Good but not great (yet) 2010-04-03

Reviewer: Chaiam Yankel's bubbie

I have enjoyed this video and the approach --- of using breath and voice along with asana poses to create openness in the body and release depression --- is an interesting one. Not five stars because the program is quite long (1 hr 15 min or so) and there is no structured way to create a sensible shorter program for days when that kind of time is unavailable.

Energizing practice combines yoga postures with joyful chanting 2010-01-06

Reviewer: Beth Cholette

NOTE: I received a free copy of this DVD to review for Metapsychology Online Review; you can find a more complete version of my review on that web site.

This DVD is led by Amy Weintraub, who discovered that the practice of Kripalu yoga alleviated her own depression. This Level 2 practice is a follow-up to Weintraub's first video, and it is intended for those with prior yoga experience. The majority of the postures should be accessible for advanced beginner to intermediate level yoga students. However, all potential users should be aware that Weintraub combines the postures with sounds, or Sanskrit mantras, a style of practicing which may not appeal to everyone.

The Main Menu of the DVD lists the following chapter options:

1. Introduction, 3:45
2. Clearing the Space for Sankalpa, 5:55
3. Warm-Ups--Heating the Core, 10:41
4. Standing Strengthening Poses, 22:18
5. Back Bending Poses, 7:25
6. Inversion, 2:20
7. Forward Bend & Twists, 11:14
8. Flow, 2:56
9. Yoga Nidra, 12:45

Weintraub practices alone outdoors in a bright, grassy, park-like setting. She teaches via voiceover and does not mirror-cue. The first segment, Clearing the Space, centers around energy and breathing exercises. Weintraub repeatedly returns to the idea of the sankalpa (intention), bringing the sankalpa into the Warm-Ups while adding chanting to the movements. The sound "mahaha!" is repeated while moving through a lunge series; cat/cow and down dog also appear in this chapter. The Standing Strengthening Poses consist of a series of postures completed all on one side of the body before moving on to the other; these include warrior 1, warrior 2, triangle, half-moon, standing splits, pyramid pose, and warrior 3. For the Back Bending Poses, Weintraub begins with cobra pose prep, moves in a flow to down dog, and concludes with camel pose.

In the Inversion segment, Weintraub gives you the option of either performing a simple, beginner's level inversion on your knees (kneeling yoga mudra) or practicing a more advanced inversion such as headstand or handstand on your own if you are already proficient in those postures. In either case, this segment is quite brief, and Weintraub quickly moves on to the Forward Bends & Twists. She begins with half Lord of the Fishes pose, coming out of this into a seated extended hand-to-foot posture and then finally head-to-knee pose. She then performs boat pose before repeating the series on the other side. "Flow" is a short free-form segment; Weintraub encourages you to do whatever feels natural for your body during this time. Finally, the practice ends with Yoga Nidra, a lengthy guided relaxation.

Weintraub's joy in filming this DVD is obvious and somewhat infectious. If you open both your heart and mind to practicing in this manner, it is likely that it will boost your mood and your spirit. Although I generally consider myself to be an intermediate student in yoga, I actually preferred Weintraub's Level 1 practice to this one, as I simply enjoyed the more gentle stretches which that routine provided, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either DVD. One final note: Weintraub cautions that the practice of the breathing techniques, locks, and breath retention are not appropriate for those with Bipolar disorder/mania and should also be avoided by those who are pregnant, menstruating, or suffering from unmedicated high blood pressure, glaucoma, digestive distress, or an inflammation of the alimentary track.