Kundalini Yoga: Healthy Body Fearless Spirit

This review will have a two-part format. In the first part, I'll describe the contents of the DVD as well as my thoughts on them. In the second part, I'll say some more general things about Ana and Ravi and kundalini yoga. It seems the negative reviews of their DVDs come mainly from people who didn't know what to expect when ordering kundalini yoga DVDs -- because they ARE a little bit different from what you're used to, if you've only practiced hatha yoga in the past. I am unabashedly an Ana and Ravi fan, but hopefully my evaluation will help you make the correct decision for yourself, even if your opinion happens not to be the same as mine.----------Part I----------Like most of Ana and Ravi's DVDs, Kundalini Yoga Flow Boot Camp has the matrix menu, which allows you to customize the length of your workout.Introduction (1:08): Sometimes the introduction is necessary to understanding the goal of Ana’s and Ravi’s DVDs. I don’t really think you need to bother with it this time, unless you want to. They go into detail during the yoga sets, themselves, about the purposes of the exercises.Tune In (2:20): This segment is similar/the same in many of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs; you sit cross-legged, focus on your breathing, and chant "ong namo guru dev namo" three times.Yoga Flow Part 1 (9:00): The only warm-up exercises are in this segment. However, lots of people do vinyasa/flow yoga AS a warmup, so nothing else is really needed. The sequence is similar to other flow yoga, but it's not the same (i.e., there's no plank or chaturanga).*Stand with your feet together and knees bent; alternate putting one hand on the opposite thigh and raising the other hand*From standing, do a forward bend, then do a few repeats of downward dog/upward dog*A form of warrior I with your heel off the ground*Come up, repeat the forward bend, then do the downward dog/upward dog repeats again*Repeat the warrior I-like move*Then, with one hand on the ground, twist your torso and raise the other one*Chair pose with breath of fireYoga Flow Part 2 (15:00): This follows from Yoga Flow Part 1 and if you want a longer flow sequence you could do both segments together. Or, if you'd prefer a little flow paired with other things, the matrix menu makes that possible, as well.*From standing, do a forward bend, then do a few repeats of downward dog/upward dog*A form of warrior I with your heel off the ground, then rock your hips forward and back*Drop your back knee to the floor and rock your hips some more*Sit on the heel of the leg with the bent knee and stretch out over the other (extended) leg*Come back up and do chair pose with breath of fire*Repeat the forward bend, then do the downward dog/upward dog repeats again*Raise one leg behind you, bend the knee, and let the foot hang towards the opposite side of your body*Bring that foot up between your hands, put both hands on the same side of your foot, bring your back knee down and your elbows to the floor*Raise your leg behind you, bring it partway forward a few times*Do a version of pigeon on your forearms, then with your chest down*Then either do full pigeon or keep your legs in the previous position and support yourself in an upright position with straight armsKundalini Core Power (7:54): This isn't too challenging for me and mostly focuses on the deep abdominals. The last exercise sounds complicated but Ravi walks you through it enough times that you'll learn it.*Come in and out of bridge; while your hips are raised, extend your arms overhead*On you back, alternate raising opposite legs and arms*Hold stretch pose (raise head and heels six inches) with breath of fire*With breath of fire, raise your legs to 90 degrees, pulse legs wide twice, cross legs in center with two pulses, pulse legs wide twice again, bring legs together and set them down (repeat a few times)Ringing the Bells of Heaven/Upper Body Boot Camp (22:00): I simply cannot do this all the way through without resting. And if it is new to you, your arms WILL hurt the next day. However, I did find myself able to complete more and more of it as time went on. So don't give up. Do what you can, rest when you need to, and you'll make progress.*Sit with your legs crossed and bring your arms parallel to the floor, repeat the following moves-Say "sa" as you bring your arms to the front-Say "ta" as you bring your arms to the sides-Say "na" as you bring your arms behind you-Say "ma" as you bring your arms back to the sides*With your thumbs at the base of your little fingers, alternate raising your arms; as your arm goes up, open the hand and as your arm goes down, make a fist*Lie on your back and relax*Repeat the first exercise*With your hands in fists on the floor behind you, twist your shoulders side to side*Put your arms out at 30 degrees below parallel; raise them straight up and then back to the starting position (repeat many times)*Put your head back and make half circles with itDeep Relaxation (3:27): This is similar in many of Ravi's and Ana's DVDs. Lie on your back, slow your breathing, and listen. (No gong in this one, unlike some of the other Ana and Ravi DVDs made around the same time.)Siam Kriya (15:53): I have to modify the first pose in this one. I can't put weight on the top of my foot without getting really bad foot cramps. So I either keep my back knee down or curl my toes under, depending on what I feel I can do that day. Modify if you need to.