Review(s): DVD Mantra Girl Presents - Advanced Kundalini Yoga for the Spiritual Warrior
Rewardingly hard but take care
Having practiced ashtange yoga for some time, I thought I was strong and fit. Doing this practice made me realise that I was overestimating myself, but in a very good way. I had heard a lot about the kundalini style of yoga before, but hadn't tried it, and I was shocked at how aerobically demanding this is. If you are more of a fitness fiend than a yogi, then it might help to know that this practice works a little like interval training, with short sections of very very very strong activity followed by less frantic, more gentle stretches and then back to the frantic activity again. I now do this session twice a week and I am sure that I am 'fitter' for it, but I wouldn't give up my ashtanga or hatha practice.
I ony give this four stars rather than five simply because I feel it would be quite easy to injure yourself using this, even if you follow the modifications; partly because some of the movements are very fast and if you don't know how to position your body correctly you could end up wrenching something vital; and also because, as is the sad norm with any exercise video, the modification models are tucked away at the back and don't seem to get the same amount of camera time as Ms. Kamler or those demonstrating the full, advanced versions of the moves. Maybe some day someone will give prominence to the less advanced practitioners.
So it's tough but good. But proceed with caution, and remember that a)you can always move a little more slowly than the models do and b) you can ignore Erin Kamler when she tells you that it's only your mind that tells you to stop, because it could well be a muscle injury developing!
Buy this one!!!
Mantra Girl is the new voice of health and well being. Her music calms me and de-stresses my being. Her stunning DVD's are hipnotizing and conprehensive. Easy to follow and modify to my own level of YOGA. Mantra Girl is a star shinning so bright, you might want to wear sunglasses while doing YOGA with her!!!
She is the image of YOGA!
Tough!
Everyone I know who's tried Erin's dvds loves her. She's an inspiring kundalini yoga instructor and not at all pretentious. She doesn't wear a turban or pretend she's your guru. She does the exercises along with you. She's far better than most kundalini yoga teachers you see on video and dvd (well, better than most of the males I've seen, but I won't mention names)... The production values on this dvd are very high. But you should know before ordering it that in this case, advanced means advanced! It's a tough workout!
I enjoy kundalini yoga but prefer not to work quite this hard. This one will test your strength and endurance like few kundalini yoga workouts. Erin's excellent, but I will stick with her first dvd (even though introductory is in the other title it's a good one for intermediate levels as well, or advanced levels wanting a less taxing day).
I hope Erin will come out with more dvds somewhere in between volume 1 and 2 for challenge. Or more like volume 1 even would be nice. This one is so tough I might give it to one of my friends who is a fitness addict who doesn't feel she's working herself unless she suffers. (But then she's also in her 20's so her body can take the heat). Loved the music though (same as on her introductory dvd, only more of the fast tempo music). And the outdoor location (also shown on the introductory dvd) is pretty. I don't want to say anything negative about this dvd, because you definitely get your money's worth and then some, and it's wonderful in so many ways. But I think most people looking to do kundalini yoga will be more drawn to volume 1 unless you're like my friend, the fitness addict who won't settle for anything less than a super challenging workout. Or if the only yoga you do is power yoga or ashtanga, this one may be for you. Just be prepared to work hard.
Besides volume 1 I recommend Erin's CD with her songs. This girl can sing!!
Related DVD's Mantra Girl Presents - Advanced Kundalini Yoga for the Spiritual Warrior
I recently got hold of this one and I am so glad that I did. I had put off buying it because of reviews which spoke of Ana's near naked body. All I can say is that it must be all sour grapes. While you can see a hint of Anas nipples. I don't think I would have even noticed if they had not had so much press!
Ana is beautiful and I think she can expect a lot of arrows slung her way. It is unfortunate. This DVD is a classic. The workout is first rate. The demonstration(by Ana)is first rate. The voiceover by Ravi is also first rate.
I like Ana's almost goth/ almost japonese makeup. The way her hair flops about as she performs with perfect precision. The lighting. The blue and pink set.You also see Ravi make a rare appearance at the beginning and end of the workout.
No matter... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Ravi Singh - Ana Brett DVD Release Date: Released the 12 November 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I have recently stumbled upon Kundalini Yoga. I am loving it more and more every day. I still do my Hatha and Astanga, but for getting my engery going and feeling that I am doing wonders for cleansing my body, you can not beat Kundalini Yoga. Ravi has a wonderful soothing voice, not irritating nor condesending. He explains exactly what the excersizes purpose is and Ana executes it for you to see how it should be done. No downward dogs here, nor the usual poses you would expect. This is yoga in the traditional sense of doing a set (Kriya) and then doing corpse pose and then doing another set. This is meant to expand your mind and cleanse your organs and create flexability in your back and spine. I have now purchased 2 other DVDs from Ravi and Ana and I am really, really, really... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Ravi SIngh - Ana Brett DVD Release Date: Released the 10 November 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Once again, in her second DVD Vinyasa Flow, Sean Corn provides a good solid workout. There definitely are no surprises to the routine, which places its foundation on basic Sun Salutation and Down Dog movements. The flow of this DVD is consistent and each posture flows very naturally into the next, nothing feels unnatural or overstraining. Corn is one of the best when it comes to good flow and breathing. My only complaint, as it was in her first DVD, the actual 60-minute "breathing session" workout has no verbal cues, just the sound of Corn breathing. Beginners especially will find that somewhat irratating, because they will have to keep looking up at the screen to see what to do next. Seasoned yoga practitioners, though, will adapt to non-verbal cues more easily after a couple of... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 10 February 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I'm not a touchy-feely person, but I find the positive, surfer-esque, "do-what-feels-good" energy of this DVD very inspiring, and do the 50-minute workout on a regular basis. It's challenging, but not impossible, with a nice variety of postures. Eoin is a gentle, charismatic (not to mention great-looking!) teacher.
I like to vary my practice depending on how I feel on any given day -- energy level, soreness, time, etc. -- so I like the range of practice lengths and appreciate the fact that people of differing yoga abilities are shown to illustrate variations on the postures.
The group-hugging during the final credits is a little too cult-ish and weird for my taste, but, hey, it's a small price to pay; by that time I'm feeling so chill and limber and strong that... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Bjorn Enga - Cliff Hokanson DVD Release Date: Released the 06 December 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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