Product Description

Renowned and innovative yoga teacher Shiva Rea presents this superb introduction to yoga. By combining flowing movement with rhythmic breathing Shiva creates a dynamic workout which unites mind, body and breath. Clearing the mind and calming the body even as the pulse quickens.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9758 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-05-12
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 70 minutes

Synopsis
America's leading 'yogini' Shiva Rea presents a programme designed for yoga beginners.

Customer Reviews

Flow Yoga For Everyone
I was so glad to get another new Shiva DVD less than 5 months since her last one. This DVD was filmed in Kauai , Hawaii as well as her next DVD's to be released this year and next year. This practice is aimed for beginners but everyone can enjoy it , the whole DVD is 70 minutes and has 4 segments (and savasana) that can be done seperately:
1. Foundation Flow - approx 14 min, Shiva starts with some breathing exercises on a rock near a beautiful waterfall and continues with simple poses like cat , cobra and some variations.
2. Beginner's Backbend Flow -approx. 20 min, there is a change of scenery and Shiva is in a beautiful garden with a lot of trees near a lake.
It is actually mainly standing poses - she prepares you for backbends in this practice with some lunge variations , chair with twists ,side bends, half splits and cobra variations and finally bow and camel. This segment might be quite challenging for true beginners but she shows easier modifications for most of the poses so it's definitely doable.
3.Relaxing Flexibility Flow - approx. 10 min , Shiva does simple stretches on the back , very similar to "supine poses" segment in Yoga Shakti it ends with a forward bend (badhakonasana) , it was very relaxing.
4. Beginner's Standing Pose Flow - approx 23 min . now she's at the beach , the clip from Amazon is taken from this segment and it is dark here too not just in the clip , it was probably shot at dusk. This is really a seperate practice cuz there is no sense of getting up for another energizing practice after the relaxing segment. It is a more challenging vinyasa that includes warrior 2 variations and some more backbends.
Too bad there is no matrix , because this segment is just stuck between the previous segments and the savasana ,it would be nice to do it before or after the second segment but since there are only a few chapters I guess it's not such a big deal to skip between them with the remote.
This segment also ends with a very short savasana , barely 2 minutes, which is another minor complaint but all in all I really enjoyed this practice and felt really stretched out , I can't wait for her next DVD's to come out.

Flow yoga (vinyâsa) with a beautiful yoga master
This is 70 minute DVD of Flow yoga (vinyâsa) demonstrated by yoga master Shiva Rea. Vinyasa is a simple form of asana that is easy to follow and no prior yoga experience is necessary. This is a variant of Surya Namaskara (Sun salutation), which is defined by a series of six specific postures with a breathing pattern. The narrator guides the viewers with instructions to practice the yoga postures, which is helpful for a beginner. The esoteric intention of vinyâsa is to facilitate the flow of prana (vital energy) to balance the koshâs (sheaths) of the physical and metaphysical body. In a less esoteric language, the body heat increases circulation, contribute to muscle flexibility and strengthen the tissue and tendons. The last few minutes of the DVD is dedicated to Shavasana or Sarvasana that is performed to either begin or conclude a yoga session. It is a relaxing posture intended to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.

The background music is set the drum beats of Hawaiian music; the producers could have considered using Hindustani classical music, especially instrumental music such as, sitar or violin using a morning or an evening raga as appropriate.

refreshing!
I really find this DVD refreshing and different. Shiva Rea really inspires you to follow the sequences, to listen to your body and to find a new meaning to exercising. I always believed that exercising should be something pleasant to your body and to your mind and spirit. If the exercise is exhausting for your body it will be exhausting for your mind and spirit too...and if your mind and spirit can't benefit from the exercise you're performing, your body will follow it too. The thing that inspired me overall is that after getting familiar with every pose and starting feeling completely comfortable doing it, you will find out how all the yoga poses can be done in a new way - in kind of a dancing sequences. That is when you'll really start enjoying your exercise. So, at first, be patient, take time to study each pose and to adjust it to your possibilities. Take as much time as needed, cause at the end it is the time you give for yourself.