*Lunge pose with hands in prayer; back toes not tucked under; long deep breathing*Seated forward bend*Seated meditation with hands in lapMantra Chant (6:23): Not much to this, it's pretty simple. All of the mantra is said in one breath, then you take another breath and go again.Ra ra ra raMa ma ma maSa ta na maClosing Prayer (1:10): This is similar to what appears in other Ravi/Ana DVDs. However, it’s a bit shorter.Breath Primer: Please note that this segment may not play if you just play the entire DVD through. It is accessible from the matrix menu and the chapter selection menu, however. If you are not familiar with kundalini yoga, you will definitely want to follow along here. It's actually a pretty good refresher for anyone who has practiced for awhile, as well. You learn how to do long deep breathing, a panting breath that serves as an introduction to breath of fire, and then a standard breath of fire technique. I think this is the exact same segment as was included with some of Ana's and Ravi's other "blonde Ana" DVDs.White Swan Meditation (4:00): Put your thumbs together at brow level and remember the image. Then close your eyes and visualize your thumbs (while they're still in position). Do long deep breathing.For those of you familiar with Ravi's and Ana's DVDs, this is one of the newer ones with the concrete floor, white pillars, fake nature background, and blonde Ana. Both Ravi and Ana narrate and Ana demonstrates the poses and movements. The music is mostly of a similar style, sort of a blend of traditional Indian music with a more modern beat/instrumentation (in the same song). There are different singers and different voices. Most of the music is appropriate, though, and doesn't really stand out in any way.I don't care for the camera work in certain parts of this. It seems to jump around randomly, and sometimes there are zooms in and out between camera angles that are jarring. It's pretty typical for an Ana and Ravi DVD, though, and most of the time your eyes are closed, anyway. Maybe it's just me, but I'd prefer standard (boring) camera work where you can always see what Ana's doing, with no unnecessary visual effects.There are definitely some moves that might require modification here. I mentioned the lunges in Siam Kriya. Ana and Ravi mention some other modifications (for example, putting your hands beneath you for support in stretch pose, and an alternative for sitting on your heel while stretching one leg from Yoga Flow Part 2, as well as modifications to pigeon -- which is great since I can't do full pigeon). Make sure you have a good, supportive surface. A cushiony-soft yoga mat may be an impediment here; I had trouble maintaining some of the upright postures with my cushioned yoga mat. On the other hand, it was probably great core work for that reason. But just be aware.I feel like parts of this DVD would work for beginners and parts would not. The flow part is easy -- easier than regular vinyasa, I think. The core section is not the most intense core work I've experienced in Ana and Ravi DVDs. Ringing the Bells of Heaven is definitely NOT for beginners, though. Finally, don't forget -- you don't have to keep up with Ana, nor do you have to stretch as far forward as Ana in the forward-bending moves. Work at your own pace and do what YOU can.----------Part II----------Now, on to a more general discussion of kundalini yoga in general, and Ana's and Ravi's DVDs in particular. (I intend to include a version of this in all my reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs.)Most of the yoga that people are familiar with falls under the umbrella of hatha yoga. Perhaps you've done a series of static poses, or some vinyasa/flow yoga. Kundalini yoga is not exactly like either of these, although Ana's and Ravi's DVDs do incorporate elements of hatha yoga (e.g., this DVD has table pose in it). Among Ana's and Ravi's DVDs that I've done so far (I have 27 or 28 of them, I think), this one is unique in that it does incorporate some flow (vinyasa) type elements.However, kundalini yoga is also what I would consider to be a very active form of yoga, consisting of some repeated movements and a lot more work with the breath than you may be used to. It can be difficult to keep up with at first, but can be very rewarding if you stick with it. If you are bored of holding static poses all the time, or if you want a bit more movement but hate vinyasa (sorry, but I am not a fan of flow yoga), kundalini might really work well for you. Even though this DVD does incorporate some flow, I find it more tolerable than most vinyasa. It might be a good place to start if you want to work your way up to a more traditional type of flow yoga. And, as I said earlier, use the modifications Ana and Ravi discuss if you need to use them. Yes, Ana is fit (and this makes her an excellent demonstrator for the poses), but this is not a competition. Don't strain yourself, and