might throw some newbies is the way in Kundalini you "tune in" and end each class with specific mantras chanted out loud. That might strike some as religious, but it's not really. It's meant to connect you initially to the teacher within, your higher self, and to vibrationally set the tone for the class. And at the end, the chanting of "Sat Nam" once, held for a longer count, is sort of the energetic bookend. Certainly they are't mandatory, so beginners who don't resonate with them can skip them, but just know that they aren't dogmatic.
I recently sent this DVD to a friend whom I've wanted to introduce to Kundalini for a long time and I think he'll find this very useful; the first set is approachable enough to begin with and the set with the Tibetan Rites is something to grow with as well.
A nice class for beginners but also fun for those who are intermediate or advanced as well.
Summary of Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond
NOW FEATURING THE NEW DESIGN YOUR OWN WORKOUT MATRIX MENU OPTION!!! Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond has helped to establish Ana Brett & Ravi Singh and their signature yoga style as the most exciting new trend in yoga and fitness. This DVD contains exercises for flexiblity, strength building, aerobic efficiency, stress relief, back care, and much more: all with a through the roof fun factor! This amazingly effective daily workout features two 25 minute sets which can be done individually or together. Set one, Rise & Spine, will help you maintain a healthy back and raise your energy high! Set two features an original and fun version of the 'Five Tibetans,' exercises to keep you supple, youthful and vital for life! Also included: breath primer, meditation, deep relaxation, and a great soundtrack by Tom Carden. Discover why Ravi & Ana's client lists includes Madonna, Donna Karan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the Red Hot Chile Peppers. This conveniently chaptered DVD, with the recently added Matrix gives you the option of designing your workout based on the time you have: pick and choose whichever segments you want to include in your workout and let them play in whatever order you'd like! This best-selling DVD has everything you need for high caliber fitness, peace of mind, and to give your life a total boost!Similar DVD Movies
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