don't try to keep up with her. Just try to improve a little bit every time!Kundalini yoga also involves a lot of meditation. Sometimes this is quiet and involves breathing either in a sitting position or lying down, occasionally with your hands in a mudra (hand position). Sometimes it involves chanting a mantra. This DVD contains a mantra chanting segment as well as meditation during Siam Kriya and the White Swan Meditation; these last two do not involve chanting but do involve visualizations. Whenever there are mantras, Ana and Ravi tell you what they mean. If you are uncomfortable with mantras for religious reasons, check out Ana's and Ravi's website (can't post links in reviews but they're easy to find through Google) for alternatives and use the matrix menu or your DVD remote to skip the chants. (I happen to like the chants, but that's just me.)With respect to calorie-burning, this DVD is probably not going to do a ton. But kundalini yoga works on your inner self as well as your outer self, and so some parts are a little less "active" than others. For my own part, I still do plenty of pretty intense cardio at other times of the day. (I do about 30 minutes of yoga a day by combining segments using the matrix menu. Ana and Ravi are a part of my fitness routine, but they are not the whole of it.)Ana's outfits are a bit skimpy, but certainly nothing less than you would see at the beach. And the reason she dresses like she does is so that you can really see her performing the movements and asanas. That way you know exactly how to position yourself for maximum benefit. (Most of the time, kundalini yoga is done with the eyes closed, anyway.) There is not a lot in the way of initial instruction in this DVD. If you are familiar with Ana's and Ravi's work, you can jump right in. But if you are new to kundalini yoga, watch it first. Observe Ana, listen to the cues, make sure you understand. You'll be glad for the lack of instructional segments later -- you don't want to be told on the 20th time you do a DVD how to do pigeon; you know it by this point!A few health claims are made in this DVD (i.e., that certain poses "break up calcium deposits"). Take those that appear with a grain of salt. I do find that Ana and Ravi are quite accurate when it comes to muscular and skeletal issues. At any rate, certainly don't use yoga as a substitute for seeing the doctor. But doing a routine like this isn't likely to hurt you or make your health condition worse (as long as you PACE YOURSELF).If you are struggling with a sequence, Ravi and Ana are very accessible and quite nice. They have contact information on their website (the URL is on the DVD case) and usually get back to you in a couple of days. They also have a monthly e-mail newsletter that I enjoy.

This review will have a two-part format. In the first part, I'll describe the contents of the DVD as well as my thoughts on them. In the second part, I'll say some more general things about Ana and Ravi and kundalini yoga. It seems the negative reviews of their DVDs come mainly from people who didn't know what to expect when ordering kundalini yoga DVDs -- because they ARE a little bit different from what you're used to, if you've only practiced hatha yoga in the past. I am unabashedly an Ana and Ravi fan, but hopefully my evaluation will help you make the correct decision for yourself, even if your opinion happens not to be the same as mine.----------Part I----------Like most of Ana and Ravi's DVDs, Kundalini Yoga Cardio, Stretch, & Strengthen: Total Fun Fitness! has the matrix menu, which allows you to customize the length of your workout.Tune In (1:50): This segment is similar/the same in many of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs; you sit cross-legged, focus on your breathing, and chant "ong namo guru dev namo" three times.Warm-Ups (5:13): This segment consists of the following exercises.*While seated, grind your stomach in circles*Seated with your legs crossed, have your arms at right angles; inhale and move your arms back and apart; exhale and move your arms forward to where your forearms meet; flex your spine to go with the arm movements*With your arms at right angles, twist left and right*With your legs in front of you along the ground, with one arm at a time, reach your fingers to your opposite toesStretching Plus Core (15:32): This segment consists of the following exercises.*Sit on one foot, stretch out over the other extended leg*Lying on your back, go into plow, then back down*V sit-ups with one leg extended*Alternate the previous two exercises (Ravi walks you through this part so you don't get lost)Core Plus (7:44): This segment consists of the following exercises.*On your hands and knees, lift one leg behind you in three strokes, then bring it to your chest*On your back, with your legs at 90 degrees, curl up while separating your legs to the sides, then lie back down and bring your legs back together*With one foot on top of the other, use one arm behind your head to support your head and extend the other one, do crunches; later, hold the position*Extended locust pose with breath of fireKundalini (Dance) Cardio Warm-Up Flow & Cardio (15:02): Many exercises in this segment are repeated. I'll only mention each one, once. No move is done longer than 30 seconds, which is GREAT if you are struggling with one. They do offer modifications at some points (i.e., for the jumping jacks). Ana suggests wearing supportive shoes in this segment, although her "supportive shoes" appear to be 14-hole Doc Martens, which I never thought of as workout shoes. I like the music in this section, but it is loud relative to the instruction. This segment consists of the following exercises.*Draw alternate knees into your body*Hip rolls back and forth with arms*Lean forward, arms to ground with flat back, then stand up, arms above head*Alternating side steps with raised arms*Step forward and back, leading with wrist/arm*Second position plié with arms*Side bend with wide feet, turn to flat back, bend down over your leg; reverse and repeat on the other side*Heel taps forward*Side step with arms at right angles, moving arms together and apart (similar arm movement to warm-up); some half-turns involved here*Pliés with arm movements (different from arm movements above)*Samba step*March with elbow thrust*Football drill (move feet fast); then add legs and arms in and out while moving feet fast*Lunge back with elbow thrust*Tap step with punching arms (at chest level)*Tap step in circle with hands making a rowing motion*Jumping jacks with arms in front, then to the sides*Standing side crunches (fingers on shoulders, touch elbow to raised knee)*Roman salute jumping jacks*Tap foot to spin yourself in a circle, fan yourself with your hand*Vertical scissor jack (scissor your legs and raise opposite arms)*Tap heels together while moving knees in and outKundalini (Dance) Cardio Cool Down (3;16): This segment consists of the following exercises.*Step side to side, raising alternate arms*Step forward and back, leading with your wrist/arm*Stretch arms over head, step feet wide, do wide legged forward bend with hips shifting left and right*Lunge pose, knee to floor, raise arm and twist*Raise/lower ball of foot to stretch calf*Forward bend with wide legs, inhale and twist while raising one armUpper Body Tune & Tone (11:39): This segment consists of the following exercises.*With your forearms on the floor and your hands clasped together raise your hips in the air (like in downward dog), then push forward to where your sternum is over your hands, then push back to raised hips*Basically repeat the previous exercise but with one leg raised behind you*Sit with legs crossed, extend arm in front of you with flexed hand, raise and lower*Repeat previous exercise with both hands together*Start with arms to the sides, parallel to the floor; raise them to 90 degrees overhead, then back to starting position*Hands staying in prayer pose, raise your arms up and down (this one is harder than it sounds!)Deep Relaxation (5:17): This is similar in many of Ravi's and Ana's DVDs. Lie on your back, slow your breathing, and listen.Ek Ong Kar Chant (5:19): This is pretty simple, you just repeat the mantra (below) with your hands on your sternum, one on top of the other.Ek Ong KarSat NamSiri Wahay GuruThe mantra is fine, but I don't care for the rhythm in this one. I have heard this chant (the words, that is) as background music in one of Ravi's and Ana's other DVDs and thought it was great. They've changed the rhythm and intonation in this one and it's not my favorite. It's too fast and not very meditative or relaxing.Closing Prayer (2:43): This is similar to what appears in other Ravi/Ana DVDs.Breath Primer: Please note that this segment may not play if you just play the entire DVD through. It is accessible from the matrix menu and the chapter selection menu, however. If you are not familiar with kundalini yoga, you will definitely want to follow along here. It's actually a pretty good refresher for anyone who has practiced for awhile, as well. You learn how to do long deep breathing, a panting breath that serves as an introduction to breath of fire, and then a standard breath of fire technique. I think this is the exact same segment as was included with some of Ana's and Ravi's other "blonde Ana" DVDs.(Dance) Movement Breakdown (7:51): A slow motion version of the moves from the cardio segment, with voiceovers by Ana. Good if you think you need to practice the moves before doing the segment. But definitely not necessary to watch if you don't care about getting it perfect the first time.Extended (Dance) Kundalini Cardio (21:00): A longer version of the cardio segment. There's not much else to say about this one.Kundalini Cardio Music Only (10:47): Basically the shorter cardio segment with no voiceover. Could be used if you don't want the voiceover, or could add this segment in via the matrix menu to have a bit longer workout.For those of you familiar with Ravi's and Ana's DVDs, this is one of the newer ones with the concrete floor, white pillars, fake nature background, and blonde Ana. Both Ravi and Ana narrate and Ana demonstrates the poses and movements. The music in this one seems, to me, like a contemporary take on traditional Indian music (i.e., the words sound like mantras but the style of the music and the rhythms are newer-sounding). I like some of it quite a lot and I don't care for some of it. I think the music during the cardio segment is my favorite.I don't care for the camera work in certain parts of this. It seems to jump around randomly, and sometimes there are zooms in and out between camera angles that are jarring. Also, at the beginning of the cardio segment, there are some odd light/strobe like effects that I don't care for. Maybe it's just me, but I'd prefer standard (boring) camera work where you can always see what Ana's doing, with no unnecessary visual effects.I don't feel there are any sections of this that would be hard on the wrists or ankles. You do hold the leg stretch in the "Stretching Plus Core" section for a long time, but Ana and Ravi offer modifications. You can always stay low impact with the jumping jacks by alternating legs side to side or stepping back.I feel like this DVD would work for beginners. Don't worry too much about form in the dance/cardio section, you'll pick it up in time. The jumping jacks are over quickly. I do find that the cardio section causes me to break a bit of a sweat. Finally, don't forget -- you don't have to keep up with Ana. Work at your own pace.----------Part II----------Now, on to a more general discussion of kundalini yoga in general, and Ana's and Ravi's DVDs in particular. (I intend to include a version of this in all my reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs.)Most of the yoga that people are familiar with falls under the umbrella of hatha yoga. Perhaps you've done a series of static poses, or some vinyasa/flow yoga. Kundalini yoga is not exactly like either of these, although Ana's and Ravi's DVDs do incorporate elements of hatha yoga (e.g., this DVD has an extended locust pose in it). However, kundalini yoga is also what I would consider to be a very active form of yoga, consisting of some repeated movements and a lot more work with the breath than you may be used to. It can be difficult to keep up with at first, but can be very rewarding if you stick with it. If you are bored of holding static poses all the time, or if you want a bit more movement but hate vinyasa (sorry, but I am not a fan of flow yoga), kundalini might really work well for you. And, as I said earlier, use the modifications Ana and Ravi discuss if you need to use them. Yes, Ana is fit (and this makes her an excellent demonstrator for the poses), but this is not a competition. Don't strain yourself, and don't try to keep up with her. Just try to improve a little bit every time!Kundalini yoga also involves a lot of meditation. Sometimes this is quiet and involves breathing either in a sitting position or lying down, occasionally with your hands in a mudra (hand position). Sometimes it involves chanting a mantra. This DVD contains a fair amount of mantra chanting - there's a separate chanting segment, as well as the opening and closing segments. Whenever there are mantras, Ana and Ravi tell you what they mean. If you are uncomfortable with mantras for religious reasons, check out Ana's and Ravi's website (can't post links in reviews but they're easy to find through Google) for alternatives and use the matrix menu or your DVD remote to skip the chants. (I happen to like the chants, but that's just me.)With respect to calorie-burning, this DVD is going to do more of that, compared to Ana's and Ravi's other workouts. But kundalini yoga works on your inner self as well as your outer self, and so some parts are a little less "active" than others. For my own part, I still do plenty of pretty intense cardio at other times of the day. (I do about 30 minutes of yoga a day by combining segments using the matrix menu. Ana and Ravi are a part of my fitness routine, but they are not the whole of it.)Ana's outfits are a bit skimpy, but certainly nothing less than you would see at the beach. And the reason she dresses like she does is so that you can really see her performing the movements and asanas. That way you know exactly how to position yourself for maximum benefit. (Most of the time, kundalini yoga is done with the eyes closed, anyway.) There is a lot in the way of initial instruction in this DVD in the extra segments. If you are familiar with Ana's and Ravi's work, you can jump right in. But if you are new to kundalini yoga, watch it first. Observe Ana, listen to the cues, make sure you understand. You'll be glad for the ability to omit the instructional segments later -- you don't want to be told on the 20th time you do a DVD how to do a movement; you know it by this point!A few health claims are made in this DVD. Take those that do appear with a grain of salt. I do find that Ana and Ravi are quite accurate when it comes to muscular and skeletal issues. At any rate, certainly don't use yoga as a substitute for seeing the doctor. But doing a routine like this isn't likely to hurt you or make your health condition worse (as long as you PACE YOURSELF).If you are struggling with a sequence, Ravi and Ana are very accessible and quite nice. They have contact information on their website (the URL is on the DVD case) and usually get back to you in a couple of days. They also have a monthly e-mail newsletter that I enjoy.

I already own and  Am/PM Yoga: Start and End Your Day in a Great Way [DVD] [2006 ] and  Ultimate Stretch Workout with Ravi Singh and Ana Brett [DVD] [2006 ] by Ana and Ravi and love them. I appreciate that this DVD is something new but I'm not really loving it. The camera work is terrible. Ana jumps from left, right and centre of the screen which is really distracting. Quite often she's not completely in shot so you can't see her complete pose. I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do in the dance exercises when the shot switches and Ana is in a slightly different position! The background is really tacky too. Why not actually be by a lake and mountains?The script is slightly different which is nice. There is a lot less focus on the mind in this DVD but then that's not what it's about. The exercises are different and good although at times a little difficult. The key to this is to persevere and the strength will come - after all that's the aim of the DVD! Just don't be put off, I've done the workout 3 times now and can already notice a difference.The new format chants are good and the whole DVD is more lively. The dance cardio part is good and Ana's outfits are really cool too.The matrix system is a good idea but on my 28" TV I can barely read the options.This DVD is ok and fundamentally the exercises are good and challenging, but I think the camera work really lets it down. Am/PM Yoga: Start and End Your Day in a Great Way [DVD] [2006Ultimate Stretch Workout with Ravi Singh and Ana Brett [DVD] [2006

I used to alternate between cardio 1 day and yoga the next. Now I don't have to. I'm addicted to all Ravi and Ana's workouts. I also have Fat Free Yoga, Yoga Beauty Body, Dance the Chakras and Yoga Bliss Hips and the challenging Navel Power.There is lots of material on this, most of it very challenging. The core and stretching had my abs aching the next day. First time through I couldn't even finish the Upper Body Tone. I was dubious at first because of the many changes made compared to the older DVDs I have (e.g. background, livelier camera work, tuning in to a backing track) but I'm dripping with sweat by the end and feeling yoga-calm so I can definitely see past them. The only thing I would have liked is more information about how each move is beneficial.

Wonderful DVD, very challenging mentally and physically. Ringing the bells of heaven for upper body strength is my friendly nemesis, very tough but rewarding when you complete this section in full, will test u. Yoga flow is a 2 part and both is a lovely sun salute based routine. This DVD is doable but for beginners it may take a while to build up the strength. But be strong and pervail x

I always thought a Kundalini and cardio DVD would be the perfect blend and now Ana & Ravi have done it! And I just love it! My 2 little girls have been doing both the plow/core set which they say feels like somersaulting and then the Cardio which is a fun burst of energy. My husband even joined in and ended up feeling so good that I think there may be hope for him starting his own Ravi/Ana practice!! I absolutely love this DVD from start to finish. Ana looks beautiful, the instruction is shared between her and Ravi and is fun,insightful and encouraging. I also LOVE the new setting in these newest releases - so peaceful and serene! I can't get enough of this one!!!!

Excellent. Just like being in a class. After doing this practice for several days, I felt so well, both mentally and physically. There's nothing too difficult involved, only the challenge is to keep going.